The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies and, with multiple mix-ups, mistaken identities, and plot confusions, it certainly lives up to its name. We see in this early concoction a set of generic tropes that were to show themselves time and time again in Shakespeare's more mature comedies.
We have a father figure who longs to be reunited with the family that he lost. And, of course, we see the restorative power of love, as many estranged men and women come together in marriage and true mutual understanding. An excellent frivolity and a timeless production in the repertoire, it is a play that is always fun to watch.
The play begins with an awful lot of exposition. A man, Egeon, is about to be hanged for violating the ban on traveling from his hometown, Syracuse, and his current habitation, Ephesus. Many years ago, Egeon lost one of his twin sons and his wife in a storm, and he suspects them to be in Syracuse. He explains that he and the other twin have been searching the world for their lost family. Both twins are called Antipholus and (by incredibly coincidence) they both have a servant (who, themselves, are a pair of twins) named Dromio. The duke of Ephesus gives Egeon a stay of execution, and the scene is set.
As one might expect, it is not long before the Antipholus from Syracuse arrives upon Ephesusian shores, and is quickly mistaken by Antipholus of Ephesus’s wife, Adriana, for her own wayward spouse. She takes him back to her house, where he meets Adriana’s sister, Luciana – whom he falls madly in love with. Understandably however, Luciana is quite perturbed by the advances of the man she believes to be her brother-in-law.
The play begins with an awful lot of exposition. A man, Egeon, is about to be hanged for violating the ban on traveling from his hometown, Syracuse, and his current habitation, Ephesus. Many years ago, Egeon lost one of his twin sons and his wife in a storm, and he suspects them to be in Syracuse. He explains that he and the other twin have been searching the world for their lost family. Both twins are called Antipholus and (by incredibly coincidence) they both have a servant (who, themselves, are a pair of twins) named Dromio. The duke of Ephesus gives Egeon a stay of execution, and the scene is set.
As one might expect, it is not long before the Antipholus from Syracuse arrives upon Ephesusian shores, and is quickly mistaken by Antipholus of Ephesus’s wife, Adriana, for her own wayward spouse. She takes him back to her house, where he meets Adriana’s sister, Luciana – whom he falls madly in love with. Understandably however, Luciana is quite perturbed by the advances of the man she believes to be her brother-in-law.
Meanwhile, the real Antipholus of Ephesus has been denied access to his own house and has a heated argument with a goldsmith because the confused man had given a gold-chain he’d ordered to the wrong Antipholus. So enraged is he by this perplexing set of circumstances, that Antipholus of Ephesus goes wild with anger and sets upon his wife (who immediately believes he is mad) and has him trussed and bound.
By this time, Antipholus of Syracuse, is amazed that everyone in the town seems to know him, and he and his slave Dromio decide to flee a city that they believe to be possessed by a whole host of sorcerers. However, they are mistaken for the mad Antipholus (newly escaped) and are chased by policeman and doctors into an abbey for sanctuary. Finally, the truth comes out – albeit with a hidden surprise. Egeon turns up and finds both his sons, and also his wife – who was living as a nun in the abbey after she was parted from her husband. The whole family are reunited, as are the two slave-brothers Dromio and Dromio, who end the play with a hearty hug.
By this time, Antipholus of Syracuse, is amazed that everyone in the town seems to know him, and he and his slave Dromio decide to flee a city that they believe to be possessed by a whole host of sorcerers. However, they are mistaken for the mad Antipholus (newly escaped) and are chased by policeman and doctors into an abbey for sanctuary. Finally, the truth comes out – albeit with a hidden surprise. Egeon turns up and finds both his sons, and also his wife – who was living as a nun in the abbey after she was parted from her husband. The whole family are reunited, as are the two slave-brothers Dromio and Dromio, who end the play with a hearty hug.
The Comedy of Errors is a bright and funny comedy that comes the nearest that Shakespeare ever does to creating the perfect farce. Many commentators have tried to point to a dark side to the play (citing Antipholus’s madness as a factor that suggests that something more sinister is occurring), but such interpretations don’t really hold much weight. Antipholus’s madness is only ever assumed rather than real, and the events of the play quickly overtake any hurt caused to any of the individual characters. Rather the play is a fun and light celebration of anarchy, which revels in its own incredibly plot contortions and striking coincidences.
That it doesn’t mind creating the incredibly unlikely situation in which it events can play out, is one indication that a young Shakespeare, keen to make his name, didn’t intend his audiences to take the play very seriously at all. What’s more, the punning and pratfalls of the two Dromio’s root this play very firmly in the comic tradition that runs all the way back to classical drama.
Always clever, fast-paced and fun, The Comedy of Errors is probably one of Shakespeare’s most easily recognizable comedies (at least to a contemporary audience). Providing many a chuckle when performed, and packing a powerful punch, it is a wonderful dramatic spectacle.
That it doesn’t mind creating the incredibly unlikely situation in which it events can play out, is one indication that a young Shakespeare, keen to make his name, didn’t intend his audiences to take the play very seriously at all. What’s more, the punning and pratfalls of the two Dromio’s root this play very firmly in the comic tradition that runs all the way back to classical drama.
Always clever, fast-paced and fun, The Comedy of Errors is probably one of Shakespeare’s most easily recognizable comedies (at least to a contemporary audience). Providing many a chuckle when performed, and packing a powerful punch, it is a wonderful dramatic spectacle.
