1. Happy Ending: The most obvious way to identify a Shakespearean comedy is the presence of a happy ending, often involving the marriage or reconciliation of the main characters.
2. Love and Romance: Comedies often revolve around themes of love, courtship, and marriage, frequently involving mistaken identities, disguises, and humorous misunderstandings.
3. Humor and Wit: Shakespeare’s comedies are renowned for their clever wordplay, humorous situations, and witty banter between characters, often delivering laughs and entertainment.
4. Low Social Status: Comedies frequently feature commoners, servants, and characters of lower social status as protagonists or major figures, emphasizing the playfulness and social commentary of the plot.
5. Music and Dance: Music, singing, and dancing often accompany Shakespeare’s comedies, adding to the lighthearted and celebratory atmosphere.
6. Limited Deaths or Tragic Events: While comedies may include minor conflicts or obstacles, they typically avoid significant tragedies or deaths of major characters.
7. Resolution: Comedies often lead to a resolution of conflicts, misunderstandings, or obstacles, resolving issues harmoniously and happily.
Shakespeare’s Tragedies:
1. Tragic Endings: Unlike comedies, tragedies conclude with the death of one or more significant characters, often the protagonist. These endings evoke pity and emotional catharsis in the audience.
2. Serious Themes: Tragedies explore grave themes such as ambition, power, corruption, revenge, and the human condition, providing profound insight into human nature.
3. High Social Status: Tragic protagonists are frequently royalty, nobles, or characters of high social standing, whose actions impact the lives of many.
4. Hamartia and Catharsis: Tragedies usually exhibit the concept of hamartia, where a protagonist’s flaws or actions lead to their downfall. This creates a sense of pity, fear, and emotional release (catharsis) for the audience.
5. Moral Dilemmas: Tragedies pose complex moral quandaries and ethical challenges faced by characters, delving into the moral complexities of decision-making.
6. Violence and Suffering: Tragedies frequently involve violence, bloodshed, and emotional anguish, exploring the consequences of human actions.
7. Fate and Destiny: Tragedies often involve elements of fate, prophecy, or divine intervention, suggesting that external forces may shape the characters’ lives.
Remember that Shakespeare’s plays can sometimes blend elements of both comedy and tragedy, giving rise to the classification of “tragicomedy” or “dark comedy,” where serious themes coexist with humorous elements.