Shakespeare’s wit and word play used even for simply just the names of the characters can build up laughter. The use of onomatopoeia in Sir Toby’s name creates a humorous
‘Comedy involves men of middling estate; its perils are small scale, its outcomes peaceful’. To what extent do you agree with this definition of comedy in relation to Much Ado about Nothing*? Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing is one of the most popular comedies in history, selling out Shakespearean theatres until their closure in 1642. The comedy is thought to be written in 1598 and is often described as a ‘problem play’ meaning it shares tendencies with that of a tragedy. Of course MAAN follows Shakespeare’s traditional comedy structure but modern critics have their own agenda that a comedy, being such a complex genre, should conform to.
The sentimental elements and the unsentimental malice a livelier, more dramatic impression from their contrast: and the contrast itself makes the dolling life of the play more interesting to an audience. There is plenty in the play to interest men and women of a refined and idle society and plenty more to amuse men and women of a coarser type and as for the idealist and the dreaming lover – they have food enough and to spare. Music and love and high courtesies interchanged in courtly gardens are jollity and practical jokes and a riot of laughter. Although there are a few blemishes in the dramatic technique of Twelfth Night, it is superior in the point of delight and in its comic aspect to the other comedies of Shakespeare. The platonic love is consummately represented in the Derke.
'The Fool is more important to the play than he may at first seem.' By considering the dramatic presentation of the Fool, evaluate this view. The Fool is more than just a jester who is present to provide some comic relief in the tragedy of King Lear; like many of Shakespeare’s fools, he is shown as a highly intelligent character who the audience likes not just for his entertainment, but his insightfulness. Therefore, he is central both to the plot, as he criticises and advises Lear, potentially setting his later clarity into the motion, and to the audience’s understanding of the characters in the play. The first impression most have of the Fool is that his presence serves as form of comic relief, in order to set a lighter tone to the play; however, because of this, his death is crucial to the bleak ending of the play.
It is suggested by this then that the play holds no deeper meaning or message of morality; it is simply designed to fulfill a purpose through usage of traditional comedic techniques. However, some have interpretated themes of sexuality and a gentle mocking of Victorian customs ultimately leaving the play open to assumption. The Importance of being Earnest certainly maintains many traits of a great comedy of manners, "A comedy that satirizes behaviour in a particular social group"(dictionary.com). In fact many people have hailed it as "the greatest stage comedy of all time", this triumph supports the viewpoint that Wilde merely succeeded in entertaining his audience rather than channeling a deeper understanding. The use of slapstick by Wilde produces a contrived and absurd plotline that is in every way unrealistic.
Seinfeld Comedy is a form of art that makes people laugh. But why do people laugh at a situation or jokes? The episodes of Seinfeld were extremely successful in capturing moments of ordinary life and allowing the audience to connect in some way to their situations. The episodes allowed the audience to laugh at the character’s embarrassing gestures and actions. We compare our actions to those of Jerry’s, George’s or Kramer’s to what we would do in our lives.
I find Moliere’s play, Tartuffe, to be entertaining for the underlying message of historical hypocrisy which it sheds to light. After reading the comedy of Tartuffe, I can only agree that it is an intellectual whirlwind of classical genius which tantalizes even the modern mind by echoing to us the importance of scrutinizing the narratives and analyzing the flaws and follies alike which are evident even within our own era. Tartuffe stands out to me because of the power that resonated from the creation of this societal satire and the fact that unlike other works of the era which were forced to fall in line with a strict code of adherence generated by the aristocracy of the classical era, this piece served as a direct challenge to the narrative
You can tell that nobody takes them seriously, especially when Leonato shows no sign of gratefulness that he has captured two men by simply saying “go drink some wine” (Shakespeare 46) As we look into the theories of comedy for the play, it is clear that an option is Freud’s theory. He believes that the essence of comedy and laughter come at the extent of others. Comedy is often a disguised form of anger or aggression. We find ourselves, as well as some of the characters in the play, laughing at the fact that some of the characters are being manipulated into believing one thing from another. Much Ado About Nothing was a difficult play for me to understand at first, but after watching the play and going back and reading it again it definitely helped my understanding of the sarcasm happening by the characters.
Mercutio, the hot-headed best friend of Romeo, adds wit and humor to the play Romeo and Juliet and was included in the play to make the audience laugh and also to keep them on the edge of their seats with suspense. Mercutio, in his humorous nature, loved to tease Romeo about his lovesickness; he calls Romeo a
Bottom is a complete extraovert, bossy, energetic and quite annoying. 'Now, name the rest of the players', 'First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on, then read the names of the actors; and so grow to the point', 'You were best to call them generally, man by man, according to the strip' — he tells the director (Peter Quince) what to do. At first the reader might dislike Bottom because of his sefishness but as his behaviour makes him shown as an idiot the weaver becomes our favourite comical figure in