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
All of these things make him a very comical character enjoyed by the audience during Shakespearian times and in the present day. To begin, compared to Feste Andrew is the real fool. Fetse plays the role of the fool in Twelfth Night. In the play he is hired by Olivia to be the jester and entertain her. His name even means “the fool”.
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
‘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.
In order for a sitcom to be great, it should be re-watchable. Seinfeld has a number of inside jokes including catch phrases and character flaws which are repeated throughout the episodes. The inside jokes are generally only picked up by dedicated viewers who realise that they’re funny, hence they are necessary in re-watchability. Another factor in a great sitcom is chemistry among the characters. The characters of Seinfeld have such great chemistry that we love to watch them, and feel like a part of it.
How satisfying did you find the ending of Pygmalion and Much Ado about Nothing? Pygmalion is a Victorian Romance in five acts, whereas Much Ado is a Shakespearean comedy. As one of this genre’s characteristics is the happy ending that ties up the plot, the Pygmalion doesn’t seem to follow it. However, the use of language in Much Ado to create humor throughout the whole play, as near tragic events are never too far for comedy, Shakespeare succeeds in his purpose and offers clearly a more satisfying ending than Shaw. In Much Ado, it could be argued that the ending is satisfying as a comedy.
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.
Comedy can break through all the red tape and say what others cannot. Secret thoughts are observations that society as a whole might feel or want to say without the fear that usually follows. Comedians are able to speak freely and be honest about their opinions. People laugh at something funny not only because it’s entertaining, but also because the context of the material used by the comedian. An example is used by George Carlin and his “Sever dirty words”, which were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C.
Because people are making fun of his nose he is able to provide witty humor that makes the book become a comedy. Valvert says “Ah…your nose…hem!...Your nose is…rather large!” “Rather” “Oh well” “Is that all” “Well of course.”(35-36 Act 1) But Cyrano does not leave it like this he replies by insulting Valvert and ultimately making him angry by telling him all the better insults that he could have had. He threw it right back in his face by making it a joke. Throughout the story comedy like this occurs and that is why I believe it is a
This one in particular was my favorite because of the catchy tune and the lyrical significance. I found the satirical overtone of the whole tune to really signify the problems in the past and often current society. As well, the song was one of those melodies that sticks in your head all day, but not the annoying kind. This kept the tune ‘catchy’ and helped the audience effectively pay attention to the message. The song talks about how the actors have hit it big time on Broadway with their performance of “Pretty Lady”.