HUMOR AND SATIRE IN W. SHAKESPEARʼS COMEDIES
Keywords:
Key words: Efforts, Depiction, Entanglements, Revolves, Satirize, Twelfth night, DelightfulAbstract
William Shakespeare is renowned for his ability to infuse his comedies with humor and satire, creating timeless works that continue to entertain audiences today. In his comedies, Shakespeare employed various comedic techniques, including wordplay, mistaken identity, physical comedy, and satire, to engage and amuse his audience.
Wordplay played a significant role in Shakespeare's comedies, with characters engaging in witty banter, puns, and clever wordplay. For example, in "Much Ado About Nothing," Beatrice and Benedick engage in a battle of wits, exchanging sharp and humorous insults. This verbal sparring showcases Shakespeare's skill in crafting clever and humorous dialogue.
References
"A Midsummer Night's Dream": This play features various comedic elements, including the mischievous Puck, who creates confusion and chaos with his magical antics. The play also satirizes the theme of love, particularly through the character of Bottom, whose transformation into an ass leads to hilarious situations
"Twelfth Night": This comedy employs mistaken identities and gender-bending situations to generate humor. The character of Malvolio, a self-righteous steward, becomes the subject of ridicule and satire as he falls prey to a prank orchestrated by other characters.
"Much Ado About Nothing": This play showcases sharp wit and wordplay, particularly in the banter between the characters of Beatrice and Benedick.
