Shakespeares Comedy of Errors - Book Report/Review Example

Dromio states "no longer from head to foot than from hip to hip/ she is spherical, like a globe. I could find out countries in her."(Act III, sc.2, ln. 113-115). His cleverness of humorously comparing her to a globe grabs the audience's attention. Even if the audience may not find the joke funny, they are still able to recognize Dromio's cleverness in making the joke. This clever humour stated by Dromio of Syracuse grasps the audience's attention and draws them to like Dromio's character in the play.

The interplay between the two identical servants and their identical masters, Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, makes the characters more interesting and realistic. When a course of confusing action takes place during the play, Antipholus of Syracuse is brought to think that he has just seen his servant Dromio of Syracuse, when really he has seen the twin brother Dromio of Ephesus. Dromio of Syracuse irritates his master when he assures him that he has not seen him since half an hour.

Even after Antipholus of Syracuse is angry, Dromio replies calmly saying "I am glad to see you in this merry vein. / What means this jest I pray you master, tell me." (Act II, sc.2, ln. 19-20). Dromio of Syracuse's courage to speak out and make fun of a confusing situation is easily noticed and picked up by the audience. Dromio is revealed more realistically as the audience appreciates his calm humour in a confusing situation, and therefore they like him even more. All the laughter provoking comic situations, mentioned above are further spiced up with a dash of punning.

For instance, in that bawdy 'geographical' description of Nell, Dromio of Syracuse states that he did not go as far as to look at her "Netherlands" (Act 3, Scene 2); "marks" and "marks", (Act 1, Scene 2); "horn-mad" (Act 2, Scene1); "break and break"(Act 3, Scene 1) and so on. However, although the play is a light hearted farce, based on the theme of mistaken identity, and catches the fancy of those who are looking for some fun and entertainment, it also appeals to those who seek a deeper meaning from art and drama.

The play deals with themes that have a timeless quality about them and raises many important questions about several serious issues.The theme of fate, which is introduced in the very first act ("Hapless Aegeon whom the Fates have mark'd" (Duke Solinus - Act 1, Scene 1) continues right up to the end. It is fate that separates the family, and keeps them all apart for a good twenty years. It is fate that brings them all back to the same place, and despite so many obstacles, ensures that they are all united.

The play ends on a satisfyingly happy note that would certainly appeal to any audience. The ideas of death and an inexorable passing of time constantly recur in the play. In fact, the very first act deals with these two themes, when Aegeon faces the death penalty. "Proceed, Solinus to procure my fall/ And by the doom of death end woes and all" (opening lines - Act 1, Scene 1) says Aegeon to the Duke. "Hopeless and helpless does Aegeon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end." (Aegeon, closing lines - Act 1, Scene1) In fact in some enactments of the play a scaffold and noose have been kept not only in the first scene, but throughout, to remind us that the action has to cease at five in