Comedies of William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream- Act 1 Scene 1
LYSANDER
Ay me! For aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth.
But either it was different in blood—
HERMIA
O cross! Too high to be enthralled to low.
LYSANDER
Or else misgraffèd in respect of years—
HERMIA
O spite! Too old to be engaged to young.
LYSANDER
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends—
HERMIA
O hell, to choose love by another's eyes!

Passage Analysis-

I chose this passage from A Midsummer Night's Dream because it shows the difficulty these two characters are faced with, when wanting to get married. They seem very much in love, however Hermia's father, Egeus does not give his consent for their marriage. Egeus is used as a blocking mechanism so they are forced to runaway to get married. Lysander says that in all marriages they face obstacles, and this just shows how difficult it can be for two people in love to be together. But her father's disapproval eventually causes the confusion with the love potion, and leads to even more problems. Lysander and Hermia's love for one another is strong and they could not imagine not being together. However they do come off sounding shallow, because they speak of how horrible it would be to marry someone who is not at their own level. That shows that they need the honor of the name that comes along with their wife or husband, which makes them look very bad. This is almost intended to mock marriage, yet these two people do seem to be dedicated to one another. All of the events that unfold later in the play, in the woods, stems from their dedication and commitment to one another. Their trouble with love, then lends itself to foreshadow the love that each Demetrius and Helena share for two different people. This entire play is centered around love and the trouble it can cause for people, however without it our lives would so empty. This passage just shows the importance of love throughout and how it can effect people.

The Tempest- Act 4 Scene 1
PROSPERO
(to FERDINAND) If I have too austerely punished you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life—
Or that for which I live—who once again
I tender to thy hand. All thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love and thou
Hast strangely stood the test. Here, afore heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast of her,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise
And make it halt behind her.

Passage Analysis-

This passage from The Tempest shows that Prospero wants to fulfill his daughters wishes, and let her marry Ferdinand. This part of the play shows that love does not have to be difficult and that, it can go how you wanted it to. In stories many times either the father is forcing the marriage, or will not approve of the marriage. This play is somewhat different because Prospero doesn't really like Ferdinand, but he is willing to except their marriage out of his love for his daughter. It is a happy ending that the main characters can agree upon. It signifies everything coming together, and Prospero is able to except and forgive his brother, he is able evolve and see the good in his life. He no longer holds a grudge and he just wants his daughter's happiness, and to move on. He is able to come to his own conclusion about the marriage and is able to turn his entire life around. This passage symbolizes how far he has come and him finally excepting the marriage.

The Taming of the Shrew- Act 2 Scene 1
PETRUCCIO
Marry, so I mean, sweet Katherine, in thy bed.
And therefore, setting all this chat aside,
Thus in plain terms: your father hath consented
That you shall be my wife, your dowry 'greed on,
And, will you, nill you, I will marry you.
Now, Kate, I am a husband for your turn,
For, by this light, whereby I see thy beauty,
Thy beauty that doth make me like thee well,
Thou must be married to no man but me.
For I am he am born to tame you, Kate,
And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate
Conformable as other household Kates.

Passage Analysis-

For this marriage, Petruccio only wants to marry Kate because of her father's money and not because of her. He wants to tame her, and ultimately change her into something she is not, however what he wants her to be. This is an example of a forced marriage that may benefit other people however, it will not benefit Kate. Her father gave his permission and therefore she can not do anything about it. To love someone, is to love them for who they are and to marry them for who they are, but not marry them with the intent to change them. She lets Petruccio know her hatred for him, however he will not budge and he insists on their marriage and insists that he can tame her. Out of Baptista's desperation to find Kate a suitor, and Petruccio's desperation for his wealth, Kate really is given no choices. This marriage is not mutual, and Petruccio's only goal is to make her his wife, so she can serve him. The lack of love is depressing and nothing can stop his determination.

Comparison-

The similarities between all three of the passages from these plays is that of having to do with marriage and love. Each shows a different kind of love or different kind of approval for marriage. They deal with the difficulties that go along with love and sometimes the disapproval of it. In both A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest, they start with disapproval. Lysander is denied Hermia's hand in marriage and Ferdinand is put to the test to win Miranda's hand. However, they over come the challenges they are faced with and are eventually able to wed. In The Taming of the Shrew, Kate is forced into a marriage with Petruchio that does not seem as though it will last. However at the end of the book they are still together and he was able to tame her. Even though somewhat different forms of love and marriage, they all do share that very important theme. The theme of love is the basis for these plays and how marriage does not only change the people getting married but the people that are around them. No matter how difficult it was for these characters they end up together and allow their love to guide them.

The language plays a huge part in these plays, because many of these characters are so convincing. Petruccio puts Kate's criticisms of him and replies with complementing her. He is so fast to flatter her and tell her of her beauty repeatedly for effectiveness. The bantering back and forth that these two share makes the words so vivid as to how much she hates him and how determined he is to marry her. Also Prospero's speech and forgiving the people who betrayed him and him rising above is, very real. The light yet obvious humor that is throughout all of these plays, adds to the sometimes serious conversations. The use of words to express feelings and evoke emotion, helps the reader get a sense of the comedic tone. Even the Jackass in A Midsummer Night's Dream miss uses words, however that is Shakespeare's exact intention and even when someone is lacking language it is adding to the play. He has so much thought behind the words he uses and he gives you a sense for his characters just by their words alone.

Comedies-

The genre that all of these plays have in common is that they are comedies, which is a reason for the humorous comments made throughout them. Some characters, such as Puck, and even Kate who add some comedic comments, make some of the more serious issues in the play seem lighter and easier than they actually are. The genre sometimes includes spirits, fairies, and magic that you would not see in a tragedy, or a history. It is light hearted and fun, which makes the plays more enjoyable. They make jokes, or just say things that in the moment can be taken as humorous, and they play tricks and use disguises, to create a more comedic story. Even though these plays do deal with many problems and are serious at times, the overall objective is to make the reader laugh. I found the love potion in A Midsummer Night's Dream that make the characters love different people, very fun and humorous. Everyone pry's in other peoples lives and relationship. Especially Puck's character who uses trickery and his slyness to make mischief throughout the play. Also some of the character's shallowness and having no real depth to them can add to the comedy. But they do seem to have real love throughout each, even if it is not always consistent. They all share the fact that they have marriages, and the difficulties that come along with each of them. The weddings seem to work out in the end, but it is always a problem getting to that point. This genre is easy and much less intense, yet still just as thought provoking as any other.

My Opinion-

My opinion of A Midsummer Night's Dream, is that it is very amusing and entertaining. All the characters play important parts in helping with the humor in the play. Puck, Oberon, and Titania are all very interesting and funny, and the story line helps keep the play light and fresh. The fights over silly things, and having the characters very confused at times is good. The Tempest I see as being more about forgiveness and love, than anything else. Prospero is able to use magic to create the storm in the beginning of the play, and that shows the less serious nature of the play. However, Prospero's growth and ability to forgive his brother and allow his daughter to marry Ferdinand, shows how far he has come. Even though, he does not approve of Ferdinand at first and gives him many tests to overcome, he eventually gives his consent, which makes me really like him.It is a nice happy ending and I like that Prospero does not seek revenge any longer and he just lets it stay in his past. I see The Taming of the Shrew, as being funny, yet more serious than the other two plays. Even though, it does have its humorous moments, it kind of makes me really angry. I do not like that Petruccio is only marrying Kate because of her father's wealth, and her father just wants a suitor for her, and does not care what kind of person he is. Petruccio wants to change Kate, and therefore does not really love her, I hate that he says he is going to tame her. Also, when they come back at the end of the play, Kate seems to be changed and even though she was very mean before, I don't like that she changed for him. Because I highly doubt that she wanted to change, and makes her character seem weak and just obeying whatever her new husband says. However all of these plays are funny in their own ways, and I am able to appreciate all of them in their own way.