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The Structure of Shakespeare's Comedies: Identity, Confusion, and Love

Shakespeare's comedies are rich with themes of identity, misunderstanding, and love intertwined with a five-act structure. Each act builds upon the plot's initial problem through disguises and misunderstandings, leading to a climax filled with confusion. Characters navigate complex relationships until irrationality unravels in Act IV. Finally, Act V reveals true identities and couples, culminating in marriage. Productions of "As You Like It," "Much Ado About Nothing," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Twelfth Night" exemplify this structure, showcasing how comedic elements resolve in delightful conclusions.

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The Structure of Shakespeare's Comedies: Identity, Confusion, and Love

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  1. Shakespeare’sComedies Men, Women, Mistaken Identity, Parting, Secrets, Misunderstanding AND It all works out in the end!

  2. Christian Camargo, left, as Orlando and Juliet Rylance as Rosalind in the Bridge Project's production of "As You Like It" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

  3. Five-Act STRUCTURE • Act I = intro characters, setting, basic problem to be overcome, disguises • Act II = multiply misunderstandings, complicate relationships

  4. A scene from Gordon Barr’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing” in Glasgow, Scotland, July 2008 Photo: Telegraph/uk

  5. Five-Act STRUCTURE • Act III = the “Oh, No!” moment of greatest misunderstanding & confusion by characters Shakespeare’s plots always have their denouements in the Third Act!

  6. A scene from Aaron Posner’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Two River Theatre Company in Red Bank, New Jersey Photo: T Charles Erickson/nj.com

  7. Five-Act STRUCTURE • Act IV = unraveling of misunderstandings as their irrationality increases • Act V = revelation of true identities & pairing up of the true couples, leading to marriage

  8. A scene from Portland’s Center Stage production of “Twelfth Night” in Portland, Oregon, March 2008 Photo: Owen Carey

  9. As you read Take note of when/where and HOW the structure of the play you are reading follows the typical Shakespearean comedic structure and how it deviates from it. Consider how the structure is related to the MOWW.

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