Shakespeares Comedy Vs. Tragedy

Shakespeare's Comedy vs. Tragedy

Certain parallels can be drawn between William Shakespeare's
plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and "Romeo and Juliet". These
parallels concern themes and prototypical Shakespearian character
types. Both plays have a distinct pair of ‘lovers', Hermia and
Lysander, and Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Both plays could have
also easily been tragedy or comedy with a few simple changes. A tragic
play is a play in which one or more characters is has a moral flaw
that leads to his/her downfall. A comedic play has at least one
humorous character, and a successful or happy ending. Comparing these
two plays is useful to find how Shakespeare uses similar character
types in a variety of plays, and the versatility of the themes which
he uses.
In "Romeo and Juliet", Juliet is young, "not yet fourteen",
and she is beautiful, and Romeo's reaction after he sees her is,

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear
Beauty to rich for use, for the earth too dear!"

Juliet is also prudent, "Although I joy in thee, I have no joy in this
contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden." She
feels that because they have just met, they should abstain from sexual
intercourse.
Hermia is also young, and prudent. When Lysander suggests that
"One turf shall serve as a pillow for both of us, One heart, one b...

Shakespeares Comedy Vs. Tragedy

Login

Join