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The Comedy of Errors
From the Royal Shakespeare Company - a fresh new edition of Shakespeare's anarchic comedy
THIS EDITION INCLUDES:
• An illuminating introduction to The Comedy of Errors by award-winning scholar Jonathan Bate
• The play - with clear and authoritative explanatory notes on each page
• A helpful scene-by-scene analysis and key facts about the play
• An introduction to Shakespeare's career and the Elizabethan theatre
• A rich exploration of approaches to staging the play featuring photographs of key productions
The most enjoyable way to understand a Shakespeare play is to see it or participate in it. This unique edition presents a historical overview of The Comedy of Errors in performance, recommends film versions, takes a detailed look at specific productions and includes interviews with three leading directors – Paul Hunter, Nancy Meckler and Tim Supple – so that we may get a sense of the extraordinary variety of interpretations that are possible, a variety that gives Shakespeare his unique capacity to be reinvented and made 'our contemporary' four centuries after his death.
Ideal for students, theatre-goers, actors and general readers, the RSC Shakespeare plays offer an accessible and contemporary approach to reading and rediscovering Shakespeare's works for the twenty-first century.
THIS EDITION INCLUDES:
• An illuminating introduction to The Comedy of Errors by award-winning scholar Jonathan Bate
• The play - with clear and authoritative explanatory notes on each page
• A helpful scene-by-scene analysis and key facts about the play
• An introduction to Shakespeare's career and the Elizabethan theatre
• A rich exploration of approaches to staging the play featuring photographs of key productions
The most enjoyable way to understand a Shakespeare play is to see it or participate in it. This unique edition presents a historical overview of The Comedy of Errors in performance, recommends film versions, takes a detailed look at specific productions and includes interviews with three leading directors – Paul Hunter, Nancy Meckler and Tim Supple – so that we may get a sense of the extraordinary variety of interpretations that are possible, a variety that gives Shakespeare his unique capacity to be reinvented and made 'our contemporary' four centuries after his death.
Ideal for students, theatre-goers, actors and general readers, the RSC Shakespeare plays offer an accessible and contemporary approach to reading and rediscovering Shakespeare's works for the twenty-first century.
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1594
1013 people are currently reading
24689 people want to read
About the author
Eric Rasmussen
79 books22 followersI am the author of the forthcoming title THE SHAKESPEARE THEFTS (Palgrave Macmillan), a part literary detective story, part Shakespearean lore that follows my efforts to catalog Shakespeare's First Folios.
I am also co-editor of the RSC Complete Works of William Shakespeare, the Norton Anthology of English Renaissance Drama, and of the works of Christopher Marlowe in the Oxford World's Classics series as well as individual plays in the Arden Shakespeare series, the Revels Plays series, and the Malone Society series. Since 1997, I have written the annual review of editions and textual studies for Shakespeare Survey. When I am not writing about the bard, I lecture about his great works as a professor of English at the University of Nevada.
He lives in Reno, Nevada.
I am also co-editor of the RSC Complete Works of William Shakespeare, the Norton Anthology of English Renaissance Drama, and of the works of Christopher Marlowe in the Oxford World's Classics series as well as individual plays in the Arden Shakespeare series, the Revels Plays series, and the Malone Society series. Since 1997, I have written the annual review of editions and textual studies for Shakespeare Survey. When I am not writing about the bard, I lecture about his great works as a professor of English at the University of Nevada.
He lives in Reno, Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,335 reviews
March 26, 2024
This play is so light it practically floats, a marvelous, silly absurdity of mistaken identity that will put a smile on your face even the cranky ...may laugh. The plot was old when Shakespeare wrote it back in the 1590's. Still not just a set of twins in this comedy but two, the writer wanted to double the amusement in the convoluted story. Antipholus born in the Greek settled city of Syracuse in Sicily, in ancient times no specific year stated but somewhere between the start of the Christian era and the fifteenth century. He the Greek baby had a brother born on the same day and nearby about the same hour another set of twins arrive to a poor family. The father of Antipholus , Egeon, a wealthy merchant has a bright idea that isn't , buying the poor twins as companions and servants ( slaves) to his boys, here it gets quite confusing...the four children have only two names. Antipholus for the rich kids , Dromio for the not. Never contented in Syracuse the merchant along with his wife Emilia and all the twins travel by ship for an opportunity to make more money in a foreign city. So to scramble and eventually spice the narrative, you'll see why later, the vessel founders, in a storm , off the coast of what will be Albania, someday, the family becomes divided, all are rescued but by different boats and for many years the relatives don't know if the others are alive or dead...The father who has one of the twins and his son's servant, continues to search for his wife , the other child and companion, unsuccessful....Until Egeon lands in the Greek city in Asia Minor of Ephesus ( in modern day Turkey) bad mistake...the two towns of Syracuse and Ephesus are big rivals and hate the other. Death is the prescribed punishment for arrivals from the Sicilian town . Poor man alone, imprisoned, his son had gone before him in their never ending quest, not enough money to pay the fine so he must perish. Yet unknown to the father his second son is a prosperous merchant here, soon Antipholus of Syracuse joins the circus, if I may call it that as people confuse the twins , servants, and the boys from Syracuse think this is a friendly but crazy metropolis, full of witches, strange people greet them by their names , treated like close friends, given money, jewelry and women they have never seen before, call them husbands...And the men from Ephesus think something is amiss, errands are not performed properly, friends called them liars and thieves...wives say the husbands are insane. Turmoil follows turmoil, until the final awakening. A fun trifle and the incomparable writer begins to show his enormous talent and the reader... gets a brief break from the world's unrest.
October 29, 2025
The story opens with this guy, who is maybe about to be executed, telling a sad tale about the search for his missing family, in an effort to explain to the duke why he is illegally in his city. <--this shit is nuts, let me tell you.
Buckle up.
So way back in the day, his lovely wife gave birth to identical TWIN boys. Because everyone knows Shakespeare fucking loves twins.
They also buy a set of newborn identical twins so they can grow up and be slaves to their own twins.
And in an act of complete idiocy, they name BOTH of their identical twin boys Antipholus, and BOTH of the identical twin slave boys Dromio.
Unbelievably, this causes problems in the future.
I know! Who would have thought?
The happy couple then goes on a cruise with the babies.
And like most cruises, things go terribly wrong.
Except, instead of bedbugs or food poisoning, their ship starts to take on water.
The crew jumps in the boat meant for passengers and abandons them.
That's what you fucking get for hopping on a cruise ship, Susan.
The couple ends up each taking one Antipholus & one Dromio apiece, and then lashing themselves to separate masts while the ship swirls around in the storm.
And just when all seems lost?
What ho?! Boats in the distance?!
But before their ship gets close to the boats, a big ass rock (or something) cuts the ship in half, sending Dad & his half of the twins towards the boat headed in one direction, whilst sending Mom and the other babies toward the boat headed in the opposite direction.
NEVER TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN.
Stay with me here.
Our story picks up 30-plus years later, with one set of Antipholus & Dromio showing up in the same town that the other set of Antipholus & Dromio grew up.
What are they doing there, you ask?
SEARCHING FOR THEIR LONG LOST TWINS.
Now, it's not long before the visiting Antipholus & Dromio soon become convinced that this town is populated by witches and fairies.
Because how else are they to explain that everyone in this town thinks they know them? I mean, it's not like they're on the lookout for a town that has their identical twin goddamn brothers in it or anything.
So, yeah. William left a few plot holes in his story. <--it's ok. Roll with it, baby.
Now, the other Antipholus & Dromio are plagued by all sorts of problems that these visiting doppelgangers have unknowingly caused as they bumble through their city.
An angry merchant leads to a bit of jail time, and an angrier wife leads to an exorcism. The duke gets called in to referee, which allows the original old man to see the Antipholus & Dromio, who don't know him. And that causes even more confusion. But then fate ushers in an abbess who has some pertinent information that might just solve the problem.
PHEW!
I listened to the full-cast audio that included Alan Cox, Brendan Coyle, & David Tennant.
I've said it before, but I highly recommend these full-cast audios because they're just chock full of fun stuff like sound effects and music that make the experience even better.
Buckle up.
So way back in the day, his lovely wife gave birth to identical TWIN boys. Because everyone knows Shakespeare fucking loves twins.
They also buy a set of newborn identical twins so they can grow up and be slaves to their own twins.
And in an act of complete idiocy, they name BOTH of their identical twin boys Antipholus, and BOTH of the identical twin slave boys Dromio.
Unbelievably, this causes problems in the future.
I know! Who would have thought?
The happy couple then goes on a cruise with the babies.
And like most cruises, things go terribly wrong.
Except, instead of bedbugs or food poisoning, their ship starts to take on water.
The crew jumps in the boat meant for passengers and abandons them.
That's what you fucking get for hopping on a cruise ship, Susan.
The couple ends up each taking one Antipholus & one Dromio apiece, and then lashing themselves to separate masts while the ship swirls around in the storm.
And just when all seems lost?
What ho?! Boats in the distance?!
But before their ship gets close to the boats, a big ass rock (or something) cuts the ship in half, sending Dad & his half of the twins towards the boat headed in one direction, whilst sending Mom and the other babies toward the boat headed in the opposite direction.
NEVER TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN.
Stay with me here.
Our story picks up 30-plus years later, with one set of Antipholus & Dromio showing up in the same town that the other set of Antipholus & Dromio grew up.
What are they doing there, you ask?
SEARCHING FOR THEIR LONG LOST TWINS.
Now, it's not long before the visiting Antipholus & Dromio soon become convinced that this town is populated by witches and fairies.
Because how else are they to explain that everyone in this town thinks they know them? I mean, it's not like they're on the lookout for a town that has their identical twin goddamn brothers in it or anything.
So, yeah. William left a few plot holes in his story. <--it's ok. Roll with it, baby.
Now, the other Antipholus & Dromio are plagued by all sorts of problems that these visiting doppelgangers have unknowingly caused as they bumble through their city.
An angry merchant leads to a bit of jail time, and an angrier wife leads to an exorcism. The duke gets called in to referee, which allows the original old man to see the Antipholus & Dromio, who don't know him. And that causes even more confusion. But then fate ushers in an abbess who has some pertinent information that might just solve the problem.
PHEW!
I listened to the full-cast audio that included Alan Cox, Brendan Coyle, & David Tennant.
I've said it before, but I highly recommend these full-cast audios because they're just chock full of fun stuff like sound effects and music that make the experience even better.
October 6, 2019
The Comedy of Errors is perfect, but it is perfection of a low order. In this early play, Shakespeare sets out to master the complex mechanisms and simple humor of farce, and succeeds completely.
It is enjoyable and well-crafted--like a really good episode of The Beverly Hillbillies or Three's Company--and represents an important early step on Shakespeare's journey as an absolute master of drama in all its forms.
October 6, 2020
I have always said that Much Ado is Shakespeare's funniest play -- but Comedy of Errors is just hilarious! It's pretty similar to Twelfth Night, so if you liked that I think you'll like COE.
This play is also drowning in early modern politics though. It draws on tensions surrounding empire, racism and immigration in the 1590s which, shockingly, remain just as relevant today as they did then.
This play is also drowning in early modern politics though. It draws on tensions surrounding empire, racism and immigration in the 1590s which, shockingly, remain just as relevant today as they did then.
January 20, 2024
It's amazing how I can go weeks, months even, and not read a single five-star book. And then, all of a sudden, I'm handing out five-star ratings like they're Halloween candy. So here you go, Shakespeare – you get a five! I get a five! That random person over there gets a five! Everyone gets a five!
*Ahem*
Anyway, I stand by what I said in my review of Othello about men in Shakespeare's plays – they're all super, super dense. I mean, you've been traveling around for seven years or so, looking for your long lost twin brother, when all of a sudden people start mistaking you for someone they know … and your servant (who, not so coincidentally, also has a long lost twin) too. What a weird thing to happen! Whatever could be the cause? Could it have something to do with your twin brother? Hmm … nah, definitely witchcraft. Sigh.
But, still, this is a fun one and definitely one of my favorites of Shakespeare's plays. It's silly and absurd but in the best possible way.
*Ahem*
Anyway, I stand by what I said in my review of Othello about men in Shakespeare's plays – they're all super, super dense. I mean, you've been traveling around for seven years or so, looking for your long lost twin brother, when all of a sudden people start mistaking you for someone they know … and your servant (who, not so coincidentally, also has a long lost twin) too. What a weird thing to happen! Whatever could be the cause? Could it have something to do with your twin brother? Hmm … nah, definitely witchcraft. Sigh.
But, still, this is a fun one and definitely one of my favorites of Shakespeare's plays. It's silly and absurd but in the best possible way.
June 17, 2020
Book Review
3 out of 5 stars to The Comedy of Errors, a comedy (seriously, did you think with that title it was one of his tragedies... oh my) published in 1594 by William Shakespeare. So... who knew Shakespeare invented the humor of mistaken identity? Wow! Think of this as a cross between any daytime television soap opera, "Dumb and Dumber" and "Dude, Where's My Car?"
And if you don't know what that clip is from, you have no watched the right kinds of movies. So go figure it out and come back to chat. That said... this is definitely one of the funniest plays he's written, as you'd expect. But it's not just a single set of twins, there are two pairs. And no one knows who is who. Sometimes you might get lost too. But that's what I've learned to love when reading Shakespeare. If it's a historical play or a tragedy, make it serious. If it's a comedy, then do whatever you'd like. I'll make up my own interpretation.
And that's what I did with this one. And when finished, I talked about it with some fellow students. We all agreed... I had the most interesting interpretation. And then when we got into class, the professor talked about what he thought it was about. And what do you know... I had the closest version. Woo Hoo! I'm good for something, I remember thinking to myself. On a serious note, this is worth a read if you want to get into more Shakespeare. Don't make it your first one tho... you'll regret it.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
3 out of 5 stars to The Comedy of Errors, a comedy (seriously, did you think with that title it was one of his tragedies... oh my) published in 1594 by William Shakespeare. So... who knew Shakespeare invented the humor of mistaken identity? Wow! Think of this as a cross between any daytime television soap opera, "Dumb and Dumber" and "Dude, Where's My Car?"
And if you don't know what that clip is from, you have no watched the right kinds of movies. So go figure it out and come back to chat. That said... this is definitely one of the funniest plays he's written, as you'd expect. But it's not just a single set of twins, there are two pairs. And no one knows who is who. Sometimes you might get lost too. But that's what I've learned to love when reading Shakespeare. If it's a historical play or a tragedy, make it serious. If it's a comedy, then do whatever you'd like. I'll make up my own interpretation.
And that's what I did with this one. And when finished, I talked about it with some fellow students. We all agreed... I had the most interesting interpretation. And then when we got into class, the professor talked about what he thought it was about. And what do you know... I had the closest version. Woo Hoo! I'm good for something, I remember thinking to myself. On a serious note, this is worth a read if you want to get into more Shakespeare. Don't make it your first one tho... you'll regret it.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
May 9, 2017
“If she lives till doomsday, she'll burn a week longer than the whole world.”
― William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, Act III.2
Look. It isn't brilliant Shakespeare, but it is worth the price of admission for just the banter, puns, etc. There really isn't a major character that jumps out. Perhaps, that is due to the constraints of the premise, but anyway. It was 80 pages of drama and I rather enjoyed it. I'm just not sure how much of it will stick (Like Hamlet, Othello, etc) years from now. If you are looking for top level dialogue, but not worried about plot or uncovering the meaning of life or the essential elements of humanity, this book might just be the thing.
Some of my favorite quotes:
― “He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop, 200
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.” (Act I.2)
― “I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.” (Act I.2)
― "A wretched soul bruised with adversity,
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much, or more, we should ourselves complain." (Act II.1.)
― "Every why hath a wherefore. (Act II.2)
― “Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me,
I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me” (Act III.1)
― “If she lives till doomsday, she'll burn a week longer than the whole world.” (Act III.2)
― “Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.” (Act III.2)
― "One of these men is Genius to the other;
And so of these. Which is the natural man,
And which the spirit? who deciphers them? " (Act V.1)
― William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, Act III.2
Look. It isn't brilliant Shakespeare, but it is worth the price of admission for just the banter, puns, etc. There really isn't a major character that jumps out. Perhaps, that is due to the constraints of the premise, but anyway. It was 80 pages of drama and I rather enjoyed it. I'm just not sure how much of it will stick (Like Hamlet, Othello, etc) years from now. If you are looking for top level dialogue, but not worried about plot or uncovering the meaning of life or the essential elements of humanity, this book might just be the thing.
Some of my favorite quotes:
― “He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop, 200
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.” (Act I.2)
― “I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.” (Act I.2)
― "A wretched soul bruised with adversity,
We bid be quiet when we hear it cry;
But were we burdened with like weight of pain,
As much, or more, we should ourselves complain." (Act II.1.)
― "Every why hath a wherefore. (Act II.2)
― “Since mine own doors refuse to entertain me,
I'll knock elsewhere, to see if they'll disdain me” (Act III.1)
― “If she lives till doomsday, she'll burn a week longer than the whole world.” (Act III.2)
― “Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.” (Act III.2)
― "One of these men is Genius to the other;
And so of these. Which is the natural man,
And which the spirit? who deciphers them? " (Act V.1)
Want to read
August 17, 2018Q: Why is a Shakespeare production never stopped by technical problems?
A:
A:
October 17, 2023
My first taste of live Shakespeare at age 6!
My parents were from Stratford and many, many summers ago, during a visit to my grandparents, my father took me, at the tender age of 6, to the Festival Theater to see THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. I had absolutely no idea what they were saying or what the plot was all about, but I remember enjoying the vaudevillian style body language, the physical comedy, the classical costumes and the colour, the odd piece of music and the sound effects immensely. What a wonderful gift from my father ... a lifelong love of Shakespeare and the desire to return to the theater goodness only knows how many times over the next 65 years!
Paul Weiss
My parents were from Stratford and many, many summers ago, during a visit to my grandparents, my father took me, at the tender age of 6, to the Festival Theater to see THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. I had absolutely no idea what they were saying or what the plot was all about, but I remember enjoying the vaudevillian style body language, the physical comedy, the classical costumes and the colour, the odd piece of music and the sound effects immensely. What a wonderful gift from my father ... a lifelong love of Shakespeare and the desire to return to the theater goodness only knows how many times over the next 65 years!
Paul Weiss
April 8, 2018
I read here http://www.william-shakespeare.info/s...
This review is a work in progress, as I am going to the Pop Up Globe in Auckland to see it next month. Really looking forward to it.
As far as reading online- I had a few chuckles, but I found it confusing. I'm sure All Will Become Clear on the night.
Edit: Overall I did enjoy the show which had been given a bit of modernistation - (the Syracusean pair arrived dressed as tourists & posed for selfies!) but remained true in it's essence. Lot of interaction with the audience! In spite of a great cast I thought the story dragged on a bit long & can see why this is not considered one of Shakespeare's great plays.
The ceiling near the front of the stage
View of the stage (taken from where we were sitting
This review is a work in progress, as I am going to the Pop Up Globe in Auckland to see it next month. Really looking forward to it.
As far as reading online- I had a few chuckles, but I found it confusing. I'm sure All Will Become Clear on the night.
Edit: Overall I did enjoy the show which had been given a bit of modernistation - (the Syracusean pair arrived dressed as tourists & posed for selfies!) but remained true in it's essence. Lot of interaction with the audience! In spite of a great cast I thought the story dragged on a bit long & can see why this is not considered one of Shakespeare's great plays.
The ceiling near the front of the stage
View of the stage (taken from where we were sitting
February 11, 2023
While I can appreciate the humor and irony in the plot, I feel like this was considered much funnier back then, and also I’m sure much funnier performed. It comes off a bit basic in the present time.
April 23, 2020
This was unspeakably stupid and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Read
March 22, 2025- Alright, class, let's hear your thoughts on The Comedy of Errors. Antipholus of Syracuse, begin.
- To be or not to be, that's is th...
- Antipholus of Syracuse, this quote is not yours, try to be original, for God's sake.
- Hamlet : - It's okay. He can use my sentence, but the presence of skull is mandatory. Or, at least, a coccyx, or something..
- Thank you, Hamlet. You're very kind, but let him use his own neuron. Dromio of Ephesus , what's your take ?
- I did not understand anything, sir. Oh...but I'II like to have a horse. I'd give my kingdom for a horse.
- Sorry, Dromio, the horse was taken by Richard III. Does anyone have an opinion on The Comedy of Errors ? Juliette, maybe you ?
- Oh... I love Roméo, more than anything in the world...
- That's so nice, Juliette. Keep loving. Hey, Falstaff, take your finger out of your nose, and tell us something about The Comedy of Errors, please.
- Huh.. If to be fat be to be hated, then...banish plump Jack, and banish all the world...
- Falstaff...Nobody is interested in your frustrations....So sorry.. We're talking about The Comedy of Errors, here.
- Ah.. Actually I think there are a lot of errors, in this book.
- Ah, that's a good remark, Falstaff ! How did you figure it out ?
- Ah... uh....From the title...
- Damn.... quite a nightmare..
Égéon, you're a famous merchant in this tale, you surely have something to sale. I mean, to say... Isn't it ?
- Well.. as you well said, I'm a famous merchant, not a literary critic. Are you interested in my Error Correction Machine, perhaps ? I'II make a good price, for you, it's Black Friday, after all.
- An Error Correction Machine ? That sounds interesting. What kind of errors ?
- Ah, that depends on the program requested. The Time Traveling Backup, for example, sends your files back in time to before they were accidentally deleted, complete with a parchment scroll user interface.
- What the h..
- Ah, so you want The Clippy's Cousin Feature, as I see. That one is even more performing, it introduces a helpful paperclip assistant that offers advice in Shakespearean English, whether thou wantest it or not.
- Égéon , I think you talk about " The Tragic Life of Clippy" , the world's most hated virtual assistant, right ? Something is rotten in Denmark...What could be ?
- No idea, sir. Rots are not my strong point....
- Balthazar, I see you're very agitated. Surely you have a bold insight to tell us. Shoot.
- I...I...I... I need to p..p..pee.....
- Request rejected. The bell hasn't rung yet. Besides, all you need is love.
Alright, folks. Your opinions were very interesting. It is q... Yes, Othello, you have something to say ?
- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day ?
- Othello...I'm moved to tears. Did you stick your nose in Égéon's machine ? Those are Sonnet 18's words, but I appreciate. All's well that ends well.
Good Lord... what's that smell ..Balthazar, get out, Now !
- To be or not to be, that's is th...
- Antipholus of Syracuse, this quote is not yours, try to be original, for God's sake.
- Hamlet : - It's okay. He can use my sentence, but the presence of skull is mandatory. Or, at least, a coccyx, or something..
- Thank you, Hamlet. You're very kind, but let him use his own neuron. Dromio of Ephesus , what's your take ?
- I did not understand anything, sir. Oh...but I'II like to have a horse. I'd give my kingdom for a horse.
- Sorry, Dromio, the horse was taken by Richard III. Does anyone have an opinion on The Comedy of Errors ? Juliette, maybe you ?
- Oh... I love Roméo, more than anything in the world...
- That's so nice, Juliette. Keep loving. Hey, Falstaff, take your finger out of your nose, and tell us something about The Comedy of Errors, please.
- Huh.. If to be fat be to be hated, then...banish plump Jack, and banish all the world...
- Falstaff...Nobody is interested in your frustrations....So sorry.. We're talking about The Comedy of Errors, here.
- Ah.. Actually I think there are a lot of errors, in this book.
- Ah, that's a good remark, Falstaff ! How did you figure it out ?
- Ah... uh....From the title...
- Damn.... quite a nightmare..
Égéon, you're a famous merchant in this tale, you surely have something to sale. I mean, to say... Isn't it ?
- Well.. as you well said, I'm a famous merchant, not a literary critic. Are you interested in my Error Correction Machine, perhaps ? I'II make a good price, for you, it's Black Friday, after all.
- An Error Correction Machine ? That sounds interesting. What kind of errors ?
- Ah, that depends on the program requested. The Time Traveling Backup, for example, sends your files back in time to before they were accidentally deleted, complete with a parchment scroll user interface.
- What the h..
- Ah, so you want The Clippy's Cousin Feature, as I see. That one is even more performing, it introduces a helpful paperclip assistant that offers advice in Shakespearean English, whether thou wantest it or not.
- Égéon , I think you talk about " The Tragic Life of Clippy" , the world's most hated virtual assistant, right ? Something is rotten in Denmark...What could be ?
- No idea, sir. Rots are not my strong point....
- Balthazar, I see you're very agitated. Surely you have a bold insight to tell us. Shoot.
- I...I...I... I need to p..p..pee.....
- Request rejected. The bell hasn't rung yet. Besides, all you need is love.
Alright, folks. Your opinions were very interesting. It is q... Yes, Othello, you have something to say ?
- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day ?
- Othello...I'm moved to tears. Did you stick your nose in Égéon's machine ? Those are Sonnet 18's words, but I appreciate. All's well that ends well.
Good Lord... what's that smell ..Balthazar, get out, Now !
July 1, 2018
“Headstrong liberty is lashed with woe.”
“The Comedy of Errors” is regarded as a slight work of Shakespeare’s. As if the fact that it is a farce somehow diminishes it. That is ridiculous. Accept this play on its own terms. This early play of the Bard’s is one of Shakespeare’s shortest and quickest reads. There is not a lot of depth or subtext, and that is fine.
I gave "The Comedy of Errors” a 3 star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.
The Introduction by Frances Dolan (in this edition) is fine. It contains nothing earth shattering, but some nice points are made, especially about the use of violence in comedy.
As mentioned, this play is a farce, lots of mistaken identity, near misses, etc. Two sets of twins (unknown to the other) are in the same place at the same time. The mayhem reaches a fever pitch in the delightful Act IV. “The Comedy of Errors” when well done would be a lot of fun in performance. Although it is a bit simple, I really enjoyed the minor subplot of Dromio of Syracuse running from the amorous attentions of a large kitchen maid that we never see. The fact that Shakespeare never lets us see this woman is genius as nothing could be funnier than the version of her each reader creates in their head. The same device was used to perfection in the sitcom “Frasier” in the character of the oft mentioned and never seen Maris.
The text has a happy dénouement and conclusion, as farce must, and it is one of the swiftest in Shakespeare. Succinct, unquestioned, and done!
In “The Comedy of Errors” one sees the budding that later blooms in Shakespeare’s mature works. And this play’s influence has been felt in dramatic literature as it clearly influences most of the great farces that followed it, from Feydeau’s “A Flea in her Ear” to TV’s aforementioned “Frasier”.
The Pelican editions of Shakespeare contain some simple yet informative essays, “Theatrical World” & “The Texts of Shakespeare” that preface every play in this Pelican series. They are worth a read.
As for the Pelican Shakespeare series, they are one of my two favorite editions since the scholarly research is usually top notch and the editions themselves look good as an aesthetic unit. It looks and feels like a play and this compliments the text's contents admirably. The Pelican series was recently reedited and has the latest scholarship on Shakespeare and his time period. Well priced and well worth it.
“The Comedy of Errors” is regarded as a slight work of Shakespeare’s. As if the fact that it is a farce somehow diminishes it. That is ridiculous. Accept this play on its own terms. This early play of the Bard’s is one of Shakespeare’s shortest and quickest reads. There is not a lot of depth or subtext, and that is fine.
I gave "The Comedy of Errors” a 3 star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.
The Introduction by Frances Dolan (in this edition) is fine. It contains nothing earth shattering, but some nice points are made, especially about the use of violence in comedy.
As mentioned, this play is a farce, lots of mistaken identity, near misses, etc. Two sets of twins (unknown to the other) are in the same place at the same time. The mayhem reaches a fever pitch in the delightful Act IV. “The Comedy of Errors” when well done would be a lot of fun in performance. Although it is a bit simple, I really enjoyed the minor subplot of Dromio of Syracuse running from the amorous attentions of a large kitchen maid that we never see. The fact that Shakespeare never lets us see this woman is genius as nothing could be funnier than the version of her each reader creates in their head. The same device was used to perfection in the sitcom “Frasier” in the character of the oft mentioned and never seen Maris.
The text has a happy dénouement and conclusion, as farce must, and it is one of the swiftest in Shakespeare. Succinct, unquestioned, and done!
In “The Comedy of Errors” one sees the budding that later blooms in Shakespeare’s mature works. And this play’s influence has been felt in dramatic literature as it clearly influences most of the great farces that followed it, from Feydeau’s “A Flea in her Ear” to TV’s aforementioned “Frasier”.
The Pelican editions of Shakespeare contain some simple yet informative essays, “Theatrical World” & “The Texts of Shakespeare” that preface every play in this Pelican series. They are worth a read.
As for the Pelican Shakespeare series, they are one of my two favorite editions since the scholarly research is usually top notch and the editions themselves look good as an aesthetic unit. It looks and feels like a play and this compliments the text's contents admirably. The Pelican series was recently reedited and has the latest scholarship on Shakespeare and his time period. Well priced and well worth it.
April 6, 2022
The shortest of his catalog, this is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and a popular one during his lifetime. It is the only one, along with the Tempest, that follows the Aristotelian structure of unity (same day, same place, unified plot). It is the story of mistaken identity which is all resolved in time for dinner. It has its moments, but it was not really a belly-laugh kind of play for me.
Fino's Reviews of Shakespeare and Shakespearean Criticism
Comedies
The Comedy of Errors (1592-1593
The Taming of the Shrew (1593-1594)
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594-1595)
Love's Labour's Lost (1594-1595)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595-1596)
The Merchant of Venice (1596-1597)
Much Ado About Nothing (1598-1599)
As You Like It (1599-1600)
Twelfth Night (1599-1600)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1600-1601)
All's Well That Ends Well (1602-1603)
Measure for Measure (1604-1605)
Cymbeline (1609-1610)
A Winter's Tale (1610-1611)
The Tempest (1611-1612)
Two Noble Kinsmen (1612-1613)
Histories
Henry VI Part I (1589-1590)
Henry VI Part II (1590-1591)
Henry VI Part III (1590-1591)
Richard III (1593-1594)
Richard II (1595-1596)
King John (1596-1597)
Edward III (1596-1597)
Henry IV Part I (1597-1598)
Henry IV Part II (1597-1598)
Henry V (1598-1599)
Henry VIII (1612-1612)
Tragedies
Titus Andronicus (1592-1593)
Romeo and Juliet (1594-1595)
Julius Caesar (1599-1600)
Hamlet (1600-1601)
Troilus and Cressida (1601-1602)
Othello (1604-1605)
King Lear (1605-1606)
Macbeth (1605-1606)
Anthony and Cleopatra (1606-1607)
Coriolanus (1607-1608)
Timon of Athens (1607-1608)
Pericles (1608-1609)
Shakespearean Criticism
The Wheel of Fire by Wilson Knight
A Natural Perspective by Northrop Frye
Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber
Shakespeare's Roman Plays and Their Background by M W MacCallum
Shakespearean Criticism 1919-1935 compiled by Anne Ridler
Shakespearean Tragedy by A.C. Bradley
Shakespeare's Sexual Comedy by Hugh M. Richmond
Shakespeare: The Comedies by R.P. Draper
Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics by Stephen Greenblatt
1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro
Collections of Shakespeare
Venus and Adonis, the Rape of Lucrece and Other Poems
Shakespeare's Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint
The Complete Oxford Shakespeare
Fino's Reviews of Shakespeare and Shakespearean Criticism
Comedies
The Comedy of Errors (1592-1593
The Taming of the Shrew (1593-1594)
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594-1595)
Love's Labour's Lost (1594-1595)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595-1596)
The Merchant of Venice (1596-1597)
Much Ado About Nothing (1598-1599)
As You Like It (1599-1600)
Twelfth Night (1599-1600)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1600-1601)
All's Well That Ends Well (1602-1603)
Measure for Measure (1604-1605)
Cymbeline (1609-1610)
A Winter's Tale (1610-1611)
The Tempest (1611-1612)
Two Noble Kinsmen (1612-1613)
Histories
Henry VI Part I (1589-1590)
Henry VI Part II (1590-1591)
Henry VI Part III (1590-1591)
Richard III (1593-1594)
Richard II (1595-1596)
King John (1596-1597)
Edward III (1596-1597)
Henry IV Part I (1597-1598)
Henry IV Part II (1597-1598)
Henry V (1598-1599)
Henry VIII (1612-1612)
Tragedies
Titus Andronicus (1592-1593)
Romeo and Juliet (1594-1595)
Julius Caesar (1599-1600)
Hamlet (1600-1601)
Troilus and Cressida (1601-1602)
Othello (1604-1605)
King Lear (1605-1606)
Macbeth (1605-1606)
Anthony and Cleopatra (1606-1607)
Coriolanus (1607-1608)
Timon of Athens (1607-1608)
Pericles (1608-1609)
Shakespearean Criticism
The Wheel of Fire by Wilson Knight
A Natural Perspective by Northrop Frye
Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber
Shakespeare's Roman Plays and Their Background by M W MacCallum
Shakespearean Criticism 1919-1935 compiled by Anne Ridler
Shakespearean Tragedy by A.C. Bradley
Shakespeare's Sexual Comedy by Hugh M. Richmond
Shakespeare: The Comedies by R.P. Draper
Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics by Stephen Greenblatt
1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro
Collections of Shakespeare
Venus and Adonis, the Rape of Lucrece and Other Poems
Shakespeare's Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint
The Complete Oxford Shakespeare
October 20, 2017
Love it.
Twins Comedy in every scene was flawless and Hilarious !!
Extravagant comic Drama by The Legend.
Words were enough to set up the drama.
Beauty of writing comprehensively has seen as well the tempo of the drama.
I've enjoyed it thoroughly.
Twins Comedy in every scene was flawless and Hilarious !!
Extravagant comic Drama by The Legend.
Words were enough to set up the drama.
Beauty of writing comprehensively has seen as well the tempo of the drama.
I've enjoyed it thoroughly.
June 24, 2024
This work is a story of confusion and misunderstandings between two pairs of twins – two brothers and two servants – who move from one side to the other without bumping into each other, promoting a multitude of misunderstandings among the other characters who see them act, who are also unconscious. They are in front of a replica of two identical figures. The spectators are the only ones who know everything, and the venerable listeners guess. That's right. Everything is addressed to Shakespeare's audience so that the spectator has the actual dimension of this plot, whose protagonist is not limited to an exceptionally prominent figure but responds to the entire symphonic body that plays light and fun melodies.
January 24, 2022
De las obras que hasta ahora leí del autor me parece es la mas característica de su estilo, en general me entretuvo bastante.
video resena completa en:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYZOqmelCA0/
video resena completa en:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYZOqmelCA0/
November 6, 2010
So I was having dinner with Garry Kasparov and there was a check tablecloth. It took him two hours to pass me the salt.
So I said "Do you want a game of Darts?", he said "OK then", I said "Nearest to bull starts". He said "Baa", I said "Moo", he said "You're closest".
So I went down the local supermarket, I said "I want to make a complaint, this vinegar's got lumps in it", he said "Those are pickled onions".
I saw this bloke chatting up a cheetah, I thought "he's trying to pull a fast one".
But I'm in great mood tonight because the other day I entered a competition and I won a years supply of Marmite......... one jar.
So I rang up British Telecom, I said "I want to report a nuisance caller", he said "Not you again".
So I was in Tesco's and I saw this man and woman wrapped in a barcode. I said "Are you two an item?".
Four fonts walk into a bar The barman says "Oi - get out! We don't want your type in here".
A jump-lead walks into a bar. The barman says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything".
A priest, a rabbi and a vicar walk into a bar. The barman says, "Is this some kind of joke?".
A sandwich walks into a bar. The barman says "Sorry we don't serve food in here".
A seal walks into a club...
A man walks into a bar with a roll of tarmac under his arm and says: "Pint please, and one for the road.".
I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said, 'Thyroid problem?'
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realised that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me.
I was doing some decorating, so I got out my step-ladder. I don't get on with my real ladder.
I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, Six should be enough."
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?
Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.
So I said "Do you want a game of Darts?", he said "OK then", I said "Nearest to bull starts". He said "Baa", I said "Moo", he said "You're closest".
So I went down the local supermarket, I said "I want to make a complaint, this vinegar's got lumps in it", he said "Those are pickled onions".
I saw this bloke chatting up a cheetah, I thought "he's trying to pull a fast one".
But I'm in great mood tonight because the other day I entered a competition and I won a years supply of Marmite......... one jar.
So I rang up British Telecom, I said "I want to report a nuisance caller", he said "Not you again".
So I was in Tesco's and I saw this man and woman wrapped in a barcode. I said "Are you two an item?".
Four fonts walk into a bar The barman says "Oi - get out! We don't want your type in here".
A jump-lead walks into a bar. The barman says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything".
A priest, a rabbi and a vicar walk into a bar. The barman says, "Is this some kind of joke?".
A sandwich walks into a bar. The barman says "Sorry we don't serve food in here".
A seal walks into a club...
A man walks into a bar with a roll of tarmac under his arm and says: "Pint please, and one for the road.".
I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said, 'Thyroid problem?'
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realised that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me.
I was doing some decorating, so I got out my step-ladder. I don't get on with my real ladder.
I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, Six should be enough."
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?
Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.
August 23, 2016
اساس "كمدى اشتباهات" مثل "رؤیای یک شب نیمه تابستان"، بر اشتباه گرفتن ها و جا به جا شدن هاست، شخصيت اول به جاى شخصيت دومى گرفته میشه و دومى به جاى سومى و اين كلاف سر در گم وضعيت مضحكى پديد میاره كه بار طنز نمايشنامه بر اونه.
به نظرم اين شيوه در "رؤيا" هنرمندانه تر و طنازانه تر به كار گرفته شده تا كمدى اشتباهات، هر چند كمدى اشتباهات هم به قدر كافى مفرّح بود.
بعد التحریر:
با دیدن فیلم اجرای نمایش در یوتیوب، متوجه شدم که کل کل های شخصیت ها قافیه دار بوده، و این خودش موجب خنده دارتر شدن میشه. ولی هم قافیه در ترجمه از دست رفته، و هم طنز ماجرا.
بعد بعد التحریر:
شاید این که همه ی دیالوگ ها مقفّا باشه، چندان هم جالب نباشه. گفتگوهای طنز بین ارباب و نوکر یا بین دو متخاصم به صورت مقفّا خنده دارتر میشن، ولی نه گفتگوهای معمولی.
به نظرم اين شيوه در "رؤيا" هنرمندانه تر و طنازانه تر به كار گرفته شده تا كمدى اشتباهات، هر چند كمدى اشتباهات هم به قدر كافى مفرّح بود.
بعد التحریر:
با دیدن فیلم اجرای نمایش در یوتیوب، متوجه شدم که کل کل های شخصیت ها قافیه دار بوده، و این خودش موجب خنده دارتر شدن میشه. ولی هم قافیه در ترجمه از دست رفته، و هم طنز ماجرا.
بعد بعد التحریر:
شاید این که همه ی دیالوگ ها مقفّا باشه، چندان هم جالب نباشه. گفتگوهای طنز بین ارباب و نوکر یا بین دو متخاصم به صورت مقفّا خنده دارتر میشن، ولی نه گفتگوهای معمولی.
September 11, 2022
YouTube kanalımda Shakespeare'in hayatı, mutlaka okunması gereken kitapları ve kronolojik okuma sırası hakkında bilgi edinebilirsiniz: https://youtu.be/rGxh2RVjmNU
Yanlışlıklar içinde bulunmadan doğruluklara ulaşabilir miyiz? Yaptığımız hatalar kendi amaç çemberimizden uzaklaşmamıza neden olmuyor mu? Ama o çemberden uzaklaştığımız kadar da bu çemberin varlığının farkına varmaz mıyız?
Doğumumuzdan beri yanlış ve doğru adında iki yol öğretilir bize, Mavi Sakal'ın "İki yol var demiştim. Hangisini seçeyim?" sorusu gibi biz de hayatımızda pek çok kez iki yoldan birini seçmeye odaklanmışızdır, belki de bu iki yolun sonu da aynıdır. Fakat bu seçimlerin girdabı arasında insanların esas düşüncelerine aslında ne kadar az önem veriyoruzdur ve dış görünüş oltasına takılan bir balıktan ibaret oluyoruzdur. Büyük hikayeyi görmek uğruna yaptığımız bütün atılımlar bizi konudan uzaklaştırmaktan başka bir şeye yaramıyordur...
Dış görünüşlerin insan gözündeki dansı şizofreniktir. Yanlış dış görünüşlere kanmadan doğru iç görünüşlere ulaşamayacağımız kesindir. Belki de zikzaklı ve dengesiz yaşamlarımıza aynı şekilde dengesiz dış görünüşler transpoze etmek isteriz. Fakat bunu da yine karşımızdakini dinlemeden tamamen kendimiz konuşacak şekilde yaparız. Sadece kendimizin konuştuğu ses dalgaları, akşamdan kalmış düşünce sarhoşluğunun sabahki mide bulantısından başka bir şey olmayabilir çoğu zaman.
Sonra Shakespeare gelir, 8 kitap okudun benden der, ne öğrendin peki? diye sorar. İnsan ilişkilerinde konuşmanın bir sanat olduğu gibi dinlemenin de bir sanat olduğunu öğrenebildin mi? Dış görünüşte yılanların sık sık ve düzenli olarak değiştirdiği derinin yerine iç görünüşteki magmaya odaklanabildin mi? Sen de o magmada birileriyle yandın mı? Yanlışlıklarla karşılaşmadan bilince ve doğruya ulaşamayacağını da mı anlamadın? Proust da Kayıp Zamanın İzinde serisinde insanın verimli zaman geçirebilmesi için saçma sapan insanlarla takılıp zamanını harcaması gerektiğini söylememiş miydi? diye türlü türlü soru sorar Shakespeare.
Cevaplardan sonra değil aslında sorulardan sonra insan kişisel olarak gelişir. Bertrand Russell felsefenin tanımını yaparken; "Felsefe, onun sorularına kesin yanıtlar almak için değil,
çünkü kural olarak kesin yanıtların doğruluğu bilinemez, soruların kendileri için öğrenilmelidir" demiş ya. Hah, evet işte! Ben de diyorum ki:
"Shakespeare, onun sorularına kesin yanıtlar almak için değil, çünkü kural olarak kesin yanıtların doğruluğu bilinemez,
Shakespeare'in oyunlarının kendileri için öğrenilmelidir."
Bir edebiyat yemeği düşünün ve bu yemeğin çok sağlıklı göründüğünün farkındasınız. İçerisinde Yunan mitolojisi çorbası, İtalyan Edebiyatı ara sıcağı, insan ilişkileri ana yemeği, kadın-erkek çıkmazları içeceği ve dönemin siyasi karışıklıkları tatlısı var. İşte... Ben de Shakespeare okurken edebi olarak bu kadar doyuyorum.
Yanlışlıklar içinde bulunmadan doğruluklara ulaşabilir miyiz? Yaptığımız hatalar kendi amaç çemberimizden uzaklaşmamıza neden olmuyor mu? Ama o çemberden uzaklaştığımız kadar da bu çemberin varlığının farkına varmaz mıyız?
Doğumumuzdan beri yanlış ve doğru adında iki yol öğretilir bize, Mavi Sakal'ın "İki yol var demiştim. Hangisini seçeyim?" sorusu gibi biz de hayatımızda pek çok kez iki yoldan birini seçmeye odaklanmışızdır, belki de bu iki yolun sonu da aynıdır. Fakat bu seçimlerin girdabı arasında insanların esas düşüncelerine aslında ne kadar az önem veriyoruzdur ve dış görünüş oltasına takılan bir balıktan ibaret oluyoruzdur. Büyük hikayeyi görmek uğruna yaptığımız bütün atılımlar bizi konudan uzaklaştırmaktan başka bir şeye yaramıyordur...
Dış görünüşlerin insan gözündeki dansı şizofreniktir. Yanlış dış görünüşlere kanmadan doğru iç görünüşlere ulaşamayacağımız kesindir. Belki de zikzaklı ve dengesiz yaşamlarımıza aynı şekilde dengesiz dış görünüşler transpoze etmek isteriz. Fakat bunu da yine karşımızdakini dinlemeden tamamen kendimiz konuşacak şekilde yaparız. Sadece kendimizin konuştuğu ses dalgaları, akşamdan kalmış düşünce sarhoşluğunun sabahki mide bulantısından başka bir şey olmayabilir çoğu zaman.
Sonra Shakespeare gelir, 8 kitap okudun benden der, ne öğrendin peki? diye sorar. İnsan ilişkilerinde konuşmanın bir sanat olduğu gibi dinlemenin de bir sanat olduğunu öğrenebildin mi? Dış görünüşte yılanların sık sık ve düzenli olarak değiştirdiği derinin yerine iç görünüşteki magmaya odaklanabildin mi? Sen de o magmada birileriyle yandın mı? Yanlışlıklarla karşılaşmadan bilince ve doğruya ulaşamayacağını da mı anlamadın? Proust da Kayıp Zamanın İzinde serisinde insanın verimli zaman geçirebilmesi için saçma sapan insanlarla takılıp zamanını harcaması gerektiğini söylememiş miydi? diye türlü türlü soru sorar Shakespeare.
Cevaplardan sonra değil aslında sorulardan sonra insan kişisel olarak gelişir. Bertrand Russell felsefenin tanımını yaparken; "Felsefe, onun sorularına kesin yanıtlar almak için değil,
çünkü kural olarak kesin yanıtların doğruluğu bilinemez, soruların kendileri için öğrenilmelidir" demiş ya. Hah, evet işte! Ben de diyorum ki:
"Shakespeare, onun sorularına kesin yanıtlar almak için değil, çünkü kural olarak kesin yanıtların doğruluğu bilinemez,
Shakespeare'in oyunlarının kendileri için öğrenilmelidir."
Bir edebiyat yemeği düşünün ve bu yemeğin çok sağlıklı göründüğünün farkındasınız. İçerisinde Yunan mitolojisi çorbası, İtalyan Edebiyatı ara sıcağı, insan ilişkileri ana yemeği, kadın-erkek çıkmazları içeceği ve dönemin siyasi karışıklıkları tatlısı var. İşte... Ben de Shakespeare okurken edebi olarak bu kadar doyuyorum.
January 14, 2025
عوض شدن جای دوقلوها به خودیِ خود موقعیتی کمدیست، چه برسد که جای یکی، دو جفت دوقلو داشته باشیم که از بچگی از هم جدا افتاده باشند. میتوانیم سختگیرتر باشیم و شکسپیر را با معیارهای امروزی قضاوت کنیم و بگوییم در تمام این سالها این موقعیت آنقدر در تلویزیون و سینما تکرار شده که امروز نخنما بهنظر میرسد. یا منصفتر باشیم و بگوییم اثر شکسپیر آنقدر ماندگار بوده که ردپایش را در تمام موقعیتهای اینچنینی ببینیم.
کمدی اشتباهات یکی از اولین کمدیهای شکسپیر است که بنمایهاش هویتهای اشتباهیست، یعنی همان مضمونی که در بسیاری از آثار بهتر و خواندهشدهترش مثل شب دوازدهم و هرطور شما دوست دارید تکرار میشوند. حدس میزنند شکسپیر خودش این ایده را از نمایشنامهای رومی گرفته، اما آن را بهگونهای با عناصری از زمانهی معاصرش پیوند زده که بهاصطلاح اثر را مال خود کرده است. این عناصر چه هستند؟
— جامعهی طبقاتی انگلستان عصر الیزابت. رابطهی ارباب و خدمتکار یکی از ستونهای مهم کمدی شکسپیریست. خدمتکار معمولن زبر و زرنگ است و با هوش بالایش عهدهدار بخش بزرگ طنز کلامی اثر میشود —که البته برای مخاطب غیرانگلیسیزبان جذابیت کمتری دارد. ارباب اما بهجای بلاغت و فصاحت زور دارد و به بهانههای مختلف خدمتکار را میزند تا کمی هم کمدی بزنبکوب (اِسلَپاستیک) و مسخرگی داشته باشیم (که این بخش هم تنها در اجرا دیده میشود و نه متن).
— زن سرکش، به عنوان یکی از موتیفهای مورد علاقهی آن زمان، اولین بار سروکلهاش اینجا پیدا میشود. طبیعتن انتظار نداریم که شکسپیر با او همدل باشد، اما تعادل ظریف و قابل توجهی بین سه شخصیت زن نمایش برقرار میکند: آدریانا که به آزادی بیش از حد شوهرش و دیگر مردان معترض است و زیر بار زور نمیرود، لوسیانا که منفعل و حرفگوش است و میگوید مرد همین که مرد است یعنی میتواند هر کاری خواست بکند و امیلیا، راهبهی ارشدی که نظم موجود را به چالش نمیکشد، اما از عاملیتش آگاه است و از قدرتش استفاده میکند.
— تلفیق تراژدی و کمدی. همان ابتدای کار خطر اعدام روی گردن یکی از شخصیتها سنگینی میکند. بعد او را رها میکنیم و به داستان اصلی میپردازیم تا دوباره در پردهی آخر به خطر مرگ و تراژدی برگردیم. این هم تعادل قابل توجهیست که نشان میدهد در دنیای شکسپیر چه فاصلهی کمی میان غم و شادی وجود دارد.
— و بلاخره اشاراتی به جنگهای داخلی فرانسه، استعمار آمریکا، تب جادوگری و نشانههای از کلیسای کاتولیک مثل تسبیح و کشیدن علامت صلیب —که در دوران اصلاحات پروتستان عتیقه و ازمدافتاده حساب میشدند.
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خواندهشده از سری پلیکان انتشارات پنگوئن، با پانویسهای پرتعداد و مناسب و مقدمههای مختصر و مفید.
کمدی اشتباهات یکی از اولین کمدیهای شکسپیر است که بنمایهاش هویتهای اشتباهیست، یعنی همان مضمونی که در بسیاری از آثار بهتر و خواندهشدهترش مثل شب دوازدهم و هرطور شما دوست دارید تکرار میشوند. حدس میزنند شکسپیر خودش این ایده را از نمایشنامهای رومی گرفته، اما آن را بهگونهای با عناصری از زمانهی معاصرش پیوند زده که بهاصطلاح اثر را مال خود کرده است. این عناصر چه هستند؟
— جامعهی طبقاتی انگلستان عصر الیزابت. رابطهی ارباب و خدمتکار یکی از ستونهای مهم کمدی شکسپیریست. خدمتکار معمولن زبر و زرنگ است و با هوش بالایش عهدهدار بخش بزرگ طنز کلامی اثر میشود —که البته برای مخاطب غیرانگلیسیزبان جذابیت کمتری دارد. ارباب اما بهجای بلاغت و فصاحت زور دارد و به بهانههای مختلف خدمتکار را میزند تا کمی هم کمدی بزنبکوب (اِسلَپاستیک) و مسخرگی داشته باشیم (که این بخش هم تنها در اجرا دیده میشود و نه متن).
— زن سرکش، به عنوان یکی از موتیفهای مورد علاقهی آن زمان، اولین بار سروکلهاش اینجا پیدا میشود. طبیعتن انتظار نداریم که شکسپیر با او همدل باشد، اما تعادل ظریف و قابل توجهی بین سه شخصیت زن نمایش برقرار میکند: آدریانا که به آزادی بیش از حد شوهرش و دیگر مردان معترض است و زیر بار زور نمیرود، لوسیانا که منفعل و حرفگوش است و میگوید مرد همین که مرد است یعنی میتواند هر کاری خواست بکند و امیلیا، راهبهی ارشدی که نظم موجود را به چالش نمیکشد، اما از عاملیتش آگاه است و از قدرتش استفاده میکند.
— تلفیق تراژدی و کمدی. همان ابتدای کار خطر اعدام روی گردن یکی از شخصیتها سنگینی میکند. بعد او را رها میکنیم و به داستان اصلی میپردازیم تا دوباره در پردهی آخر به خطر مرگ و تراژدی برگردیم. این هم تعادل قابل توجهیست که نشان میدهد در دنیای شکسپیر چه فاصلهی کمی میان غم و شادی وجود دارد.
— و بلاخره اشاراتی به جنگهای داخلی فرانسه، استعمار آمریکا، تب جادوگری و نشانههای از کلیسای کاتولیک مثل تسبیح و کشیدن علامت صلیب —که در دوران اصلاحات پروتستان عتیقه و ازمدافتاده حساب میشدند.
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خواندهشده از سری پلیکان انتشارات پنگوئن، با پانویسهای پرتعداد و مناسب و مقدمههای مختصر و مفید.
December 13, 2020
şimdiye kadar okuduğum en eğlenceli shakespeare kitabıydı. tek sıkıntım olayın çabucak tatlıya bağlanması. ya ben o an çok dalgındım ve neler olduğunu kaçırdım veya roman kafasıyla düşündüğüm için öyle ilerlemesini bekledim.
May 24, 2019
Είχα καιρό να γελάσω και να διασκεδάσω τόσο πολύ με κάποιο βιβλίο.
Το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους.
Το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους.
February 13, 2019
What a wonderful play this was! And without doubt, this was my quickest read ever. It was hilarious and I couldn't help laughing aloud all along.
The key theme is mistaken identity and the chaos that ensues in the wake of that mistaken identity. It looks like Shakespeare was in love with the theme of mistaken identity which he used later in his comedy, Twelfth Night.
In this play, there are two sets of master and servant who are identical. In fact, the master pair and the servant pair are twins who have been estranged at birth. Neither one knows that he has a twin brother. In this light, only confusion can follow when the two set were thrown in the same city.
It was an entertaining read. And by far, this is the funniest Shakespearean play I have read. Enjoyed it.
The key theme is mistaken identity and the chaos that ensues in the wake of that mistaken identity. It looks like Shakespeare was in love with the theme of mistaken identity which he used later in his comedy, Twelfth Night.
In this play, there are two sets of master and servant who are identical. In fact, the master pair and the servant pair are twins who have been estranged at birth. Neither one knows that he has a twin brother. In this light, only confusion can follow when the two set were thrown in the same city.
It was an entertaining read. And by far, this is the funniest Shakespearean play I have read. Enjoyed it.
January 19, 2022
Consta que foi a primeira peça escrita por Shakespeare, inspirada no teatro grego. Não se saiu mal; apesar de bastante previsível é leve, divertida e com umas alfinetadas que iria manter e aprimorar em obras futuras.
June 23, 2014
After the brilliance of The Taming of the Shrew with its pitch-perfect comedy of cruelty, The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s (likely) follow-up, is a let-down that will probably appeal to uncouth readers with puritanical leanings more so than to enlightened and cultured readers, such as myself. TCoE is a slapstick farce involving a pair of twins (as in an actual pair of twins) separated at birth and the zaniness that ensues when the two sets'—each sporting a nobleman and a bawdy servant—paths cross in Ephesus. The play is one continuous “Who’s on 1st?” gag that irreverently jounces around domestic unrest and dirty puns. This is probably the most workman of the plays I’ve read by our hydrocephalic bard, but the careful reader can still manage to gleam a few tentative peeps of the inimitable mastery of the English language that indisputably defines Shakespeare as an artist wholly unto himself.
October 10, 2024
„...а знайте: клеветата се множи
чрез нови поколения лъжи
и наемателка е тя такава,
че дето се намести, там остава!“
Страшно приятна комедия! В нея става дума за перипетиите на две двойки близнаци, които се оказват едновременно в град Ефес, но никой от тях не знае, че има брат. Шекспир е изградил доста динамична и вълнуваща история, изпълнена с опасни, но и забавни ситуации...
„ЛУЧИАНА
Че тъй кажи! То всичко в ред било:
кой плаче по загубеното зло?
АДРИАНА
Е, да, но аз портрет му правя точно
обратен, за пред чуждите очи —
така калугеричката нарочно
далече от гнездото си цвърчи.
Със хулна реч обсипа го езика,
но вътре в мен сърцето ми го вика!“
Превод: Валери Петров
чрез нови поколения лъжи
и наемателка е тя такава,
че дето се намести, там остава!“
Страшно приятна комедия! В нея става дума за перипетиите на две двойки близнаци, които се оказват едновременно в град Ефес, но никой от тях не знае, че има брат. Шекспир е изградил доста динамична и вълнуваща история, изпълнена с опасни, но и забавни ситуации...
„ЛУЧИАНА
Че тъй кажи! То всичко в ред било:
кой плаче по загубеното зло?
АДРИАНА
Е, да, но аз портрет му правя точно
обратен, за пред чуждите очи —
така калугеричката нарочно
далече от гнездото си цвърчи.
Със хулна реч обсипа го езика,
но вътре в мен сърцето ми го вика!“
Превод: Валери Петров
September 30, 2018
Aslında adı "Yanılgılar Komedyası" olan; fakat dilimize "The Comedy of Errors / Yanlışlıklar Komedyası" olarak geçen William Shakespeare'in mizah dolu oyunu oldukça zekice ve titizlikle yazılmış harika bir eser. Meşhur Shakespeare tesadüflerinin bulunduğu kitapta karakterlerin birbirleriyle karşıtırılmasıyla gelişen olayları okurken gülmekten yarılıyorsunuz. Gerçekten yazarın ne kadar yetenekli olduğu her bir satırda tekrar tekrar tanıklık ettiğiniz eserin Shakespeare'e başlamak için en ideal eserler arasında olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
03.06.2013
Binghamton, NY
Alp Turgut
http://www.filmdoktoru.com/kitap-labo...
03.06.2013
Binghamton, NY
Alp Turgut
http://www.filmdoktoru.com/kitap-labo...
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January 19, 2022Bugün ikinci defa okudum ve bir defa daha çok eğlenerek; keyif alarak okudum. Bazı sahnelerde kahkaha atmamak için kendimi zor tuttum. Hiç izlemedim ama okurken bu kadar keyif alınıyorsa izlemesine doyum olmamalı.
Esinlendiği tiyatro olan Plautus'un eserini de okumuştum fakat kesinlikle Shakespeare kendine özgü bir dokunuş katmış.
Esinlendiği tiyatro olan Plautus'un eserini de okumuştum fakat kesinlikle Shakespeare kendine özgü bir dokunuş katmış.
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