English Poet: William Shakespeare — The Comedies

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Pulitzer Poetry Prize (U.S.A). Rainer Maria Rilke Richard Hugo. Robert Bly. Sara Teasdale.
Shiki (haiku). Snorri's Edda. Stephen Dunn. Ted Kooser. W.S. Merwin. William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare — The Comedies

Features of comedies seem to include:

None of the seen characters dies. (Sometimes an off-stage father dies.)
The blokes have most (sometimes all) the power over women. It's a thrilling difference when the women show themselves wiser and more at choice: the Princess in Love's Labour's Lost, Portia in The Merchant of Venice and so on.

Likely written Title Scenes Line count
(Bevington) Mis-identity Disguise Rich wife Love and marital roles Death reprieve Act 5 revelations Other

1592-94 The Comedy of Errors 11 1919 Yes No Yes Important and discussed Yes Two sets of twins; a lost mother found. A farce (played for laughs rather than character).

1592-94 The Two Gentlemen of Verona 20 2298 Yes Yes Yes Yes; also friendship's loyalties. Banish-ment reprieve Julia's disguise as a boy. Rings. Valentine hands off his would-be bride to Proteus. A romantic comedy with implausibilities of plot and character.

1593-94 The Taming of the Shrew 11 2750 Yes Yes Yes Crucial No Two masters and one servant. Often classed as a farce (played for laughs rather than character), despite its pre-marital and marital abuse.

1594-95 Love's Labor's Lost 9 2900 Yes Yes Yes Important No Four Russians unmasked. The ladies' not having taken seriously the young men's protestations. Death of a father. A beautiful romantic comedy with maturity and realism by the women balancing the questionable steadfastness of the men.

1594-95 A Midsummer Night's Dream 9 2222 Yes Yes Yes Important No None. Puck (Robin Goodfellow) is careless and a bully.

1596-97 The Merchant of Venice 20 2738 Yes Yes Yes Important Yes Portia was the judge; and in disguise obtained her own ring from her betrothed Bessanio. Similarly Nerissa was her clerk and likewise obtained her ring from Gratiano. While all Portia's property will go to profligate Bassanio on marriage, still she has personality and wit that might serve to check him.

1597 The Merry Wives of Windsor 23 2729 Yes Yes Yes Crucial No John Falstaff learns of the wives' plots; Ford accepts his wife's faithfulness. -

1598-99 Much Ado About Nothing 17 2687 Yes Yes Yes Important Yes Finally Hero's father and her main accusers know that she was slandered by the Iago-prototype Don John. Beatrice is one of the wittiest heroines. Don John might be Shakespeare's first evil villain in a comedy.

1599 As You Like It 22 2687 Yes Yes ? Important ?

To come:

1601-2 Twelfth Night
1601-2 Troilus and Cressida
1602-3 All's Well That Ends Well [1603: King James arrives]
1604 Measure for Measure

Plays with:

Bullying:
- Don John in Much Ado about Nothing.
- Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew.
- Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Exposure of folly:
- Jaques (by cynicism) and Touchstone (by wit and humor) in As You Like It.
- Mistresses Ford and Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Play within a play:
Ring as identifier:
- In The Merchant of Venice.
- In The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Rival brothers:
- Olivier and Orlando as well as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior in As You Like It.
Rustric clown and wench:
- Audrey and William in As You Like It.
- Jaquenetta and Costard in Love's Labour's Lost.
Women emotionally more mature:
- Portia in The Merchant of Venice.
- Rosalind in As You Like It.
Women picks husband (instead of the marriage being arranged by fathers and other men):
- Portia in The Merchant of Venice.
- Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

SCS (Santa Cruz Shakespeare).

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Likely written	Title	Scenes	Line count (Bevington)	Mis-identity	Disguise	Rich wife	Love and marital roles	Death reprieve	Act 5 revelations	Other
1592-94	The Comedy of Errors	11	1919	Yes	No	Yes	Important and discussed	Yes	Two sets of twins; a lost mother found.	A farce (played for laughs rather than character).
1592-94	The Two Gentlemen of Verona	20	2298	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes; also friendship's loyalties.	Banish-ment reprieve	Julia's disguise as a boy. Rings. Valentine hands off his would-be bride to Proteus.	A romantic comedy with implausibilities of plot and character.
1593-94	The Taming of the Shrew	11	2750	Yes	Yes	Yes	Crucial	No	Two masters and one servant.	Often classed as a farce (played for laughs rather than character), despite its pre-marital and marital abuse.
1594-95	Love's Labor's Lost	9	2900	Yes	Yes	Yes	Important	No	Four Russians unmasked. The ladies' not having taken seriously the young men's protestations. Death of a father.	A beautiful romantic comedy with maturity and realism by the women balancing the questionable steadfastness of the men.
1594-95	A Midsummer Night's Dream	9	2222	Yes	Yes	Yes	Important	No	None.	Puck (Robin Goodfellow) is careless and a bully.
1596-97	The Merchant of Venice	20	2738	Yes	Yes	Yes	Important	Yes	Portia was the judge; and in disguise obtained her own ring from her betrothed Bessanio. Similarly Nerissa was her clerk and likewise obtained her ring from Gratiano.	While all Portia's property will go to profligate Bassanio on marriage, still she has personality and wit that might serve to check him.
1597	The Merry Wives of Windsor	23	2729	Yes	Yes	Yes	Crucial	No	John Falstaff learns of the wives' plots; Ford accepts his wife's faithfulness.	-
1598-99	Much Ado About Nothing	17	2687	Yes	Yes	Yes	Important	Yes	Finally Hero's father and her main accusers know that she was slandered by the Iago-prototype Don John.	Beatrice is one of the wittiest heroines. Don John might be Shakespeare's first evil villain in a comedy.
1599	As You Like It	22	2687	Yes	Yes	?	Important	?