Comedies

Histories
Tragedies All's Well That Ends Well
Main Classifications Probably written around
Late Romances Troilus and Cressida same time but no intention
Roman Plays Don't fit Measure for Measure to group them

Hamlet ?
Shakespeare having
J Dover Wilson personal difficulties
1st half tragedy - poetry
2 part Structure
Mood of country changed when 2nd half comedy - prose
Some critics have
Elizabeth dies and James I acceded
suggested why these Angelo's fall
Development of Shakespeare plays are problematic
as a dramatist Isabella's resolution
Surprises and reversals
Duke's marriage ?
Does not neatly fit the standard classifications/genres Problem Play Duke as Deus ex machina
Play about a moral problem 3 definitions Tragi-Comedy Measure For Angelo's desire vs. morality
Unsure of the intent and the extent to which achieved Measure Isabella's desire to save
Conflicts
Contain decadent or morbid elements - dark brother vs. chastity
Raises difficult ethical questions Abuses of power (Duke and Angelo)
Unsatisfactory outcome Rebellion of a codpiece
Comedies start with trouble but end happily Comedy Sub plot
Tragedies start happily but end badly Meaning 4 marriages
Duke always in control to will never descend to complete tragedy
Thought-provoking 1896 - from Ibsen/Shaw
Disturbing moral implications with comic parallels
Dilemmas By Boas 'comedy for the most part takes
Lawrence - at the close our feeling is neither of simple joy or pain the grim form of dramatic satire'
Term used
Fletcher - ...no tragedy; yet brings some near it, which is enough to By E M Tillyard Didn't like it
make it no comedy

Problem Play.mmap - 28/05/2009 - Roger Knight