Comedy of Errors

 (E-content developed by Dr N. A. Jarandikar)

B. A. Part II

Semester III, Paper No. III

Literature and Cinema

‘Comedy of Errors’

Characters:

Egeon and Emillia: Parents of Antipholus(es)

Ephesus	Syracuse
Antipholus of Ephesus	Antipholus of Syracuse
Dromio of Ephesus  - Servant	Dromio of Syracuse - Servant
Adriana - Wife of Ephesus
Luciana - Sister of Adriana
Nell - Adriana’s kitchen-maid and wife of Dromio
Solinus - Duke of Ephesus
Angelo – Goldsmith
Balthasar – Merchant

 

Plot of the play:

Ephesus and Syracuse are the two rival cities. People of these cities are not allowed to cross the boundaries. If someone breaks the law, he is charged with death sentence. Egeon is a merchant of Syracuse. He comes to Ephesus in search of his lost wife and lost twin. As Egeon breaks this law, he is charged with fine of one thousand marks. But he tells Duke Solinus the real reason for his entry to the city of Ephesus. He tells the Duke that his wife and the other twin were separated from him 25 years ago in a shipwreck. The other twin, who grew up with Egeon, is also traveling the world in search of the missing half of their family. The Duke is moved by this story. He grants Egeon a day to raise the thousand-mark amount that would be necessary to save his life.

Antipholus of Syracuse (Syracusan Antipholous) is a twin brother of Antipholus of Ephesus (Ephesian Antipholus). Dromio of Syracuse (Syracusan Dromio) is a twin brother of Dromio of Ephesus (Ephesian Dromio). Both the Dromio are the servants to the respective Antipholus. Ephesian Antipholus is a rich person. All of them were separated in a shipwreck when they were children. Along with Egeon, Syracusan Antipholus is also in search of his lost brother and mother. So he too along with his servant comes to the city of Ephesus. However, Egeon is unaware about the arrival of Syracusan Antipholus. As the play begins all the twin brothers meet each other separately. As their names and faces are the same, they fail to recognise the real ones. They wonder about the strange behaviour of each other. All the complications are resolved only at the end of the play. 

Adriana is a wife of Ephesian Antipholus. Lucian is a sister of Adriana. As Syracusan Antipholus comes to the city of Ephesus, Adriana mistakenly assumes him as her husband. She drags him home for dinner. She asks his servant to stand guard at the door. Shortly thereafter, her real husband with his servant returns home. He is refused entry to his own house by Syracusan Dromio. Meanwhile, Syracusan Antipholus falls in love with Luciana. Luciana is surprised by the behaviour of the man whom she thinks is her brother-in-law.

The confusion increases when a gold chain ordered by Ephesian Antipholus is given to Syracusan Antipholus. Ephesian Antipholus refuses to pay for the gold chain because he never received it. So he is arrested for not paying the amount. His wife, seeing his strange behaviour, decides he has gone mad. Syracusan Antipholus and his servant decide to run away from the city. They believe that the city is enchanted. They seek refuge in a nearby abbey.

Adriana begs the Duke to intervene and remove her "husband" from the custody. Her real husband comes to the Duke and charges against his wife. The situation is finally resolved by the Abbess, Emilia, who brings out the set of twins and reveals herself to be Egeon's long-lost wife. Ephesian Antipholus meets Adriana. Egeon is pardoned by the Duke. He is reunited with his wife. Syracusan Antipholus continues his love with Luciana. The two Dromios meet each other.  All ends happily.

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