Shakespearean Comedies, Problem Plays, and Final Works

Comedies

A tragedy always ends with the death of a hero. In comedies, the world is threatened and shaken, but they always end happily. However, the subjects of these comedies are just as serious as those of the tragedies.

• The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It: Identity
• The Taming of the Shrew: The role of women
• Much Ado About Nothing: Love and jealousy
• A Midsummer Night's Dream: Love and power
• The Merchant of Venice: The power of money and the attempt to deceive

Problem Plays

There is a group of serious comedies sometimes called Problem Plays. These include:

• Measure for Measure: Deals with sexual and social behavior
• All's Well That Ends Well: A strange love comedy
• Troilus and Cressida

The Merchant of Venice and Hamlet are sometimes included in this group, but most of Shakespeare's plays discuss problems in one way or another. These works specifically address particular moral and social issues.

Final Plays

Shakespeare's final plays are difficult to define. Some are considered serious comedies or problem plays, while critics often call them pastoral comedies due to their countryside settings, or simply fables. Regardless of the label, they differ in tone from his earlier works, though they share similar themes. The Tempest is the definitive example.

These plays create an atmosphere similar to tragedies, but rather than ending in destruction, they describe the redemption of human error through self-recognition and forgiveness. They explore humanity's potential for redemption and the price that must be paid.

Shakespeare's Linguistic Legacy

Shakespeare created many words:

• Compromise, impartial, laughable, monumental, obscene
• Skim milk, worthless, accused, assassination, deafening
• Epileptic, generous, lonely, moonbeam, remorse
• Zany, champion, addition, blanket

And iconic expressions:

• "It's Greek to me"
• "Record your salad days"
• "You act more in sorrow than in anger"
• "If you have been tongue-tied"
• "If you have made a virtue of necessity"