MB UNIUD

He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on 1564. Shakespeare was educated at the King's New School in Stratford. At the age of 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. They had 3 children: Susanne, Hamnet and Judith.

Shakespeare went to London and he became a member of the Lord Chamberain's Man's company. At first he was only an actor and after he became the playwright of the company.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

The Comedy of Errors was written between 1589 and 1594. The Comedy of Errors  is one of only two of Shakespeare's plays to observe the classical unities.

The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two twins that were separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. So there will be mistaken identities, a near-incestuous seduction, the arrest of Antipholus of Ephesus, infidelity, theft, demonic possession and madness.

SOURCES

Shakespeare takes inspiration from Menaechmi and from Anphitruo of Plauto.

CHARACTERS

• Solinus, the Duke of Ephesus
• Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse
• Emilia, his lost wife
• Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse, twin brothers, sons of Egeon and Emilia
• Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse, twin brothers, bondmen, each serving his respective Antipholus
• Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus
• Luciana, her sister
• Luce, kitchen-maid to Adriana,
• Balthazar, a merchant
• Angelo, a goldsmith
• Courtesan
• First merchant of Ephesus, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse
• Second merchant of Ephesus, to whom Angelo is in debt
• Doctor Pinch, a conjuring schoolmaster