aracters, which add flavor to the plot, are often inserted into the storyline. Love provides the main ingredient. If the lovers are unmarried when the play opens, they either have not met or there is some obstacle to their relationship. Examples of these obstacles are familiar to every reader of Shakespeare: the slanderous tongues which nearly wreck love in “Much Ado About Nothing”, the father insistent upon his daughter marrying his choice, as in “A Midsummer Nights Dream”, or the confusion of husbands in “The Comedy of Errors”. Shakespeare uses many predictable patterns in his plays. The hero rarely appears in the opening lines; however, we hear about him from other characters. He often does not normally make an entrance for at least a few lines into the play, if not a whole scene. The hero is also virtuous and strong but always possesses a character flaw. In the comedy itself, Shakespeare assumes that we know the basic plot and he jumps right into it with little or no explanation. Foreshadowing and foreboding are put in the play early and can be heard throughout the drama. Shakespearean comedies also contain a wide variety of characters. Often, foul weather parallels the emotional state of the characters. The audience is often informed of events before the characters and when a future meeting is to take place it usually doesn't happen immediately. Character names are often clues to their roles and personalities, such as Bottom in “A Midsummer Nights Dream”. Many themes are repeated throughout Shakespeare's comedies. Themes such as, a never-ending struggle between the forces of good and evil, love having profound effects, and mistaken identities. The comedies themselves can be sub-categorized as tragic comedies, romantic comedies, comedies of justice and simple entertaining comedies with good wholesome fun....
