Shakespeare's Comedies

Criticism of Shakespeare's comedies has shifted from stressing their light-hearted qualities to giving a stronger sense of their dark aspects and social resonances. This work introduces key debates under the following headings: genre, history and politics, gender and sexuality, language and performance.

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This Guide introduces students to critical writing on Shakespeare’s comedies over the last four centuries.




Guides students through four centuries of critical writing on Shakespeare’s history plays.

Covers both significant early views and recent critical interventions.

Substantial editorial material links the articles and places them in context.

Annotated suggestions for further reading allow students to investigate further.