Tag Archives: comedy

Austen’s Comic Characters, a Guest Post from Amanda Kai

One of the hallmarks of an Austen novel is the presence of a variety of comical characters. Whether they are serving as plot devices to advance or hinder the hero and heroine or merely providing color and levity to the … Continue reading

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The Lack of “Reality” in Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” ~ Does it Matter?

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, we often think of the story as being a depiction of the Regency era. But does it truly speak to the time? If so, would not Elizabeth Bennet be more sensitive to her family’s … Continue reading

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The Theatre-Loving Fore-Runners of Shakespeare ~ Part I

 With the rediscovery of the works of Seneca, Plautus, and Terence, the renaissance of 16th Century England began. First edited in 1308 by an Nicholas Treveth, the tragedian Seneca remained unnoticed for some time by those in England, for Treveth … Continue reading

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A Comic Play: Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs

Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs is a comic play in three acts by Douglas Jerrold. The story concerns a sailor, William, who returns to England from the Napoleonic Wars and finds that his wife Susan is being harassed … Continue reading

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Words Which Can Be Funny

Yesterday’s post reminded me of a line in Neil Simon’s (one of my favorite playwrights) The Sunshine Boys. One of the main characters, Willy, says, “Fifty-seven years in this business, you learn a few things. You know what words are … Continue reading

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