0HUMOR AND SATIRE IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S COMEDIES
Sabina Nurmat kizi Janibekova
Student of Chirchiq state pedagogical university Email address: zanibekovasabina00@gmail.com Scientific adviser: Nafisa Raimovna Kobilova
ABSTRACT
The plays of William Shakespeare, as presented in the First Folio, were divided into comedies, histories, and tragedies. Contemporary researchers additionally identify a fourth genre known as romance, which denotes the unique comedic style found in Shakespeare's later plays. This article provides the comedies of William Shakespeare, which involved humor and satire.
Keywords: love story, darkness and light, unexpected events, satirical elements, witty humor, colorful characters.
ANNOTATSIYA
"Birinchi folio"da Uilyam Shekspirning pyesalari uch toifaga birlashtirilgan: komediyalar, tarixlar va tragediyalar; [1] va zamonaviy olimlar Shekspirning keyingi asarlarida paydo bo'ladigan komediyaning o'ziga xos turlarini tasvirlash uchun to'rtinchi toifani, romantikani tan oladilar. Bu maqolada esa, Uliyam Shekspirning o'z ichiga hazil va hjviy asarlarini olgan kamediyalari yoritib berilgan.
Kalitso'zlar: sevgi hikoyasi, yorug'lik va qorong'ilik, ertak voqealari, satirik elementlar, shapaloq hazil, kulguli qahramonlar .
INTRODUCTION
The traditional categorization of Shakespeare's plays includes Comedy, History, Romance, and Tragedy, with some variations proposed over time. Shakespearean comedies, or those plays commonly considered as such, are typically characterized by humor, irony, and intricate wordplay. They feature elements like disguises, mistaken identities, complex plots that can be hard to follow, and endings that often seem contrived.
MAIN PART
Shakespearean comedies have not left a lasting theatrical tradition akin to the works of Ben Jonson, whose plays vividly depict the contemporaneous society through exaggerated and satirical characters. In contrast, Shakespeare's comedies diverge in essence. Typically unfolding in fictional realms, these plays delve into nearly fairy-tale
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narratives. However, despite the fantastical settings and storylines, the characters within exhibit a profound realism, showcasing Shakespeare's renowned insight into human psychology. Each comedy follows a principal storyline along with one or more subplots, sometimes drawing more focus than the primary narrative itself. The comedic personas within these plays are distinctly English in nature, even when the backdrop shifts to foreign lands.
These works are crafted in a fluid poetic structure and light, effortless prose. Brimming with humor and wordplay, some texts feature allusions that may prove challenging for contemporary readers to grasp. In these comedies, themes of love and reconciliation prevail, revolved around disruption and eventual restoration. Shakespeare champions the individual's freedom of choice in love amidst prevailing societal norms and traditions, often personifying this notion through his female characters. His heroines typically embody courage, nobility, eloquent speech, and enthusiasm.
Moreover, a recurring motif in these comedies is the juxtaposition of appearance versus reality. Shakespeare adeptly conveys the significance of self-awareness, illustrating how misconceptions about one's own character can lead to misguided choices in relationships. Despite their foibles, the characters in Shakespeare's intricate comedic plots ultimately achieve self-realization and understanding, culminating in joyful resolutions as they come to grips with their identities and affections.
Attempting to categorize Shakespeare's comedy plays as a unified group proves challenging beyond a surface-level overview. The contrived conclusions prevalent in most Shakespearean comedies serve as a key to deciphering the underlying essence of these distinct works.
For instance, consider "The Merchant of Venice," which encapsulates themes of love and interpersonal dynamics. Typical of Shakespearean comedy, the play features two couples, with one woman assuming a male disguise throughout—a recurrent motif in such works. However, the storyline takes a darker turn as it unfolds the plight of a young Jewish woman led astray from her father by a superficial and uninteresting Christian. Despite the sanguine ending where the lovers unite in jubilation over their resolute love and favorable outcomes, this resolution is achieved at the expense of a man's utter ruin. The character of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, embodies a figure who errs and faces severe repercussions, forfeiting all that is dear to him, including his religious autonomy. The play almost seems bifurcated—an overlay of comedic structure with an underlying personal tragedy. The comedic framework acts as a prism magnifying the shades of tragedy, orchestrating a profound and somber narrative. Each of Shakespeare's comedy plays, including "Twelfth Night" and "Much Ado About Nothing," showcases a common pattern—the marginalization and mistreatment of individuals by the dominant group. This mistreatment and suffering, as depicted in
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"Twelfth Night," for instance, are often glossed over in the contrived and lighthearted conclusions that punctuate Shakespeare's comedies.Despite the vibrant tapestries of life, love, laughter, and mirth that envelop these plays, each is tinged with a somber undertone. "Much Ado About Nothing," akin to "Antony and Cleopatra," a tragic narrative cloaked in a comedic framework, demonstrates Shakespeare's virtuosity in storytelling. Here, he intricately intertwines an age-old mythological romance with a contemporary love tale, crafting a witty drama where light and darkness play a relentless game of chase, mirroring the capricious nature of life itself. The imminent threat of collapse looms over the storyline, only to be averted by another meticulously orchestrated and predictable conclusion.Shakespeare's comedies, much like his tragedies, defy conventional classification. Each work transcends genre boundaries, illuminating the multifaceted spectrum of human existence with its shades of sorrow, elation, poignancy, calamity, humor, obscurity, and levity. The following list comprises the plays universally recognized as Shakespearean comedies.
Ancient Greek comedy, a stark departure from the solemnity and gravity of tragedy, embodied a vibrant and exuberant form of theatrical expression. Aristophanes, hailed as the paramount figure in the realm of comedy, employed a broad spectrum of humor ranging from slapstick comedy to ribaldry, satire, and literary pastiche. Unlike tragedy, which drew on traditional myths and lore, the plots of comedies sprung forth from the inventive faculties of their creators. The primary focus of early Greek comedy revolved around political and social commentary, often delivered through biting satire.
As the evolution of comedy unfolded across the centuries, there emerged a shift towards narratives centred on familial dynamics, particularly exploring the nuances of relationships and the complexities of love. This universal theme endured the test of time and traversed geographical and temporal boundaries, transcending from the theatres of ancient Greece through the annals of Roman civilization. With the Renaissance's fascination for classical antiquity, Greek comedic traditions found a renewed audience in Renaissance Europe, subsequently influencing the theatrical landscape in England during the Elizabethan era.
Into the modern epoch of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the essence of Greek comedy continues to resonate, manifesting in various forms such as films and television productions. The enduring appeal of Greek comedic themes underscores its timeless relevance and adaptability, attesting to its enduring legacy in the realm of entertainment and cultural expression.
Humor and satire play significant roles in William Shakespeare's comedies, adding depth and entertainment to the stories. Here are some common features of humor and satire in Shakespeare's comedies:
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1. Wordplay and wit: Shakespeare was a master of wordplay and clever wit. His characters often engage in puns, double entendres, and clever repartee to create humor and add depth to their interactions.
2. Satirical elements: Shakespeare's comedies often contain satirical elements that critique societal norms, conventions, and behaviors. Through satire, he pokes fun at human follies and exposes the absurdities of society.
3. Physical comedy: Shakespeare's comedies frequently include elements of physical comedy, such as slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and comical situations that arise from miscommunication or misunderstandings.
4. Comic relief: Humor is used as a form of comic relief in Shakespeare's comedies to balance out more serious or dramatic moments. The comedic elements provide the audience with a break from tension and allow for a lighthearted atmosphere.
5. Irony and absurdity: Shakespeare often employs irony and absurdity to create humorous situations in his comedies. Characters may find themselves in ridiculous or farcical scenarios, leading to laughter and amusement from the audience.
CONCLUSION
Overall, humor and satire in Shakespeare's comedies serve to entertain the audience, highlight human flaws and foibles, and offer a commentary on society and human nature. They add richness and complexity to the plays, making them enduring classics that continue to be enjoyed by audiences worldwide.
REFERENCES
1. https://weareactors.com/shakespeare-comedy-plays/
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374166800_Shakespearean_Comedies_Expl oring_the_Art_of_Laughter_and_Love
3. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/humor-and-satire-in-shakespeares-works/viewer
4. Safarov Sh. Pragmalinguistics. Tashkent: Fan, 2008. P. 29.
5. 5. Serebrennikov B.A. The role of the human factor in language: Language and picture of the world. M.: Nauka, 1988. P. 12.
6. Postovalova V.I. The role of the human factor in language: Language and picture of the world. M., 1988. P. 78.
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