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Taming Of The Shrew Irony

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A comedy is a work thats intended purpose is to make an audience laugh. Not all comedies are created equally though. Some comedies are better than others. This is based on the characteristics of a comedy and how they are executed within the work. After reading and analyzing The Taming of the Shrew and The Importance of Being Earnest as comedies, I have come to the conclusion that The Taming of the Shrew is a better comedy. One of the typical characteristics of a comedy are puns. A pun is a deliberate confusion of words or phrases for humorous effect. We can see puns all throughout Taming of the Shrew. One example of this is when Grumio and Petruchio have a misunderstanding at Hortensio’s gate. The misunderstanding happens when Petruchio asks …show more content…

A satire exposes and criticizes foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggerating, or ridicule. The satire in the Taming of the Shrew occurs when Petrucio states “I come to wive wealthily in Padua; if wealthy, then happily in Padua.” (Shakespeare 1.2.76-7). This brings to attention the problem with the motivation for marriage in society back then. This same problem is also brought to attention within The Importance of Being Earnest. This satire occurs when Lady Bracknell expresses that “A moment, Mr. Worthing. A hundred and thirty thousand pounds? And in the Funds? Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her.” (Wilde 63). Both of these plays bring up the same problem with society. However, the Taming of the Shrew brings more attention to the problem because there is more of an exaggeration. Baptista wants his older daughter married off first but requires there to be love in the relationship. He then will allow his younger daughter to marry the man with the most property and money. This is brings more attention to the problem because of the irony that the girl he wants married off quickest has to be loved but his second daughter has to marry someone with

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