The Comic Structures of Tragic Endings: the Suicide Scenes in “Romeo and Juliet” and “Antony and Cleopatra”

“Romeo and Juliet” & “Antony and Cleopatra” are very different plays in respect to plot, tone, & characterization. What the differences & similarities reveal about Shakespeare’s use of comic strategies in tragic contexts is the focus of this essay. In particular, Rozett examines the comic structures implicit in the double suicides, which in both plays turn upon essentially comic acts of trickery. In comparing the two endings, Rozett tries to show Shakespeare had become more comfortable with the comic aspects of tragedy & that he more successfully exploited the comic possibilities he found in his source. (24 notes)