Naya Sandesh

Although Shakespeare is renowned for his tragedies, the Bard possessed a remarkably sharp and witty sense of humor. His humor was characterized by cleverness, cheekiness, and frequent use of clever wordplay, innuendo, and satire. Here are some of Shakespeare’s most humorous works:  Shakespeare’s Comedic Elements 1. Wordplay and Puns: Shakespeare was a master of wordplay and puns, employing double meanings and often with a touch of humor.  Example: In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, dying, says, “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.” This pun on “grave” is a prime example of dark comedy. 2. Bawdy Jokes: Many of Shakespeare’s humorous elements were naughty and hidden in elegant Elizabethan language. He knew how to keep the lower classes entertained with innuendos and sexual jokes.  Example: In Twelfth Night, Feste, the jester, roasts everyone with style, saying, “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” 3. Hilarious Characters: Shakespeare created memorable an...

 Realistic Love vs. Idealized Beauty Shakespeare takes aim at the exaggerated praise common in love poetry of his time. Instead of calling his mistress a goddess or comparing her to impossible natural wonders, he deliberately states what she is not: “If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.” Rather than insulting her, he’s saying: “I don’t need to lie to prove my love.” By the end of the sonnet, the twist reveals everything: “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare.” So, the poem’s heart is: True love doesn’t require flattery — it lives in truth.