The Comedy of Errors – Act 5 "I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.”

The Comedy of Errors – Act 5  "I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.”

Insults in the streets, the drawing of swords, fleeing and seeking sanctuary in a church and the reunion of twins and their father – ‘The Comedy of Errors’ ends with all the clichés of a commedia dell arte performance. Act 5 starts with the goldsmith Angelo and the Second Merchant musing over why Antipholus (the one of Ephesus) keeps claiming never to have received the gold chain Angelo made for him. They fortuitously see Dromio and Antipholus (the pair from Syracuse although they think are the pair from Ephesus) and of course Antipholus actually has the disputed gold chain around his neck.  Insults are exchanged:

“Antonio: Signior Antipholus, I wonder much

That you would put me to this shame and trouble…”

“Antipholus: Thou art a villain to impeach me thus;

I’ll prove mine honour and mine honesty

Against thee presently, if thou darest stand…”

Of course, swords are drawn and then Adriana, Luciana and the Courtesan enter, declaring Antipholus and Dromio to be mad. Antipholus and Dromio exit and seek sanctuary in a conveniently located priory.

The Abbess Aemelia emerges from the priory demanding to know what the clamor is all about. She will prove to be the deus ex machina who will resolve everything but not just yet. Abbess Aemelia hears from Adriana about the madness of her husband. Of course, in true commedia style, the pious and reasonable Abbess Aemelia (who would never cut it as a modern day marriage counselor) blames this madness on Adrianna’s jealousy.

“The venom clamours of a jealous woman

Poisons more deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.”

Abbess Aemelia claims that she will counsel and cure Antipholus herself and “…bring him to his wits again.”

Adriana does not want to accept the Abbess’ solution and wants to appeal directly to Duke Solinus (remember him from Act 1) himself. Being 5 o’clock in the evening, the Duke leads Egeon to his death by execution. Adriana approaches Duke Solinus and appeals to him to get her husband from the Abbess Aemelia and let her husband come back with her to their house. The Duke decides he will determine this matter before he puts Egeon to his death.

Then news arrives that Antipholus and Dromio (of Ephesus) have escaped from Adriana's house. Adriana claims this can’t be true because she just saw her husband run into the abbey. Suddenly Antipholus (of Ephesus) comes in wanting the Duke to give him justice for his wife locking him out of the house and then locking him up. Accusations fly about and the Duke calls on the Abbess to try to work out the truth and a solution.

Egeon, sees Antipholus of Ephesus and claims he is the son he brought up in Syracruse. Antipholus of Ephesus claims he has lived in Ephesus for nearly all his life. Enter The Abbess with Antipholus and Dromio (of Syracuse), to sort out, or rather further complicate, the issue. We find out that The Abbess is Egeon’s wife, Emilia and that Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracruse are identical twins as are the Dromios. General joy erupts. One of the Dromio's exclaims:

"I see by you I am a sweet-faced youth.”

Rings are returned, gold chains paid for, the Duke no longer wants payment for Egeon’s life and everyone withdraws to the Abbey for a party and presumably some wine.

Shakespeare returns in ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’…