莎士比亚四大喜剧作品
分类： 戏剧翻译欣赏
莎士比亚共创作了14部喜剧。但现在较通行的做法是把《暴风雨》看成是剧。因此，按创作时间先后分别是：《错误的喜剧》（1592）、《驯悍记》（1593）、《维洛那二绅士》（1594）、《爱的徒劳》（1594）、《仲夏夜之梦》（1595）、《商人》（1596）、《无事生非》（1598）、《温莎的风流娘儿们》（1598）、《皆大欢喜》（1599）、《第十二夜》（1600）、《特洛伊罗斯和克瑞西达》（1602）、《终成眷属》（1602）和《一报还一报》（1604）。前10部是莎士比亚创作第一时期所作，多称为试验喜剧、浪漫喜剧或抒情喜剧。后3部属于第二时期，多称为问题剧或黑暗喜剧。有人把《商人》、《无事生非》、《皆大欢喜》、《第十二夜》称为莎士比亚的四大喜剧。
《仲夏夜之梦》（1595）是一部充满幻想和浪漫色彩的抒情喜剧。剧情虽然发生在古希腊神话传说中威修斯统治雅典的时期，实际上反映的却是当时英国的现实。喜剧描写青年男女之间相互恋爱的故事，他们反对家长的干涉，得到仙人的帮助，最后争取到婚姻自由的胜利。剧中神话的世界和现实的矛盾交织在一起，使它成为莎士比亚最富于诗意和想象的剧作之一。
《商人》（1596）是莎士比亚喜剧中最富于社会讽刺意义的一部。剧中包含两个平行的情节。主要情节是商人安东尼奥和犹太人***者夏洛克之间围绕割一磅肉的诉讼而展开的冲突；次要情节是富家**鲍西娅遵父命三匣选亲的故事。此外还穿***夏洛克的女儿杰西卡同罗伦佐卷款私奔的故事。通过这些相互联系的情节冲突，莎士比亚肯定并赞美安东尼奥、鲍西娅等人以友谊、爱情为重的人文主义生活理想，否定并谴责以夏洛克为代表的惟利是图的生活态度，最后以夏洛克的败诉和三对有情人终成眷属为美满结局，歌颂了人文主义生活理想的胜利。剧中成功地塑造出夏洛克这样一个鲜明生动而又复杂矛盾的典型形象。莎士比亚并没有把他写成一个简单的恶棍。夏洛克不仅是一个重利盘剥、损人利己的***者，他也是个在***教社会里受欺负的犹太人。他同哈姆雷特、福斯塔夫一起，被认为是莎士比亚戏剧中最著名的三大典型。剧中的安东尼奥是一个商人资本家，经营海外贸易的皇商大贾，莎士比亚把他塑造成善良、正直的正面人物。莎士比亚站在新兴资产阶级立场，嘲讽夏洛克而歌颂安东尼奥。
《无事生非》（1598）、《皆大欢喜》（1599）和《第十二夜》（1600）是莎士比亚抒情喜剧的代表
作。情节生动丰富，富于生活气息，思想更加成熟，既宣扬了人文主义的生活理想，又嘲笑了封建教会的禁欲主义（《第十二夜》），同时也揭露了资产阶级的自私自利行为（《无事生非》）。剧中人物也更加丰富多彩，主要人物如《无事生非》中的培尼狄克和贝特丽丝，《第十二夜》中的薇奥拉；次要人物甚至小丑、佣人，如《无事生非》中的道格培里和弗吉斯，《皆大欢喜》中的试金石，《第十二夜》中的马伏里奥和费斯特，都无不塑造得有血有肉，鲜明生动。
不是，四大喜剧《第十二夜》《仲夏夜之梦》《商人》《无事生非》。
《仲夏夜之梦》，是英国剧作家威廉·莎士比亚创作的一部喜剧。《仲夏夜之梦》是一部富有浪漫色彩的喜剧，讲述了一个有情人终成眷属的爱情故事。
作者简介
威廉·莎士比亚（William Shakespeare 1564-1616）是英国文艺复兴时期戏剧家和诗人。莎士比亚于1564年4月23日出生在英国中部斯特拉福德城一个富裕的市民家庭，幼年在家乡的文法学校念过书，学习拉丁文、文学和修辞学。
后来家道中落，曾帮助父亲经商，1578年左右只身到伦敦谋生，据说从事过马夫或仆役一类当时被看作“最下等的职业”。后来当了演员和编剧，随着剧团到各地巡回演出，与社会各阶层的生活有比较广泛的接触。
这个是英文名字：Much Ado About nothing
情节简介：
At Messina, Don Pedro, an Italian prince from Aragon and his deputies, Claudio and Benedick he just returned from a successful military campaign. Leonato, the governor of Messina, welcomes them for passing by the city and invites them to stay for a month.
Benedick and Leonato's niece, Beatrice, longtime adversaries, carry on their "merry war of words". Claudio’s feelings for Hero, Leonato's young daughter, are kindled on his seeing her, and Claudio soon announces to Benedick his intention to court her. Benedick tries to dissuade his friend, but is unsuccessful in the face of Don Pedro’s encouragement. While Benedick teases Claudio, Benedick swears that he will never get married saying,
That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: but that I will he a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor. (Act 1 Scene 1)
To that Don Pedro says, "I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love," (Act 1 Scene 1). Later, Don Pedro says "Well, as time shall try: 'In time the sage bull/ doth bear the yoke," (Act 1 Scene 1). This exchange sets up the comical premise for the play.
A masquerade ball is planned in celebration, giving a disguised Don Pedro the opportunity to woo Hero on Claudio’s behalf. Don John uses this situation to get revenge on his brother Don Pedro and Claudio by telling young Claudio that Don Pedro is actually wooing Hero for himself. Claudio then becomes furious at Don Pedro and confronts him. The misunderstanding is quickly resolved and Claudio wins Hero's hand in marriage.
Don Pedro and his men, bored at the prospect of waiting a week for the matrimonial ceremony to take place, harbor a plan to matchmake Beatrice and Benedick. The men, led by Don Pedro, proclaim Beatrice’s love for Benedick while knowing he is eesdropping on their conversation. The women, led by Hero, do the same likewise to Beatrice. Struck by the "revelations", Beatrice and Benedick, neither willing to bear the reputation of pride and scornfulness, each decide to requite the love of the other.
Meanwhile Don John, Don Pedro's bastard brother, is a malcontent who plots to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding plans by casting aspersions upon Hero’s character. His follower Borachio courts Margaret, Hero's chambermaid, calling her “Hero”, at Hero’s open bedroom window while Don John leads Don Pedro and Claudio to spy below. The latter two, mistaking Margaret for Hero, are convinced by what is evidence of Hero's infidelity.
The next day, during the wedding at the church, Claudio climactically refuses to marry Hero. He and Don Pedro humiliate Hero publicly before a stunned congregation. The two lee brusquely, leing the rest in shock.
"Claudio, deceived by Don John, accuses Hero" by Marcus Stone
"Claudio, deceived by Don John, accuses Hero" by Marcus Stone
Hero, who has fainted from shock, revives after Don Pedro and Claudio lee, only to be reprimanded by her father. The presiding Friar interrupts, believing Hero to be innocent, and he convinces the family to feign Hero's death in order to exact the truth and Claudio’s remorse.
Leonato and Antonio, Hero's uncle, subsequently blame Don Pedro and Claudio for Hero’s death, and both challenge Claudio to duels. Benedick, forcefully prompted by Beatrice, does the same.
Unbeknownst to everyone, however, on the night of Don John's treachery, the local Watch has rehended Borachio and his ally Conrade. Despite the Watch's comic ineptness (headed by constable Dogberry, a master of malapropi***s), they he overheard the duo discussing their evil plans. The Watch arrest them and eventually oain the villains' confession, whilst informing Leonato of Hero's innocence. Though Don John has meanwhile fled the city, a force is sent to capture him. Claudio, though maintaining he made an honest mistake, is repentant; he agrees to not only post a proper epitaph for Hero, but to marry a substitute, Hero's cousin, in her place.
During Claudio’s second wedding, however, as the dancers enter, the "cousin" is unmasked as Hero herself, to a most surprised and gratified Claudio. An impromptu dance is announced. Beatrice and Benedick, prompted by their friends’ interference, finally confess their love for each other. As the play draws to a merry close, a messenger arrives with news of Don John’s capture – but his punishment is postponed another day so that the couples can enjoy their newfound hiness.
人物性格：
Beatrice is the niece of Leonato, a wealthy governor of Messina. Though she is close friends with her cousin Hero, Leonato’s daughter, the two could not be less alike. Whereas Hero is polite, quiet, respectful, and gentle, Beatrice is feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp. Beatrice keeps up a “merry war” of wits with Benedick, a lord and soldier from Padua. The play suggests that she was once in love with Benedick but that he led her on and their relationship ended. Now when they meet, the two constantly compete to outdo one another with clever insults.
Although she ears hardened and sharp, Beatrice is really vulnerable. Once she overhears Hero describing that Benedick is in love with her (Beatrice), she opens herself to the sensitivities and weaknesses of love. Beatrice is a prime example of one of Shakespeare’s strong female characters. She refuses to marry because she has not discovered the perfect, equal partner and because she is unwilling to eschew her liberty and submit to the will of a controlling hu***and. When Hero has been humiliated and accused of violating her chastity, Beatrice explodes with fury at Claudio for mistreating her cousin. In her frustration and rage about Hero’s mistreatment, Beatrice rebels against the unequal status of women in Renaissance society. “O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!” she passionately exclaims. “I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving” (IV.i.312–318).
to be or not to be当然是最著名的了，其他还有一些
Much Ado About Nothing：无事生非
莎士比亚在悲剧《麦克白》中第一次创造了at one fell swoop这个短语。现在，人们往往用at one fell swoop或at one swoop来说“一举”或“一下子”，相当于all at once（突然之间）。
with bated breath（意为“屏息地”，出自《商人》。“a foregone conclusion”（意为“预料中的结局”，出自《奥赛罗》）如今已经应用到日常英语中。
Brief introduction：Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero.Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a very "merry war"; they both talk a mile a minute and proclaim their scorn for love, marriage, and each other. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another. By means of "noting" (which sounds the same as "nothing," and which is gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into rejecting Hero at the altar. However, Dogberry, a Constable who is a master of malapropi***s, discovers the evil trickery of the villain, Don John. In the end, Don John is captured and everyone else joins in a dance celebrating the marriages of the two couples.
Personality of different characters：Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon: A kind, good Prince who helps Claudio win Hero. It was very common for the superiors of that time to find suitable wives for their men. He later helps Claudio disgrace Hero when he believes that she is unfaithful and he also tricks Benedick and Beatrice to fall in love.Benedick, of Padua; companion of Don Pedro: A sarcastic, witty bachelor who swears he will never marry, he later falls in love with Beatrice when he is tricked into believing that she loves him. He is said to be very good in battle and there is hinting at a past relationship with Beatrice, though they do nothing but fight when the story opens.Claudio, of Florence; a count, companion of Don PedroBalthasar, attendant on Don Pedro, a singer: Though Don Pedro praises his singing, Benedick calls him a "cat who sounds as if someone is killing it."Don John, "the Bastard Prince," brother of Don Pedro and the main villain.Borachio and Conrade, followers of Don John: They are the ones who actually initiate the plot to frame Hero as an ***eress. Borachio, who is in a relationship with Margaret, gets her into Hero's clothes and makes love to her on the balcony window, in full sight of Don John, Don Pedro, and Claudio.Leonato, governor of Messina: He is ready to kill Hero himself when he believes she has dishonored him, but when he starts to believe her innocence, is ready to turn and kill Claudio instead.Hero, Leonato's daughter: Beautiful, sweet, gentle, and demure, she is wrongfully accused of unfaithfulness and publicly humiliated on her wedding day. Wounded by Claudio's anger and her love for him, she swoons, and later pretends to be dead to bring remorse to her beloved. She marries Claudio in the end.
Beatrice, niece of Leonato: Hero's witty, older cousin, she attacks Benedick verbally, though she mentions once that "I wish he would he boarded me," insinuating that they had a past relationship. She swears never to marry, but after being tricked into believing that Benedick loves her, falls in love with him. She asks him to enge Hero's dishonor and he reluctantly agrees to challenge Claudio to a duel. Her father is Antonio.Antonio, an old man, brother of Leonato: Offers to fight Claudio after Hero is pronounced "dead."Margaret, waiting-gentlewoman attendant on Hero: Borachio's lover, she wears Hero's clothes and is thought to be her mistress. It is not known if she was tricked or was in on the ploy.Ursula, waiting-gentlewoman attendant on HeroFriar Francis, a priest: The priest who believes in Hero's innocence and proposes the plot to pretend that she is dead.Dogberry, the constable in charge of Messina's night watch: An idiot with a too-large sense of self-importance, he continuously botches everything he tries to do but is indirectly responsible for Hero's public redemption from disgrace.Verges, the Headborough, Dogberry’s partnerA Sexton, the judge of the trial of BorachioThe Watch, watchmen of MessinaA Boy, serving BenedickAttendants and messengersInnogen, a ghost character included in early editions as Leonato's wife</p>
无事生非——莎士比亚 著 txt全集附件已上传到百度网盘，点击：
内容预览：
第一场里奥那托住宅门前
里奥那托、希罗、贝特丽丝及一使者上。
里奥那托：这封信里说，阿拉贡的唐·彼德罗今晚就要到梅西那来了。
使者：他马上要到了；我跟他分手的时候，他离这儿才不过八九哩路呢。
里奥那托：你们在这次战事里折了多少将士？
使者：没有多少，有点名气的一个也没有。
里奥那托：得胜者全师而归，那是双重的胜利了。信上还说起唐·彼德罗十分看重一位叫做克劳狄奥的年轻的弗罗棱萨人。
使者：他果然是一位很有才能的人，唐·彼德罗赏识得不错。他年纪虽然很轻，做的事情十分了不得，看上去像一头羔羊，上起战场来却像一头狮子；他的确能够超过一般人对他的期望，我这张嘴也说不尽他的好处。
里奥那托：他有一个伯父在这儿梅西那，知道了一定会非常高兴。
使者：我已经送信给他了，看他的样子十分快乐，快乐得甚至忍不住心酸起来。
里奥那托：他流起眼泪来了吗？
使者：流了很多眼泪。
里奥那托：这是天性中至情的自然流露；这样的泪洗过的……
