Comparing Two Personalities In Shakespeare's The Comedy Of Errors

In life, it’s easy to lump siblings together, but in reality, each individual has their own personality. While at times they may seem similar, they are still very different. We get a glimpse of these similarities and differences in Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. The play contains three sets of siblings, two of them twins. The play is centered on multiple incidences of mistaken identity, but even though the characters may look the same, the differences in their personalities make it easier to tell which sibling is which. As we learn more and more about these characters, their personality traits begin to shine through in their scenes giving each sibling their own identity. The first set of twins named Antipholus were separated when they

Even though they’re twins, they both lead very different lives. Antipholus of Syracuse comes across curious and family oriented. His father, Egeon, stated that Antipholus of Syracuse “…became inquisitive after his brother…” (1.1.125-126). He set out looking for his brother because he wanted answers, while Antipholus of Ephesus made a life in the town he ended up in after being separated from his immediate family. Antipholus of Syracuse is brave for venturing out to a place known for it’s belief in witchcraft instead of God to search for his brother. Antipholus of Ephesus decided to focus on the life he made in Ephesus with his wife and the people of his town. Even with difference they’re alike in some ways. One way is they both seem slightly entitled since growing up with a slave. As an overall look on their relationships with the Dromios, they seem to have a friendly relationship, but they also beat them when they don’t seem to be

They are both lighthearted characters who don’t take themselves too seriously. They tend to joke a lot. At the end, once they find out they’re brothers, Dromio of Syracuse makes a joke about Dromio of Ephesus’s wife saying, “There is a fat friend at your master’s house…She now shall be my sister not my wife” (5.1.427-429). Dromio of Ephesus does not get offended because he has the same type of humor as his brother. When it comes to their masters Dromio of Ephesus seems to back talk a little more. He seems to be able to stand up for himself a little more than Dromio of Syracuse does. Before his beating for talking back Dromio of Ephesus says, “To a rope’s end, sir, and to that end am I returned” (4.4.17-18). Dromio of Ephesus seems to have a little bit more of an attitude when it comes to his master questioning what he was told to do. At this point he was told by the other Antipholus to get rope, but when Antipholus of Ephesus questions it, he gives him attitude. Dromio of Syracuse tends to be more scared of the hand of his master. While getting beat he pleads, “Hold, sir, for God’s sake” (2.2.24)! So, while the Dromios are very similar, they still have differences in their personality that makes them