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{{Short description|Plott device}} |
{{Short description|Plott device}} |
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”’Mistaken identity”’ is a [[plot device]] whereby one person is taken for another and, often, vice versa. It is used in many comical plays, exemplified by the Shakespeare’s ”[[Comedy of Errors]]”, inspired by ”[[Menaechmi]]” and ”[[Amphitryon (Plautus play)|Amphitryon]]” by [[Plautus]].<ref>Costas Panayotakis, [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339918734_Plays_of_Mistaken_Identity Plays of Mistaken Identity], {{doi|10.1002/9781118958018.ch6}}</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379557970_Analysis_Of_Identity_Confusion_And_Mistaken_Identities_In_The_Comedy_Of_Errors Analysis Of Identity Confusion And Mistaken Identities In The Comedy Of Error], {{doi|10.61132/fonologi.v2i1.353}}</ref> In some cases mistaken identity involves disguise, e.g., accidentally identical costumes.<ref name=egcs>[[Edwin Greenlaw]], Clarence Stratton, ”Literature and Life”, Book 2, 1922 [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Literature_and_Life/bAUBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22mistaken+identity%22+literary+device+-wikipedia&pg=PA356&printsec=frontcover p. 356]</ref> Often it is a base of a [[romantic comedy]].<ref name=egcs/> |
”’Mistaken identity”’ is a [[plot device]] whereby one person is taken for another and, often, vice versa. It is used in many comical plays, exemplified by the Shakespeare’s ”[[Comedy of Errors]]”, inspired by ”[[Menaechmi]]” and ”[[Amphitryon (Plautus play)|Amphitryon]]” by [[Plautus]].<ref>Costas Panayotakis, [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339918734_Plays_of_Mistaken_Identity Plays of Mistaken Identity], {{doi|10.1002/9781118958018.ch6}}</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379557970_Analysis_Of_Identity_Confusion_And_Mistaken_Identities_In_The_Comedy_Of_Errors Analysis Of Identity Confusion And Mistaken Identities In The Comedy Of Error], {{doi|10.61132/fonologi.v2i1.353}}</ref> In some cases mistaken identity involves disguise, e.g., accidentally identical costumes.<ref name=egcs>[[Edwin Greenlaw]], Clarence Stratton, ”Literature and Life”, Book 2, 1922 [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Literature_and_Life/bAUBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22mistaken+identity%22+literary+device+-wikipedia&pg=PA356&printsec=frontcover p. 356]</ref> Often it is a base of a [[romantic comedy]].<ref name=egcs/> |
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[[William Shakespeare]] wrote some prominent examples of the use of this trope. For example, the [[Folger Shakespeare Library]] describes how the farce, ”[[The Comedy of Errors]]”, “set out to multiply the opportunities for comic misidentification” with two sets of twins (masters and servants), intensifying confusion throughout the play.<ref name=”FolgerErrors”>{{cite web|url=https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/the-comedy-of-errors/about-shakespeares-the-comedy-of-errors/ |title=About Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors |first1=Barbara|last1=Mowat|first2=Paul|last2=Werstine||website=Folger Shakespeare Library |access-date=13 January 2026}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 00:09, 14 January 2026
Plott device
Mistaken identity is a plot device whereby one person is taken for another and, often, vice versa. It is used in many comical plays, exemplified by the Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, inspired by Menaechmi and Amphitryon by Plautus.[1][2] In some cases mistaken identity involves disguise, e.g., accidentally identical costumes.[3] Often it is a base of a romantic comedy.[3]
William Shakespeare wrote some prominent examples of the use of this trope. For example, the Folger Shakespeare Library describes how the farce, The Comedy of Errors, “set out to multiply the opportunities for comic misidentification” with two sets of twins (masters and servants), intensifying confusion throughout the play.[4]
