The Comedy of Errors Summary

The Comedy of Errors is a play by William Shakespeare, written between 1589 and 1594. It is a comedy that revolves around a series of misunderstandings caused by two sets of identical twins who are constantly mistaken for each other. As the confusion grows, the residents of Ephesus, including local merchants and legal authorities, become entangled in the chaos. The title reflects the many amusing mix-ups in the play, and today, the phrase comedy of errors is used to describe any humorous situation that arises from mistakes or misunderstandings. It is a funny story about two pairs of identical twins who were separated as babies and later find each other again.

Summary

The play begins with an old merchant named Egeon being arrested for entering the city of Ephesus, which is at war with his home city, Syracuse. Since Egeon cannot pay the 1,000-mark fine, the Duke of Ephesus, Solinus, sentences him to death. Egeon then tells the Duke his sad story. He and his wife, Emilia, had twin sons, both named Antipholus, and bought twin slave boys, both named Dromio, to serve them. But a shipwreck separated the family when the children were still babies. Egeon was saved with one son and one servant, while his wife and the other two were lost.

When Egeon's son Antipholus turned eighteen, he went searching for his lost twin. When he did not return, Egeon began his own search for both sons. After years of wandering, he arrived in Ephesus, where he was captured. Touched by his story, Solinus gives him one day to find the money to pay the fine.

By coincidence, Antipholus of Syracuse arrives in Ephesus on the same day. He gives his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, a purse with 1,000 marks and tells him to keep it safe at an inn. Dromio leaves, but soon after, Dromio of Ephesus appears. Mistaking Antipholus of Syracuse for his master, he tells him to come home for dinner because his wife is waiting. Antipholus of Syracuse, thinking this is his own servant playing tricks, gets angry and beats him. Dromio of Ephesus runs away, and Antipholus assumes his servant has stolen the money.

When Dromio of Ephesus gets home, he tells Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, that her husband hit him and acted as if he wasn’t married. Adriana becomes upset, thinking her husband is being unfaithful. Meanwhile, Dromio of Syracuse returns to his real master, only to be accused of joking about marriage. He denies it, but Antipholus of Syracuse beats him anyway.

Just then, Adriana and her sister Luciana arrive. Adriana, believing Antipholus of Syracuse is her husband, forgives him and asks him to come home for dinner. Though confused and nervous, Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse decide to go along with it and follow her home.

When Antipholus of Ephesus arrives home with his friends, Dromio of Syracuse refuses to let them in. Furious, Antipholus of Ephesus storms off and decides to have dinner with a courtesan to get back at his wife. Inside the house, Luciana advises Antipholus of Syracuse to be kinder to Adriana. But Antipholus surprises her by saying he has no interest in Adriana and is actually in love with Luciana. Though flattered, Luciana thinks this is wrong and quickly leaves.

Dromio of Syracuse then returns, complaining that he has his own problems—he has just learned that he is supposedly married to a greasy kitchen maid named Nell. Suspecting witchcraft, he and Antipholus of Syracuse decide to leave Ephesus on the next available ship. After Dromio leaves to make travel arrangements, a goldsmith named Angelo arrives. Mistaking Antipholus of Syracuse for his twin, he hands over a gold chain that was ordered and says he will return later for payment.

Meanwhile, Antipholus of Ephesus, still angry about being locked out, sends Dromio of Ephesus to buy a rope so he can punish his wife. Soon after, Angelo demands payment for the gold chain, but Antipholus of Ephesus, who never received it, refuses to pay. They argue, and Antipholus is arrested for not settling the debt.

Dromio of Syracuse then arrives and tells Antipholus that he has secured a spot on a ship, but his words make it sound like Antipholus is trying to flee without paying his debts. As he is taken away, Antipholus of Ephesus tells Dromio to ask Adriana for bail money. Dromio does so, but by mistake, he hands the money to Antipholus of Syracuse, making things even more confusing.

To make matters worse, the courtesan confronts Antipholus of Ephesus, claiming he promised her the gold chain. When Antipholus and Dromio run away from her, she decides to tell Adriana that her husband has gone mad.

Dromio of Ephesus returns to Antipholus of Ephesus with the rope he had asked for, but he denies being sent to collect bail money. Furious, Antipholus beats him. Just then, Adriana and Luciana arrive with the courtesan and a schoolmaster named Doctor Pinch, who tries to perform an exorcism on Antipholus. When that fails, and Adriana promises to pay his debts, Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus are tied up and taken to her home.

However, at that very moment, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse enter, armed with swords. Everyone panics, believing that Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus have escaped and are seeking revenge, and they all run away. Later, Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse seek shelter in a priory, where the Abbess offers them protection.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Ephesus arrives to carry out Egeon’s execution. Adriana begs him to force the Abbess to release her husband, but a messenger soon reports that he has escaped. Just then, Antipholus of Ephesus enters, pleading with the Duke for justice. Egeon sees him and assumes he is his long-lost son from Syracuse, but Antipholus denies knowing him.

Finally, the Abbess enters with Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse, and the truth is revealed. The two pairs of twins are reunited, and the Abbess reveals that she is actually Emilia, Egeon’s long-lost wife. With everything resolved, the Duke pardons Egeon, and everyone goes to the abbey for a celebratory feast.