‘The Comedy of Errors’ is probably one of the most complicated plays, involving two sets of identical twins with multiple identity confusions.
The play begins with a Syracuse merchant, Egeon, being led to his execution for defying the ban against travel between Syracuse and Ephesus. As he is taken to the gallows, he tells Duke Solinus, the Ephesian ruler, that he has come in search of his wife and one of his twin sons, who were lost in a shipwreck. The other twin is also searching for his mother and brother. The Duke feels sorry for Egeon and gives him a day’s stay of execution, to allow him to raise the ransom that would save his life.
The main themes of this play are family loyalties, persistence, identity and coincidence, love and relationships.
