Comedy of humours [British Drama]

The Comedy of Humours is a form of theater that originated in England during the Renaissance period, characterized by its focus on the portrayal of individual human characters and their distinctive personalities. The central premise of the Comedy of Humours is that each person is dominated by a dominant humor, or personality trait, such as melancholy, choler, phlegm, or sanguine. The playwrights of the Comedy of Humours sought to explore the relationships between these distinct personality types, and to use humor to comment on the foibles and idiosyncrasies of human behavior.

One of the most famous examples of the Comedy of Humours is William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." In this play, the characters are defined by their distinct humors, and the relationships and interactions between these characters provide the basis for much of the play's comedic elements.

The Comedy of Humours is also characterized by its use of witty and clever wordplay, as well as its focus on the physical and comic aspects of performance. The characters in these plays are often depicted as being larger than life, and the performers are encouraged to use exaggerated gestures and physicality to bring their characters to life.

In conclusion, the Comedy of Humours is an important form of theater that has had a significant impact on the development of comedic writing and performance. Its focus on the portrayal of human characters and their distinctive personalities, as well as its use of humor to comment on the foibles of human behavior, has made it a timeless and enduring form of theatrical expression.