The scene involving the porter at Macbeth's door and the Thanes Ross and Macheath (just prior to the discovery of Duncan's corpse) serves as a light-hearted source of comic relief, as they discuss the negative effects of excessive drinking.
The porter. He is drunk, and stumbles to answer the knocking, complaining about the noise and mocking whoever is on the other side of the door. He compares himself to a porter at the gates of hell and asks, “Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Beelzebub?†When Macduff and Lennox enter, the porter rambles on comically about the effects of alcohol, which he says provokes red noses, sleepiness, and urination.
The character that provides comic relief in the play typically lightens the mood through humor or wit, often serving as a contrast to the more serious or dramatic moments in the storyline.
The comic foil to Claudio in Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing" is the character of Dogberry, the bumbling constable. Dogberry provides comic relief through his malapropisms and misguided attempts at maintaining order in the play.
He provides comic relief.
He provides comic relief.
comic relief
Nick Bottom is a comical character in William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He is an overconfident and bumbling actor who takes on the role of Pyramus in a play within the play. Bottom is known for his humorous and self-absorbed personality, making him a memorable character in the play.
Comedians, generally. If you are talking about Shakespeare, one of the members of their company was a comedian, so in every play there was a part for a comedian. In a comedy, he might be a main character (see the Merry Wives of Windsor). In a tragedy, he was comic relief.
Mercutio is not just comic relief. He has purpose in this play. He is Romeo's friend and confidante. He longs for peace between the two houses, and rightly points out to Romeo, that his love with Juliet will only end in tragedy.
Comic relief
The sentry in "Antigone" provides comic relief through his bumbling and comical mannerisms while reporting to King Creon. He is often depicted as a simple-minded character who struggles to convey his message clearly, leading to humorous situations that offer a temporary break from the play's intense themes. His interactions with the Chorus also add a light-hearted touch to the dark events unfolding in the tragedy.
The clown in Othello is a minor character that only appears in two scenes in Act III. His character provides comic relief in the play. Despite his small appearance, he is quite significant as he is illustrated as the only one that sees Iago as dishonest and double faced. He also plays with puns in conversations between Cassio and Desdemona.
Comic Relief
Peter jokes with the musicians in Act 4 Scene 5. The jokes were probably funny then, but seem pretty lame now. We know it was intended to be comic relief because in one early printing of the play, the actor's name Kempe (Will Kempe, the comedian) is inserted instead of the character's name Peter.