Question

The comedy of mistaken identity is a very old dramatic form – as old, in fact, as comedy itself – which Gilbert and Sullivan put to good use in The Pirates of Penzance. What comic consequences result from elements of mistaken identities (deliberately created by the characters themselves) surrounding Frederic, the pirates &/or the Major General? (3-4 sentences)

Answer 1

In The Pirates of Penzance, mistaken identity plays a significant role in the plot and creates a series of comic consequences. Frederic, the protagonist, is mistakenly indentured to the pirates as a young child, leading to his confusion about his true identity. The pirates, on the other hand, mistake the Major General for a fellow pirate and attempt to kidnap him, causing chaos and hilarity. Meanwhile, the Major General and his daughters are mistaken for a group of professional musicians, leading to their humorous attempts to perform. These mistaken identities add a layer of comedy to the already whimsical and absurd plot of the operetta.