Final answer:
Comedies range from light-hearted to satirical and aim to elicit laughter and joy from the audience. They often involve characters in non-threatening humorous situations and use devices like misunderstandings and mistaken identity to create humor.
Step-by-step explanation:
A comedy may be light-hearted or satirical; responses range from scorn to joy. In the realm of comedy, the audience experiences amusement rather than fear, often laughing at characters' misfortunes in a non-threatening manner. The essence of comedy is to evoke hilarity, typically leading to a happy ending. Comedy of Manners is a sub-genre that satirizes social classes, often through the lens of the aristocracy, with writers like Oscar Wilde offering sharp commentary through works such as The Importance of Being Earnest.
Comedies focus on practical choices rather than ethical dilemmas, with characters engaging in humorous situations over serious ones. Misunderstandings, foul language, social hierarchy violations, coincidences, mistaken identities, and extreme physicality all serve as devices to create laughter and joy. Ultimately, the purpose of comedy is entertainment, providing relief from the serious themes that dominate tragedies and dramas.