Final answer:
Shakespearean comic relief, an essential aspect of his plays, uses humorous devices like mistaken identities, social role violations, and physical comedy to alleviate dramatic tension. It's evident in plays such as 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'Comedy of Errors' where confusion and lightheartedness counterbalance more serious moments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Shakespearean element of comic relief is a critical component of many of his plays, helping to ease the dramatic tension and contrast the heavier themes. In Shakespeare's comedies, we see the use of devices such as mistaken identities, social hierarchy violations, physical comedy, and clever wordplay.
For instance, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the character of Puck creates chaos and confusion by applying a love potion to the wrong characters, resulting in a series of humorous misunderstandings.
This high-jinks and the resulting laughter from the audience serves to alleviate the more intense moments and keep the tone lighthearted, ensuring the play's ending is satisfyingly happy.
Shakespeare further enhanced the comedic effect through unexpected coincidences, such as the swapping of love letters between the wrong parties, and extreme physicality akin to that observed in Commedia dell'Arte.
Additionally, Comedy of Errors draws directly from the tradition of Roman plays like those of Plautus, featuring a tangled web of misadventures involving two sets of twins. In essence, comic relief in Shakespeare's works is woven seamlessly within the narrative structure, providing respite and balance to the overarching themes.