The Comedy of Errors: Act 3, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

Outside the same house, Luciana and Antipholus of Syracuse are talking. Luciana scolds him for losing his love for Adriana and not respecting their marriage. She tells him to at least pretend to be faithful to her and “muffle your false love with some show of blindness,” rather than being so obvious about his infidelity. She tells him that it is “double wrong” to be both unfaithful and obvious about it.

Antipholus is confused, and says he does not know who Luciana is. He asks why she is trying to get him to pretend to be someone he is not, and tells her “your weeping sister is no wife of mine.” He tells her not to try to persuade him to love her sister, Adriana, but rather to plead her own case, as he is in love with her. Luciana is shocked and tells him, “gaze where you should,” that is, on Adriana.

Luciana tells Antipholus to focus his love on her sister, but he says he loves her sister’s sister (i.e. her) instead. Luciana runs off to get Adriana, and Dromio of Syracuse comes out of the house. He asks whether he is himself, and then says that a woman inside the house “claims” him as her fiancé.

He describes the woman, “the kitchen-wench,” as a fat woman “all grease,” and so dirty that not even “Noah’s flood” could wash her clean. Her name is Nell, and Dromio says that she is “spherical” like a globe. He says, “I could find out countries in her,” and he and Antipholus joke about where the various countries are on her. Ireland, for example, is “in her buttocks,” as Dromio found it “by the bogs.”

Dromio continues to make fun of Nell, describing her hideous appearance. He says that Nell called him by his name and claimed that he was “assured to her.” He calls Nell a witch and says he ran away from her. Antipholus tells Dromio to go see if he can find out about any ships leaving the town tonight, as he doesn’t want to spend one more night in the strange city. Dromio leaves as ordered.

Antipholus reflects that “there’s none but witches do inhabit here,” including Adriana. However, he admits that he loves Luciana and says she has almost enchanted him with her “mermaid’s song.” Angelo enters and gives Antipholus the necklace that Antipholus of Ephesus had ordered. Antipholus of Syracuse is confused, but accepts the chain. Angelo leaves, and Antipholus wonders what is going on. He plans to go to the market to await Dromio’s report about any departing ships.