The tone of The Changeling is seriocomic, blending elements of both serious drama and comedy to create a tonally complex atmosphere. This tone is characterized by a delicate balance between moments of light-hearted humor and the generally serious, often dark, subject matter of the play’s primary narrative, which centers upon a series of violent murders and acts of suicide.
One important aspect of the seriocomic tone is the inclusion of comedic elements that provide relief from the more serious and intense moments of the play. Situations rife with comedic potential arise from the interactions of the characters involved in the subplot of the asylum, which is full of comic misunderstandings, witty dialogue, or absurd circumstances. These comedic elements serve not only to entertain the audience but also to create a tension that heightens the impact of the more serious themes.
When the tragic main plot and comedic subplot meet, this mixed tone becomes particularly evident. When Vermandero notices that Antonio and Franciscus are missing from his castle, he immediately assumes that they are guilty of Alonzo’s murder.
VERMANDERO : I tell thee, knave, mine honour is in question,
A thing till now free from suspicion,
Nor ever was there cause; who of my gentlemen
Are absent? Tell me, and truly, how many and who.
SERVANT : Antonio, sir, and Franciscus.
VERMANDERO : When did they leave the castle?
SERVANT : Some ten days since, sir, the one intending to Briamata, th’other for Valencia.
VERMANDERO : The time accuses ’em; a charge of murder
Is brought within my castle gate, Piracquo’s murder.
Antonio and Franciscus, as the audience is aware, are absent from the castle because they are impersonating mad-men in an asylum in order to woo the beautiful Isabella. Though they are ultimately cleared of suspicion, the fact that they are almost executed for their silly antics reflects the “seriocomic” tone of the play.
