The Comedy of Errors
by William Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors: Setting 1 key example

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Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:

The Comedy of Errors is set in the Ancient Greek city of Ephesus. Located near the Aegean Sea, Ephesus was the site of a large harbor in antiquity, thus serving as an important stop on trade routes through the Mediterranean. Shakespeare draws from this history in depicting Ephesus as a bustling commercial center, setting the ground for the play’s interest in markets, economic value, and exchange. A busy city is a fit setting for this play, creating many opportunities for characters to come and go, bumping into one another while going about their daily business.