In every play, the author is trying to discuss some theme that relates to everyone. This is true for Shakespeare, of course, even in his comedies. In several comedies the central theme is love and in The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummers Night Dream, and The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare uses the final act to demonstrate what he believed was important to maintaining a healthy relationship. However, the each play has a different piece to an overall greater theme. They show that through cooperation, forgiveness, and effort a healthy lasting relationship is possible.
The final act of The Taming of the Shrew begins with Lucentios father getting into an argument about who he is with Baptista and some of Lucentios servents all this due to the fact that Lucentio has not yet come forth with his true identity. While this fight is going on, Petruccio says to Kate, Prithee, Kate, lets stand aside and see the end of this controversy (V.i.49-50) showing that he does not want to get involved. Eventually, Lucentio shows up and explains the situation to all, ending the scene. The next scene involves the newlywed men making a bet about whose wife is more obedient. Even though Petruccio initiates the bet, everyone expects him to lose. Despite the glaring doubts and the overwhelming odds, Petruccio wins the bet and the respect of the rest of the men. Kate ends the story with a monologue directed toward the other disobedient wives, telling them that for all a man does for his wife, the least a woman can do is be obedient to them. Kate says to the women, I am ashamaed women are so simple/To offer war where the should kneel for peace,/Or seek for rule, supremecy, and sway/When they are bound to serve, love, and obey (X.ii. 165-168). In summation, Shakespeare was hinting that if women stay loyal and obedient to their husbands they will have any need or want satisfied to the best of their husbands capabilities.
Furthermore, the final act of A Midsummers Night Dream depicts the three couples trying to pass the time by watching a horrendous play performed by Bottom, and the rest of the Mechanicals. This occurs, of course, after Theseus and Hippolyta hear the tale of the previous night from the other two couples. The couples then watch and poke fun at the atrocities of the performance, all having a good time possibly inferring to a happy future. For example, after asking if the lion in the play speaks, Demetrius replies, No wonder, my lordone lion may when many asses do (V.i.152-153) referring to the rest of the cast. This demonstrates just how poorly the performance was received by the audience and adds to the overall comedy of the play. In the next scene, Oberon and Titania discuss blessing the three couples so that they may live happy together till the end of their days. In fact, Oberon says to Titania, Now until the break of day/Through this house each fairy stray./To the best bride bed will we,/Which by us shall blessed be,/And the issue there create/Ever shall be fortunate./So shall all the couples three/Ever true in loving be (V.ii.32-38) They also go one step further and bless the bed of Theseus and Hippolyta, which one can also infer that this means they will have extraordinary children. Shakespeares theme for his final act of A Midsummers Night Dream can be interpreted as that every relationship requires work and true eternal love is possible, even if it is by some seemingly divine power, despite any bumps along the way.
Additionally, the final act of The Merchant of Venice starts off with two lovers, discussing nights such as the one they ran off with each other. After a while, Lorenzo notices Portia and Nerissa. After talking to the two of them for a while, Bassanio, Graziano and Antonio enter and discuss the success at the trial at the cost of Bassanios and Grazianos wedding rings to the lawyer and his clerk. This leads to an argument between the two couples and Nerissa says to Graziano:
What talk you of the posy or the value?
You swore to me when I did give it you
That you would wear it till your hour of death,
And that it should lie with you in your grave.
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths
You should have been respective and have kept it.
Gave it a judges clerk?Love me and leave me not (X.i. 150-155)
After berating their husbands for giving away their wedding rings, and accepting the offer of Antonios soul, Portia and Nerissa inform them that they were, in fact, the lawyer and clerk and then give the men their rings back. In can be inferred that Shakespeares usage of deception, betrayal and forgiveness in the final act of The Merchant of Venice shows a theme of being able to forgive in relationships but to not be fooled by the other person.
In each of these Shakespearean plays, there is a central theme of love, specifically between three separate couples, though sometime with some unwelcome suitors. The final acts of each play share similar themes as well, such as cooperation between the couples and being able to love and make the relationship work, despite any unforeseen obstacles that may spring up. In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare shows this by having a strong-willed woman eventually realize she can have all she desires if she only submit to her husbands control. It allowed the relationship to grow from a formality into true love (Petruccio originally only married Kate for her money then fell in love with her) and allowed the couple to, presumably, live happily ever after. In A Midsummers Night Dream, Shakespeare shows that, even if it is by divine intervention, eternal love is possible. This is demonstrated through the blessing Oberon and Titania gave to the three couples the night of Theseus and Hippolytas wedding. Despite the events of the previous night, all three couples put their worries behind them and lived in the moment of the atrocious play being performed before them, living happily with one another. This also shows that a couple must put work into their relationship and enjoy the smaller things in life. Finally, in The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare uses the final act to show that their must be trust in a relationship, but even if that trust is broken, being able to forgive is paramount in a working, happy relationship. These themes all give helpful insight into what, Shakespeare believed, was necessary for a lasting relationship.
Furthermore, there may be a common theme of how to preserve true love, but Shakespeare also has many warnings on recognizing an unhealthy relationship. Each story gives a different and unique warning sign of a failing relationship. In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare can be interpreted to have been warning that if the relationship is combative or argumentative it can be permanently detrimental, or even completely ruin, the relationship. Before Kate complies with Petruccios will, she is forbidden several meals and the right to clean herself. This led to a growing hatred toward her husband yet inevitably taught her the lessons necessary for having a happy marriage. In A Midsummers Night Dream Shakespeare warns of giving up on love without putting in the work necessary to make it work out. Finally, in The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare uses betrayal and deception as a deterring factor in the relationship to warn people of the dangers of being dishonest with the other party.
While the overall theme, of each final act, shows how to attain a happily ever after, the clues each set of couples provide are all different and equally unique forcing the similarities to lead to the differences. In one, a former shrew shows how her newfound obedience works in her favor to gain control and maintain her marriage. This play says that loyalty and cooperation are paramount in maintaining a healthy relationship with ones partner. In another, it takes the interference of fairies for three couples to realize that being able to enjoy the little things in life and look past the faults of others is what makes a relationship lasting. This play indentifies joy in simplicity and putting effort into the relationship as a key component to staying together and happy. In the last, two husbands betray their wives trust, who in turn use deception upon them to prove a point, allowing them to understand that being able to forgive and look past violations of trust is a major component of a thriving marriage. This play emphasizes the importance of trust in happy relationships. These plays demonstrate that Shakespeares themes may have been similar but they are still very different.
In summation, Shakespeare uses the final act of these comedies to stress what he believed was crucial to keeping a healthy relationship. These plays share a common theme of maintaining true love but vary on the steps necessary to achieving true love. This points to an overall greater theme in Shakespeares comedies as a collective and a symmetry between them individually. He shows that through obedience, understanding, and working at a relationship eternal love is possible.
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