Britannica Educational Publishing 
Comedies of William Shakespeare [PDF ebook] 

In Shakespeare’s time, the term "comedy" did not necessarily denote something funny or amusing. Rather, through such plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice, the playwright examines other defining characteristics of comedic drama-the social interactions of common folks and a focus on the contradictions inherent in everyday life. Readers explore the major themes of Shakespearean comedies, which have enchanted readers and theater-goers alike for centuries.