The Comedy of Errors

Roles

• Aegeon of Syracuse - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male

About this piece

Aegeon narrates the sad story of how he got separated from his wife and son

Summary

The story takes place in Ephesus. Solinus, the Duke of Ephesus is leading Aegeon, a merchant from Syracuse, to be executed. Because of a dispute between the two cities, any Syracusan caught in Ephesus has to pay a ransom of 1000 marks. If he can't pay then he is executed. Aegeon tells the Duke that his execution will end his pain. The Duke, curious about it, asks him to tell him his story. In this monologue Aegeon tells him that he is a native of Syracuse and used to be a successful merchant trading with the city of Epidamnum. When his partner in that city died, he had to travel there with his wife. There she gave birth to two twin brothers. Another woman who was staying at the same inn gave birth to twins as well and Aegeon bought her two sons to make them his sons slaves. On their way back to Syracuse they encountered a storm. The ship was broken apart and his family was rescued by two separate ships, one from Corinth and one from Epidaurus. His wife along with one of the twins were rescued by the ship from Epidaurus and he never saw them again. When his son grew up he decided to go and look for his twin brother and his mother. Aegeon decided to find his wife and son as well and his travels led him to Ephesus, where is now facing execution...

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