Becci Gemmell as Luciana in the Shakespeare's Globe 2015 Production of The Comedy of Errors

Character Analysis: Luciana

As one of the main leading ladies of The Comedy of Errors, the beautiful and timid Luciana is forefront in the plot of twins and confusion. But is there more than Luciana's beauty and shyness under the surface of her character?

What does Luciana look like?

When looking to the physical description of Luciana in The Comedy of Errors it is important to note that there are not many outright descriptions of her in the play, this is not including Antipholus of Syracuse's monologue of Luciana being a mermaid/siren.

The one concrete description of Luciana in the play comes from Antipholus of Syracuse as he attempts to woo her:

"Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs," (III.II.50)

In productions of The Comedy of Errors, Luciana is often cast as young (between the ages of 20 and 30), pretty, and is generally dressed in a opposite color from Adriana - like pastel and cooler colors.

Lady Marcia FitzAlan-Howard as Luciana (left) and Suzanne Bertish as Adriana (right) in 1983 BBC Production of The Comedy of Errors

Antipholus of Syracuse attempts to woo Luciana, and her loyal responses about her sister

Simon Harrison as Antipholus of Syracuse and Becci Gemmell as Luciana in the Shakespeare's Globe 2015 Production of The Comedy of Errors

What is Luciana's personality?

Luciana is greatly described and shown as being loyal (to her sister, Adriana) going as far to defend her sister to the highly-ranked and respected Abbess towards the end of the play. This loyalty allows for Luciana to become fierce and self-spoken throughout the play (though it is never for herself).

Additionally, Luciana is shown as being meek and shy. Although, this could be because the personality of Adriana sticks out and shines brightly compared to Luciana, convincing audiences and readers that she is shy.

Finally, Luciana is seen as modest in her actions and emotions; often putting her sister before herself.

"She never reprehended him but mildly

When he demeaned himself rough, rude, and wildly. --

(to Adriana) Why bear you these rebukes and answer not?" (V.I.90-93)

How could one describe the life of Luciana?

As an unmarried woman, Luciana lives with her sister, Adriana, and brother-in-law, Antipholus of Ephesus. It is evident that "She thinks the world of her sister and hates Antipholus of Ephesus. She wants him to shape up because he is married to her sister" (Verduzco).

Luciana feels responsible to her sister, shown through her loyalty to her. She feels this so much so that "she's willing to give up a man's [Antipholus of Syracuse] proposal for the sake of her sister's happiness" despite her newfound feelings for the man she believes to be her sister's husband (Shmoop Editorial Team).

What is Luciana's relationship with the other characters?

In The Comedy of Errors, most of the characters are related to each other in one way or another, it is a part of story that makes the whole confusion even funnier for audiences.

Luciana, as one of the central characters, has key relationships in the play. She is the sister of Adriana, whom she lives with. She is therefore the sister-in-law of Antipholus of Ephesus, and the co-sister-in-law of Antipholus of Syracuse. Finally, she is the object of Antipholus of Syracuse's affection.

Laura Rook as Luciana (left) and Melisa Pereyra as Adriana (right) in the American Players Theatre's 2016 production of The Comedy of Errors

Eleanor Handley as Adriana and Lauren Orkus as Luciana in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 2011 production of The Comedy of Errors

What type of character is Luciana?

Upon my research about the different types of characters, I have determined that Luciana should be categorized as a stock character.

According to MasterClass, a stock character "is an archetypal character with a fixed set of personality traits. Shakespeare’s various fools are stock characters, as are some of his comic creations like Sir Andrew and Sir Toby in Twelfth Night" (MasterClass Staff).

I find that this description matches Luciana because she does not change very much thorughout the play, and she has an unchanging personality of being modest, shy, and loyal.

Additionally, Luciana is seen as the "traditional woman" in the play as she emphasizes many times how women should not try to control their husbands and that men will do what they please, even if this means cheating on their wife.

"A man is master of his liberty:

Time is their master, and when they see time

They'll go or come. If so, be patient sister." (II.I.7-9)

What is Luciana's role in the play?

Luciana's role comes in two forms throughout the play.

The first is as defender and advisor of her sister, Adriana. She acts a calming presence for Adriana at points of stress in the plot, much like in the beginning of the play where she first appears in an argument with her sister where she tries to convince her to remain calm and loyal to her husband. In the last act of the play, in front of the Abbess, Luciana defends her sister's actions to the Abbess and recommends the idea for Adriana to ask for the help of the Duke as he passes by.

The second role of Luciana in The Comedy of Errors comes in her relationship, or the lack thereof, with both Antipholus'. Luciana is one of the first to truly notice a difference in her brother-in-law's behavior, even making a remark about his recent behavior,

"Fie, brother, how the world is changed with you!" (II.II.163)

Because Luciana never thinks that Antipholus could be another man, she is extremely horrified by the advances of Antipholus of Syracuse as she thinks him to be her brother-in-law.

Casey Hoekstra as Antipholus of Syracuse and Laura Rook as Luciana in the American Players Theatre's 2016 production of The Comedy of Errors

Quinn Mattfeld as Antipholus of Syracuse and Marcella Rose Sciotto as Luciana in the Utah Shakespearean Festival's 2009 production of The Comedy of Errors

"And may it be that you have quite forgot

A husband's office? Shall, Antipholus,

Even in the spring of love thy love-springs rot?

Shall love, in building, grow so ruinous?

If you did wed my sister for her wealth,

Then for her wealth's sake use her with more kindness" (III.II.1-6)

What major conflicts does Luciana have?

The major conflicts Luciana experiences during the play includes the general confusion of Antipholus and the play's events. But the conflict that specifically affects Luciana include her denying her feelings for Antipholus of Syracuse, thanks to his speech of love, because she believes him to be her sister's husband.

How does Luciana change overall?

Overall, Luciana does not change throughout the play, rather she comes out of the plot events more confusing and with a boyfriend who she thought was her sister's husband...

If there were to any change of Luciana described, it would have to be in her arguments throughout the play. In the beginning, and through most of the plot, she argues that husbands must be supported by their wives and women should not tell them what to do. Yet, there comes one point, in Act III, where she yells at Antipholus of Syracuse, believing him to be Antipholus of Ephesus, to be a better husband and to treat her sister better or hide his misgivings. But, Luciana goes back into her "men must be obeyed" mentality at the end of the play and no longer argues with the male characters.

Works Cited

MasterClass Staff. “Writing 101: All the Different Types of Characters in Literature - 2021.” MasterClass, 2 Sept. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-all-the-types-of-characters-in-literature#5-character-types-that-appear-in-fiction.
Shmoop Editorial Team. “Luciana in The Comedy of Errors.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/comedy-of-errors/luciana.
Verduzco, Toribio. “Comedy of Errors Character Analysis.” Shakespeare Comes Alive!, 15 Dec. 2016, shakespearecomesalivefall2016.wordpress.com/group-2-character-analysis/.

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