Abstract
This paper explains in what ways Shakespeare was quite critical of the practice of Christianity and its hypocrisies. Ephesus, the town where "The Comedy of Errors" is set, contains a great deal of religious history. It is one of the places where St. Paul preached Christianity, as told in Acts of the Apostles in the Biblical New Testament. Ephesus was the source of much witchcraft and sorcery, and subsequently much Christian reform. It shows how through scene setting, Shakespeare had many things to say about Christianity in his play. We see the way in which the characters deal with the Christian hypocrisy of their time. The church focuses power in a patriarchal way; the men abuse this power while the women and servants (Adriana, Dromio) are expected to abide by biblical ideals. The paper addresses all these themes, including detailed adverse effects of the Christian society on the female and lower-class characters. Included are an overabundance of textual quotes, as well as some direct biblical references.

From the Paper
"In moving the location of Plautus' play, The Brothers Menaechmus, from Epidamium (in Ancient Greece) to the Turkish city of Ephesus, Shakespeare placed the action in a newer and more dramatic religious environment for The Comedy of Errors. The missionary St. Paul, whose travel and imprisonment in Ephesus are recorded in the Christian Bible's "Acts of the Apostles," associated the city with witchcraft and evil sorcery, but also sought to refine it. There are several places in Ephesus whose names hark back to the mythology of Ancient Greece, such as the "Centaur" (Antipholus of Syracuse's inn) and the "Phoenix"
(Antipholus of Ephesus' home). Yet this sets up a religious conflict within the city of Ephesus, for most of the characters indicate themselves to be Christian. Antipholus of Syracuse directly states, "I am a Christian" (23), while characters like Luciana and Adriana suggest it in their moral counsel, or even simple exclamations (LUCIANA: "God for Thy mercy!" (123)). At the beginning of Act IV, the Second Merchant reminds Angelo the goldsmith, "You know since Pentecost the sum is due" (87), demonstrating that the Christian calendar is instituted so that it guides even business dealings. However, Shakespeare does not praise Christianity in this play; at times, the manipulation of Christianity is equally as bad (if not worse) than the paganism that St. Paul had originally set out to dispel. It serves as an oppressor to selected characters throughout the play."

Tags:abbess, adriana, antipholus, apostles, balaam, bible, dromio, egeon, ephesians, ephesus, luciana, mistreatment, paul, synod, witchcraft