The Merry Wives of Windsor is considered to be one of Shakespeare's lesser comedies. Other major comedies of Shakespeare's include Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Comedies have a storied history in Western drama and relevance throughout many major literary periods. Ancient Greek comedies include works by Aristophanes and Menander. Restoration era comedies include works by George Etherege, Aphra Behn and John Vanbrugh. There are also several categories of comedies that arouse near and around the time of Shakespeare: comedy of humours, comedy of intrigue, comedy of manners, and comedy of menace. Many of Shakespeare's plays fit into these categories...
