For Shakespeare, comedy was not simply about laughter, but about conflict and confusion giving way to resolution and a happy ending — at least by the standards of the Elizabethan era. The dilemmas these plays explore are still strikingly relevant, argues Heather Hirschfeld. She explores five Shakespearean comedies that speak to us today — on everything from power to identity to shared humanity, all mixed in with witty banter and plenty of room for clowns.