Казусът като структурна основа на комедията

The article aims to clarify the relationship between the social functions of the Casus and the Сomedy. The former arises at that stage of human development when fixed norms of social behavior emerge, carrying with them the ideas of justice and personal responsibility. Its social function is to problematize assessments of existence, contrasting several norms against which life events are evaluated. The task of the comedy is very similar, as it seeks a way to restore correctness and justice, exposing the falsehood of the values in which people sometimes believe. Thus, a casus becomes a structural foundation of comedic action. The analysis of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” provides a clear example of the mechanism for implementing the interaction between a Casus and a comedic plot.