ACT 1 SCENE 1
The play opens in Ephesus with Egeon, a merchant from Syracuse, being sentenced to death: ‘if any Syracusan born / Come to the bay of Ephesus, he dies’. Solinus, the Duke of Ephesus, asks Egeon why he is there. Egeon tells him the tragic tale of a shipwreck which separated him from one of his twin sons, both called Antipholus, and his wife. Another set of twins, both named Dromio and bought by him to be servants, were also separated that day. Egeon explains that his surviving son left home to search for his lost twin and mother but has since disappeared. Egeon is exhausted in his search and ready for death. The Duke pities Egeon but is bound by the law. He gives him a day to raise the money to save his life: ‘Beg thou or borrow to make up the sum, / And live. If no, then thou art doomed to die.'
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant Dromio of Syracuse arrive at Ephesus. Antipholus has been searching for his lost twin brother for so long, he feels lost himself: 'I to the world am like a drop of water / That in the ocean seeks another drop.' Antipholus gives a thousand gold marks to Dromio and tells him to take it to the Centaur pub where they will stay. Unbeknown to these new arrivals, their twin brothers have been living in Ephesus for years. Dromio of Ephesus enters and mistakes Antipholus of Syracuse for his master. Antipholus is not amused and asks him if he dealt with the gold. Dromio of Ephesus denies any dealings with gold and replies that Antipholus is late and his wife Adriana is waiting for him along with her sister Luciana. Confused, Antipholus of Syracuse denies being married. He gives Dromio of Ephesus a beating and heads off towards the Centaur.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Adriana is at home with her sister Luciana, frustrated that her husband, Antipholus of Ephesus, is late for dinner again. Adriana questions how fair it is for husbands to have more freedom than wives. Luciana urges her to be patient and says that men are born to be obeyed: ‘The beasts, the fishes, and the wingèd fowls / Are their males’ subjects and at their controls.’ Luciana is unmarried so Adriana thinks she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Dromio of Ephesus returns and tells Adriana that her husband is mad and is denying she exists. Adriana accuses the absent Antipholus of neglect, but Luciana blames Adriana’s jealousy and says she’ll only hurt herself.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Antipholus of Syracuse has checked on his money at the Centaur pub and is satisfied it’s safe. Dromio of Syracuse enters and denies ‘joking’ with his master about a wife and dinner. Frustrated, Antipholus beats him. Then Adriana and Luciana enter. They assume Antipholus of Syracuse is Adriana’s neglectful husband and start scolding him: ‘Ay, ay, Antipholus, look strange and frown: / Some other mistress hath thy sweet aspects’. Antipholus of Syracuse is confused by their accusations and says he’s never met them before. Out of curiosity, he follows them home. Adriana orders Dromio to guard the door and let no one enter. Dromio of Syracuse is convinced the women are witches but dutifully follows his master.
