# Dromio of Syracuse — The Comedy of Errors character guide

> Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Dromio, Dromio of Syracuse Basting, Dromio of Syracuse Certain ones, Dromio of Syracuse Within, Dromio of Syracuse Master, Dromio of Syracuse Time, Dromio of Syracuse Ay, Dromio of Syracuse Sconce

**First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-ii

## Who they are

A quick-tongued servant who trades bald jokes with his master, then finds himself claimed as a husband by a kitchen wench he has never seen.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Sent by his master to the Centaur with money; exits early in the scene.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Beaten by his master for a misunderstanding; he is bewildered by the events.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Inside the house, he impersonates the porter and refuses entry to Antipholus of Ephesus.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Dromio of Syracuse humorously describes being claimed by the kitchen wench Nell, using a globe metaphor to detail her appearance, and flees from her.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Mistakenly reports to Antipholus of Ephesus about a ship, then is sent to Adriana for bail money.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Arrives breathless, reporting that his master is arrested for a chain and requesting the money.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Brings gold and delivers news of a ship; engages in wordplay about an officer and the courtesan.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv)

Accompanies Antipholus of Syracuse with a sword; suggests staying in Ephesus but is overruled.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters/dromio_of_syracuse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters