Dark (Black) Humor: "in literature and drama, combining the morbid and grotesque with humor and farce to give a disturbing effect and convey the absurdity and cruelty of life."

This site delves into a few examples of Shakespeare's employement of "dark humor" to provide comic relief or provide a statement on a humorous sect of human nature. Although the popularity of dark humor has sprouted in the film industry, stand-up comedy, and online media, the interesting occurance of this peculiar comedy seems evident throughout many of Shakespeare's pieces. 

Some examples of this comedic strategy stem from the plays Richard III, The Winter's Tale, and Hamlet. By morphing these complex, dark ideas into humour, Shakespeare appears to "deflate" the pressure associated with morbidity and may underline the ridiculousness associated with areas of his writing.