Restoration comedies swung the pendulum in a decidedly opposite direction. Technically it is only in england in the 1660s that people should refer to restoration comedy and comedy of manners as one and the same. The skeleton of this type was however, produced much earlier but it found a rich flowering in the hand of etherege, wycherley, congreve, vanbrugh and farquhar. The cynical decadence of the age was alien to the spirit of the elizabethan romantic comedy. Doc comedy of manners and its features mk shuvo academia. Appearing in 1700, congreves play represents a late version of the restoration comedy of manners, one that consolidates many of the features of earlier plays. However, restoration comedy was indebted to the jonsonian school as well as to beaumont and fletcher. As an artistic piece of literature, the restoration comedy of manners mirrored the. It satirically presents the aristocratic london society. Every reader of the restoration comedy of manners cannot fail to be impressed. The purpose is to hit at the follies and foibles of people. A study of family relationships in the restoration comedy of. Notes on restoration comedy or comedy of manners all about. Primarily, this is because restoration comedy only applies to the dominant style of comedy in england during the reign of king charles ii mainly in the 1660s but extending to about 1700 whereby this monarchs restoring of the english throne.
A kind of english comedy, usually in the form of the comedy of manners, that flourished during the restoration period in england i. In english literature, the comedy of manner really flourished in the restoration period. He wrote several other comedies of manners also which. The comedy of manners has made the restoration rich in drama. Jamess park, mulberry garden, fashionable clubs, houses and drawingrooms of the. To be concluded we may say that sheridans comedy the school for scandal contains all chief characteristics of a restoration comedy such as a satire, loveintrigues, scandal mongering, craze for fashion and extravagance and indebtedness etc. The way of the world has all the important characteristics of the comedy of manners. Specific elements characterize the restoration comedy of. William congreves the way of the world and restoration drama. Although they ultimately uphold the status quo, these plays scrutinise and ridicule upperclass societys manners and rules of behaviour, providing an uptotheminute commentary on class, desire and the marriage market. Manners means a quality acquired by a person from free social intercrossed with cultivated men and women.
What are the important features of the comedy of manners. The drama, especially comedy of manners proved to be one of the most important genres in the restoration era. Notes on restoration comedy or comedy of manners all. As compared to the tragedy of the restoration age, this genre achieved greater distinction and shame.
There is always a contrast between the rural and the urban. Although influenced by ben jonsons comedy of humours, the restoration comedy of manners was lighter, defter, and more vivacious in tone. The comedy of manners, also called antisentimental comedy, is a form of comedy that satirizes. The comedy of manners is a theatrical genre that was uberpopular during the restoration period. Comedy of manners is a comedy dealing with behaviours. Introduction to restoration comedy englit eighteenth century. Some of the important features of the comedy of manners are as follows.
Restoration comedy, which was influenced by ben jonsons comedy of humours, made fun of affected. The socalled heroic tragedy which had a brief run concurrently with the comedy of manners had also a little of popularity, but was too unnatural and artificial and merely a type of french soil. The comedy of manners was restoration comedys most popular subgenre. In fact, the term restoration comedy is sometimes used as a synonym for. Restoration comedy is english comedy written and performed in the restoration period from 1660 to 1710. The comedy of manners depicts a small world which has a distinct territory of its own the fashionable parts of the london of charles iis time. Wit or witty spirit is the very quintessence of restoration comedy. Appealing to a fairly narrow audience of aristocrats in the recently reopened theatres, restoration comedy relied upon sophisticated. An introduction to restoration comedy the british library.
The aim of this comedy is to show the manners of the upper ranks of contemporary society. These comedies were bawdy and dirty, with lots of hilarious and scandalous dialogue focusing on sex. It started developing after reopening of the theatres in 1660. Restoration drama characteristics tragedy and comedy. Its main activities take place in the public gardens like hyde park, st. Their plot lines revolved around unfaithful wives, cuckolded husbands, and tricky lovers.
1225 1029 340 309 627 404 1407 1187 907 517 352 1103 1574 582 929 293 184 819 1431 206 899 304 110 553 900 669 274 503 1224 1254 269 1386 1535 692 774 1022 514 1332 723 13 459 815 1258 1399 1041 664 774