Elements of restoration comedy such as satire, sarcasm, and wit can be seen, especially in regards to the dialogue between algernon and jack. The plays, which fall under the historical label restoration comedy, are usually entitled, as far as their genre is concerned, comedy of manners or artificial comedy. But restoration comedy of manners took a good deal of continental spirit. Because of its striking characterization and brilliant dialogue, the way of the world is generally considered to be the finest example of restoration comedy, as well as one of the last. Comedy of manners is known as high comedy because it involves a. His influence on english restoration comedy exceeded that of jonson. It was a powerful but low satire on the puritans who had been subdued with the restoration of charles ii to the throne of england in 1660. Restoration drama characteristics restoration tragedy and restoration comedy theatres were closed during the puritan age.
Social behavior and social manners, then, are big themes in restoration literature. This genre held a mirror to the high society of the restoration age. Notes on restoration comedy or comedy of manners all about. The comedy of manners has made the restoration rich in drama. However, the genre really flourished in the english restoration period, spanning 1660 until around 1710. The way of the world was first presented when he was thirty. Wycherley, etheredge, congreve, vanbrugh and farquhar are the five famous writers of the restoration comedy. This genre is characterized by realism art, social analysis and satire. The way of the world as restoration comedy restoration as a historical period was a time when england was an established colonial power in the world. Introduction to restoration comedy englit eighteenth century.
There is always a contrast between the rural and the urban. They assumed but never stated an ideal mode of life which they expected the audience to accept. Another quality that you will see is that the characters lack emotion. 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 restoration and the 18th century english literature i. A comedy of manners is concerned with social usage and the question of whether or not characters meet certain social standards. The restoration comedy is called comedy of manners as it presented the superficial habits and manners of only a section of the society the elegant aristocracy with their vices, intrigues and outward glamour of polished behaviour. Historical background of the restoration age, characteristic features of the restoration comedies, major writers of restoration comedies. This is a genre of comedy which deals with the behavior and manner of men and women living under special social codes. The plays were generally set in london, in aristocratic homes, or coffeehouses, the. The merry monarch who took the lead role for this act, in the performance that was the house of stuart. Click download or read online button to get the broadview anthology of restoration and eighteenth century comedy book now. Some of the important features of the comedy of manners are as follows. One of the features unique to restoration comedy is the figure of the rake as romantic hero.
Oct 02, 2016 a comedy of manner is a type of comedy that deals with behaviour. One of the characteristics of restoration comedy is that there several plots that can be seen in various situations as the story unfolds. A more problematic example of restoration comedy is the provoked wife 1697 by john vanbrugh, about a deeply unhappy and often unfaithful married couple named the brutes. A kind of english comedy, usually in the form of the comedy of manners, that flourished during the restoration period in england i. Such was the case in ancient greece when menander c. Dec 27, 2010 the restoration period opens with a work very much exhibitive of its spmthudibras of samuel butler which appeared in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678, each part consisting of three cantos. Congreve was not born until ten years after the restoration. After public stage performances had been banned for 18 years by the puritan regime, the reopening of the theatres in 1660 signalled a renaissance of english drama. Most of the features of restoration drama are seen even today. The art of acting in restoration comedy, the buoyant, often bowdy romps which celebrated the reopening of the english theatres after cromwells dour reign, is the subject of simon callows bold investigation. The comedy of manners is a theatrical genre that was uberpopular during the restoration period. Their plot lines revolved around unfaithful wives, cuckolded husbands, and tricky lovers.
The comedy of manners was restoration comedy s most popular subgenre. During the restoration age, they reopened with new types of plays and performances which were different than the before. Birdsall points out that the rake hero is a descendant of earlier comedic male characters who were rogues, shrewd, doubledealing rascals dedicated to the cause of their own freedom and prosperity 6, but he is a sign. What elements of the restoration comedy are seen in the. Check your knowledge of restoration comedy theatre using an interactive quiz and printable worksheet. The comedy of manners, which was usually written by sophisticated authors for members of their own coterie or social class, has historically thrived in periods and societies that combined material prosperity and moral latitude. One of the striking features of restoration comedy is the presence of the fop. Greenspan has his way with the way of the world, taking an aberrant approach to the wittiest of restoration comedies, one of the great adornments of the english. The comedy of manners was restoration comedys most popular subgenre. William congreve and the way of the world as a restoration. With charles ii came the reopening of theatres, restoration comedy, the plague, the fire of london, and the building of st pauls cathedral.
Restoration comedy is english comedy written and performed in the restoration period from 1660 to 1710. In general, the term is used to denote roughly homogenous styles of literature that center on a celebration of or reaction to the restored court of. A restoration comedy is a form of comedy which flourished during the restoration in england 16601700. The society was immortal and so was its image represented by the comedy. The manners displayed were the affections and the cultured veneer of the society. How much do you know about the former king was the restoration period of english history a tragedy or comedy, or both. In this video we will read about restoration comedy and eminent writers of restoration comedy thanks for watching english world englishworld. Dryden was the representative writer of this period. Restoration drama characteristics tragedy and comedy. The broadview anthology of restoration and eighteenth. Sep 25, 2009 introduction to the characteristics of restoration comedy. In other words, a comedy of manners gives a satirical portrayal of the behaviour of a certain group of people. 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.
Reaction against restoration excess set in in the 1690s, and the cynical comedy of manners began to fade. The restoration comic world, influenced by a court milieu of skepticism, libertinism, and naturalism, is essentially a selfish one. 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. Comedy, type of drama or other art form the chief object of which, according to modern notions, is to amuse. Abrams it deals with the relations and intrigues of men and women.
Comedy of manners is used as a synonym of restoration comedy. Another is the characters dont show much emotion to preserve the distinctive traits of the character during the play. But nopethe most popular writers of the age wrote bawdy comedies packed with sexual innuendo. They were interested in all the drama that went on in the society in which they lived. Restoration literature is the english literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the english restoration 16601689, which corresponds to the last years of stuart reign in england, scotland, wales, and ireland. Within five years he has produced five plays love in a wood, the gentleman dancing. Jun 25, 2018 in this video we will read about restoration comedy and eminent writers of restoration comedy thanks for watching english world englishworld. One feature of the restoration comedy which has been often criticised and almost as often defended is its immorality. Although critics have argued that an affinity exists between the comedies of the late renaissance and the restoration, they have been uncharacteristically vague in defining what constitutes the similarity.
Unlike the figures within the rover, its main characters do not find happiness or fidelity at the end of the play. A comedy of manners, also called a restoration comedy, was a theatrical form that satirized the social manners of the time, primarily those of the upper class. Fop is all about the dichotomy between the inward and outward and. Was the restoration period of english history a tragedy or comedy, or both. The theatres which were indoor were much smaller than the elizabethan theatres. Restoration comedy is, says allardyce nicoll in british drama, wholly aristocratic, the manners, displayed being not those of men in general such as jonson showed in his homours. In england, the comedy of manners is represented by the plays of william wycherley, george etherege, william congreve, and george farquhar.
These same features mark the comedies of wycherley. Through the use of satire, they were able to expose and critique social injustices. The classic conception of comedy, which began with aristotle in. The restoration age 16601700 the period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the restoration period or the age of dryden because monarchy was restored in england. The audience was of the middle class and upperclass people.
Comedy of manners, witty, cerebral form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and affectations of a contemporary society. Then, what was their attitude toward politics, business, affairs of state. We thought dudes that looked like this would be superuptight. A study of family relationships in the restoration comedy of. The elements of restoration comedy that can be seen in the importance of ernest are that the characters are complexity of the characters.
Appealing to a fairly narrow audience of aristocrats in the recently reopened theatres, restoration comedy relied upon sophisticated. The manners which the comedy of manners shows were not the manners of all the classes of restoration society. 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. The continuity in english comedy in the seventeenth century has been a matter of serious critical discussion for at least fifty years. A manner is the method in which everyday duties are performed, conditions of society, or a way of speaking. Satire was a highly successful literary tool that worked to promote social awareness through literature, the theater and periodicals of. An examination of family relationships in the restoration comedy of manners reveals conflict and bitterness.
Restoration comedy meaning of restoration comedy by lexico. Get an answer for main features of restoration comedy with special reference to congreve the way of the world note on main features and find homework help for other the way of the world. Over the thirty years of its triumphs, restoration comedy, in an astounding fugue of excesses and depravities, laid bare the turbulence and toxins of this culture longman. Appealing to a fairly narrow audience of aristocrats in.
The genre called comedy of manners is meant to satirize the customs and behavior of a certain social group of people, usually of the upperclass. The merry monarch who took the lead role for this act, in the performance that was the house of stuart, still divides opinion 350 years after he was restored to englands throne. What are the characteristics of a restoration comedy or. In general, the term is used to denote roughly homogenous styles of literature that center on a. The comedy of manners the restoration comedy is a peculiar product of the restoration era, and it reflects the very spirit of the age. Dec 27, 2010 the restoration comedy of manners concentrated on the activities, intrigues and amorous achievements of gay, frivolous, rakish type of young men and women. For a modern example of a sex farce, read boeingboeing.
A study of family relationships in the restoration comedy. Most comedy writers liked the presentation of scenes and acts of sexual rudeness. Sexually explicit language was encouraged by king charles ii personally and by the rakish style of his court. William congreve and the way of the world as a restoration comedy. Restoration comedy is a type of restoration drama, which is related with the manners and attitudes of the characters and what the audience laugh at them after the pursuit of sex and money. The restoration comedy of manners concentrated on the activities, intrigues and amorous achievements of gay, frivolous, rakish type of young men and women. It is contrasted on the one hand with tragedy and on the other with farce, burlesque, and other forms of humorous amusement. Comedy of manners is a comedy dealing with behaviours. Horaces satires, published around 35 bce, and shakespeares much ado about nothing, published in 1598, are considered early versions of the comedy of manners genre. Historical background in 1642, puritans closed the theatres. This paper attempts to examine aphra behns play the rover in terms of the restoration comedy tropes it conforms to, as well as subverts. First, what did they think of the world in which they lived.
It makes fun of the follies, vanities, hypocrisies and weaknesses of people using satire. Behn with her characteristic breathless speed displays at length her. The characters in restoration comedies are largely types, whose dispositions are sufficiently indicated by study of their names. William congreves the way of the world and restoration drama. An introduction to restoration comedy the british library. Manners means a quality acquired by a person from free social intercrossed with cultivated men and women. The term restoration comedy comes from the revitalization of english monarchy and culture after puritan emigration.
A particularly appealing feature is the contrast between two pairs of. What is comedy of manners themes, characteristics, examples. Playwrights of the time were also known to incorporate satire in their plays. By that time, some of the most obvious and most notorious features of the period no longer existed or existed only in much weaker forms. Pdf this is an extract from restoration comedy, 16711682, a catalogue. There is cause again to celebrate as callow, one of britains foremost actors, aims to restore the form to all its original voluptuous vigor. With the turn of the century, enlightenment thought began to take more prominence and with it came an increasing optimism about human nature and the potential to reform human shortcomings.
Introduction to the characteristics of restoration comedy. The restoration writers werent interested in silly things like nature ew, dirt, or grand philosophical questions ugh, boring. The way of the word is an excellent example of restoration comedy, since it contains all the above characteristics. In other words, this is an essay to counter the biased view that restoration comedy is. Restoration comedy was above all a comedy of manners that is a parody and critique of fashonable society. Acting in restoration comedy applause acting series.
The latter titles could be regarded as dismissive because. The restoration period opens with a work very much exhibitive of its spmthudibras of samuel butler which appeared in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678, each part consisting of three cantos. Playhouses were dismantled actors were persecuted around 1650, william beeston acquired the salisbury court theatre and began to train a company of boys. Nevertheless, it was not successful when it was first presented in 1700. Apr 26, 2017 restoration comedy ridiculed human failings. The success of the plays of the restoration period was dependent upon the strange staging devices, weird plots, and dramatized language.
The restoration is a period in literary history full of humor and hankypanky. Salient feature of the restoration comedy of manners. Let us try to discover what their chief interests were. At the outset, let us examine in a general way, the point of view of the people of the restoration comedy world. The rover study guide from litcharts the creators of. Often the governing social standard is morally trivial but exacting. It depicts faithfully the life and manners of the upper class society. It was also the age that gave rise to some of the most important journalistic literature in english history, most notably addison and steeles. This form was later classed old comedy but is now known as restoration comedy because it coincided with charles iis return to england. Restoration comedy was written and performed from about 1660 to 1700. Attention was increased to the commercial rather than artistic aspect of making theatre. It was a time of materialism and commerce and the people of the period emphasized money, pleasure and sex. Notes on restoration comedy or comedy of manners all.
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