The World of Restoration Comedy: Satire and Society in 17th Century London
The Restoration era saw the rise of Comedy of Manners, reflecting the upper class lifestyle with wit and satire. Playwrights like William Wycherley and William Congreve crafted plays that critiqued societal norms, focusing on themes of love, marriage, and social conduct in London. The plays feature characters like the sensible couple, discarded mistresses seeking revenge, and artificial men of fashion, portraying a cynical view of relationships and values.
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Presentation Transcript
Restoration The theatres were closed in 1642 by the puritan regime. After the protectorate, when the theatres reopened, the playwrights mostly wrote comedy of manners.
Restoration Comedy of Manners In these plays, the writers realistically portray the life style of upper classes (the fashions of the time, its manners, its speech). These plays mildly criticize the superficial and libertine conduct of the upper classes. They are always set in London. The action takes place in the drawing rooms, the coffee houses, the streets and gardens of London. The country and country values are despised. They are cynical about marriage. Most of the plays deal with the interest in the opposite sex, money, distrust in love and marriage. There are some stereotypes such as libertines or gay couple who reject to be ruled by the conventions of society. They praise pleasure, liberty, egoism.
The sensible couple; the discarded mistress of the libertine desiring for revenge because of being discarded; the fob, the artificial man of mode; gossiping ladies. The significant playwrights William Wycherley: The Country Wife Sir George Etherege: The Man of Mode William Congreve: The Way of the World
