Artificiality and immorality were the defining features of the age. Restoration tragedy is classified as heroic tragedy. The period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the restoration period or the age of dryden. The society was immortal and so was its image represented by the comedy. The restoration and the 18th century english literature i. The comedy of manners is a theatrical genre that was uberpopular during the restoration period.
Sep 17, 2020 characteristics of restoration comedy wit and humour are the prominent qualities of the comedy of manners. The restoration, 1660 1700, is marked by the restoration of the monarchy and the triumph of reason and tolerance over religious and political passion. Since in these plays wit is always intellectual, therefore, it wit provides these plays with a cerebral touch, doing away with vulgarity, cheapness, and indecency. Apr, 2016 dobree argued that the distinguishing characteristics of the restoration comedy down to congreve is that it is concerned with an attempt to rationalise sexual relationship. This genre is characterized by realism art, social analysis and satire. Its aim is distinctly satiric, and it is set forth in plots of jonsonian complexity, where the principal intriguer is the rakish hero. Millament is a typical restoration coquette and mirabell, a representative beau. 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. Restoration and eighteenthcentury drama british literature. 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. They provide the standard by which other characters are judged. Other major writers of the era include john dryden, john wilmot 2nd earl of rochester, and john locke. It was during the restoration that john milton published paradise.
Some literary historians speak of the period as bounded by the reign of charles ii 166085, while others prefer to include within its scope the writings produced during the reign of james ii 168588, and even literature of the 1690s is often spoken. The comedy of manners was restoration comedy s most popular subgenre. Diane maybank introduces the characters, conventions and historical context of restoration comedy, and explores what the genre has to say. Comedy of manners often satirized the middle and upper classes of people, especially the very audience that watched these comedies. Behn with her characteristic breathless speed displays at length her.
It gave rise to the development of the comedy of manners, which portrayed the sophisticated life of the dominant class of society. Describe the characteristics of a restoration comedy list and explain how restoration comedy sparked changes in the english arts identify famous playwrights and their most wellknown plays of this era. Petualant and witwood are the typical fops of restoration drama. Comedy is applied to plays that end with happiness. 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. The way of the world as a representative restoration comedy. Restoration literature english literary period britannica. In addition to the truewit hero and heroine, the characters of the restoration comedy of manners include the pretender to wit. The restoration of king charles ii in 1660 marks the beginning of a new era both in the life and the literature of england. Together they offer a complex overview of the restoration comedy as a genre and. Sep 25, 2009 restoration comedy follows a character pattern which matches the spirit and values of its world.
It was a time of materialism and commerce and the people of the period emphasized money, pleasure and sex. Restoration comedies are also called comedy of manners. Knight says, the restoration comedy is entirely dominated by a narrow set of conventions. Admittedly, they did not so much simplify english prose as added to it that delicacy, finesse, and elegance hitherto missing in it. What is restoration comedy and the features of restoration. These comedies were bawdy and dirty, with lots of hilarious and scandalous dialogue focusing on immoral relations. Restoration ecology notes vocab restoration ecology is the science of restoring ecosystems.
What are the characteristics of restoration comedy or. Comedy of manners, witty, cerebral form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and affectations of a contemporary society. Its predominant tone was witty, bawdy, cynical, and amoral. Restoration comedy historical context womens college. What is comedy of manners themes, characteristics, examples. The restoration dramatists wrote works based on a satirical observation of the social behaviour. Through these characteristics, the comedies of manners both mirrored and criticized a society becoming more fluid in terms of sexual mores, gender roles, and class standing. A comedy is a play with a happy ending that makes the audience laugh. The restoration and the 18th century british literature wiki. Characteristics of the restoration age introduction the period from 1660 to 1700 is mentioned as the restoration age or the age of dryden because the monarchy was restored in england. As a result, restoration comedy contains elements like satire, sarcasm and sagacity, which can be observed in the arguements between algernon and jack. Mar 18, 2019 the restoration gave rise to the first female playwright of the english stage, aphra behn. The comedy of manners is a genre of comedy that flourished on the english stage during the restoration period. Theophrastuss ethical characters, translated into latin by casaubon, and published in 1592.
So, it is a typical restoration comedy or comedy of. However, viewing the age only in terms of its epicureanism would amount to having a rather narrow perspective of the times, as bonamy dobree points out in the essay restoration comedy. Characteristics of restoration comedy wit and humour are the prominent qualities of the comedy of manners. Main characteristics of restoration comedy of manners include a flamboyant display of witty, blunt sexual dialogue, boudoir intrigues, sensual innuendos and. Subsequently, question is, what are the characteristics of restoration comedy. Jul 12, 2017 presentation about the restoration period of drama, the most popular type of comedy of the age comedy of manners and richard sheridan, who wrote the school f slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. During restoration period writers wrote comedies criticizing the society as people, particularly upper classes, living without moral standards. A kind of english comedy, usually in the form of the comedy of manners, that flourished during the restoration period in england i. A comedy of manner is a type of comedy that deals with behaviour. Well find many of the characteristics of the comedy of manners in this play. It makes fun of the follies, vanities, hypocrisies and weaknesses of people using satire. Appearance of new literary forms comedy of manners the comedy of manners is a theatrical genre that was uberpopular during the restoration period.
Once the puritans were defeated and the monarchy was restored, english society saw a complete rejection of the puritan way of life. Dryden was the representative writer of this period. A study of the moral tone of restoration comedy core. The drama was often promoted by the king during this period. The restoration comedy writers replaced verse with prose as their medium. Pdf this is an extract from restoration comedy, 16711682.
These comedies were bawdy and dirty, with lots of hilarious and scandalous dialogue focusing on sex. The comic exaggeration of characters in restoration comedy, and of most of their activities, creates a. Dobree who is an eminent critic says that the restoration comedy is concerned with rationalizing sexual relationships. A comedy of manners is concerned with social usage and the question of whether or not characters meet certain social standards. Where the earlier playwrights created powerful and original characters, the. Jun 21, 2018 restoration comedy kept all sections of its audience happy by blending wit with low humour such as farce and burlesque. Plays of this type are typically set in the world of the upper class, and ridicule. Dec 16, 2019 restoration comedy characteristics sir john vanbrughs comedies the relapse 1696, the provoked wife 1697 and the unfinished journey to london, show the restoration comic mode breaking down. It generously fed the publics appetite for broad satire, high style, and a licentiousness that justified the worst puritan imaginings. Cleanth brooks in his understanding drama says thus.
This is an extract from restoration comedy, 16711682, a catalogue. Dec 27, 2010 restoration comedy, too, contributed towards the establishment of modern prose. Wit was governed by a serious playfulness with words and ideas, where language was used in an intellectually stimulating and surprising way. But restoration comedy of manners took a good deal of continental spirit. The restoration produced an abundance of prose and poetry and the distinctive comedy of manners known as restoration comedy. The dramatists did not merely say anything they liked. He lacks the wit and poise of his great contemporary congreve. Restoration comedy the greatest literary activity during the. Technically and historically, while the restoration began on charles iis return to the english throne in 1660, the characteristics of restoration drama began to appear in the carolinian. Their plot lines revolved around unfaithful wives, cuckolded husbands, and tricky lovers. Introduction to restoration comedy englit eighteenth century. The social geography of london in restoration comedy. It contains an emphasis on romance and sex, disguise, and lots of jokes and witty dialogue.
A total of 580 characters are listed as portraying one of these five types. They are more concerned with dress and appearance than with anything else. 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. Most comedy writers liked the presentation of scenes and acts of sexual rudeness. 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 but the affectations and cultured veneer of finer society. Restoration theatre is most noted for the comedy of. In the 17th century, wit meant more than the ability to make people laugh. Restoration comedy is english comedy written and performed in the restoration period from 1660 to 1710. Restoration literature characteristics comedy of manners. Women in breeches and modes of masculinity in restoration comedy. One feature of the restoration comedy which has been often criticised and almost as often defended is its immorality. William wycherley, george etherege, william congreve, george farquhar, and aphra behn created bawdy works of restoration comedy with the country wife.
Comedy of manners is used as a synonym of restoration comedy. Jun, 2020 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. An introduction to restoration comedy the british library. Restoration comedy is always concerned with the same subjectthe game of lovebut the subject is treated as a critique of fashionable society. In english literature, the comedy of manner really flourished in the restoration period. Comedy of manners important characteristics youtube. Comedy of manners restoration theatre is most noted for the comedy of manners values had changed since shakespeares day. A study of family relationships in the restoration comedy of.
In almost every important respect, restoration drama was far inferior to the elizabethan. Restoration comedy is marked by its incredible sexual explicitness. In the year of 1660, charles ii was brought to the throne and the restoration of charles ii brought a new era both in life and in literature. The drama of this period can be broken into two categories, comedies and tragedies. Much of the elizabethan play writers blended tragedy and comedy, whereas the restoration dramatists chose to separate the two nettleton. Sep 04, 2016 it is known for its wit, humour, and repartee. The rover was a very popular comedy during the restoration period. Sexually explicit language was encouraged by king charles ii personally and by the rakish style of his court. Concerning the origins of restoration comedy, and of. The country wife by william wycherley a supremely bawdy comedy in which the aptly. What elements of the restoration comedy are seen in the. It was during the restoration that john milton published paradise lost and paradise regained.
This volume features three of the most popular restoration comedies. Nature of restoration comedy in almost every important respect, restoration drama was far inferior to the elizabethan. A general survey of the plays produced in this period clearly shows that the number of submissive women is far lower than the number of resourceful ones. Restoration poetry characteristics english summary. This genre held a mirror to the high society of the restoration age. After the restoration, charles ii and others, influenced by their experiences in france, encouraged english poets and. The characters use language in a very tricky and clever way. In other words, a comedy of manners gives a satirical portrayal of the behaviour of a certain group of people. The manners displayed were the affections and the cultured veneer of the society. Restoration as a historical period was a time when england was an established colonial power in the world.
The manners which the comedy of manners shows were not the manners of all the classes of restoration society. The restoration comedy is an accurate mirror of the 17th century society and is intensely realistic. 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. It was his satirically heightened pictures of contemporary life, composed with classical restraint and polish, that reappeared after the restoration in the work of such nmen as john wilson,11 and in no small degree affected, also, the dramatic methods of davenant, dryden, ether. Use of wit is a remarkable aspect of restoration comedy. Literary periods of british and american literature summary. Such was the case in ancient greece when menander c. In spite of these criticism and condemnations it has to be admitted that the dramatists of the restoration period reflected the manners and modes of the society courageously. The volume continues the analysis of various aspects concerning the comedies produced in the earlier decade of the restoration. A couple or two of fine gentlemen and ladies occupy the centre of these comedies.
Heroic couplet restoration literature adopted the heroic couplet as a poetic medium that is two iambic pentameter lines which rhymed together. I would also like to contend that, in most restoration drama, female agency was no longer questioned. For these men a manner was not a trait native to an individual, but a quality acquired by. 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. Its set in italy, and it dramatizes the romantic entanglements of a group of young lovers there. Thus, sexual promiscuity, systematic frivolity and unabashed materialism were evident characteristics of the restoration period. Restoration comedies are a world of themselves almost as much as fairy land. People looked towards relaxation and pleasure and serious things. It also marked the first instances of actresses appearing on stage in female and sometimes male roles. Appealing to a fairly narrow audience of aristocrats in the recently reopened theatres, restoration comedy relied upon sophisticated repartee and a knowledge of the exclusive code of manners in high society, the plots. They are aristocrats by birth and breeding, rich and idle, cynical and witty, amorous and gay. In fact, the term restoration comedy is sometimes used as a synonym for comedy of manner. Restoration comedy was strongly influenced by the introduction of the first professional actresses. Restoration drama was characterized by its intricate plots, sexual intrigues, moral duplicity, and feigned identities.
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