The Restoration Comedy

Historical Background of the Restoration Age, Characteristic features of the Restoration Comedies, Major Writers of Restoration Comedies, Main Themes.

1. RESTORATION COMEDY
(or)
COMEDY OF MANNERS

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In1642,Puritansclosedthetheatres.
Playhousesweredismantled
Actorswerepersecuted
Around1650,WilliamBeestonacquiredthe
SalisburyCourtTheatreandbegantotraina
companyofboys.
Performeddrolls–shortversionsoffull-length
plays,usuallycomedies.
The Restoration Age

3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
There-establishmentofMonarchyinEnglandwiththe
returnofCharlesII(1660)isusuallycalledthe
RestorationPeriod.
CharlesII,hewhowentintoexile,returnedhomefrom
LouisXXIV’scourtinVersaillestakingFrenchculture.
Englishsocietywasinfluencedbyitandbecame
corruptedandmoreinterestinentertainmentsthanmoral
andsocialrules.
The Restoration Age

4. THE COMEDY
Comedyisappliedtoplaysthatendwithhappiness.
DuringRestorationPeriodwriterswrotecomedies
criticizingthesocietyaspeople,particularlyupper
classes,livingwithoutmoralstandards.
Therestorationdramatistswroteworksbasedona
satiricalobservationofthesocialbehaviour.
RestorationcomediesarealsocalledComedy of
Manners.
What is it? Why was it created?

5. PRINCIPAL WRITERS
GeorgeEtherege WilliamWycherley SirJohnVanbrugh

6. PRINCIPAL WRITERS
GeorgeFarquhar WilliamCongreve

7. MAIN THEMES
Amorousconflictsofmenandwomen.
Licentiousness,hypocrisy,double-dealing,moral
weaknessofaristocracyandnewbourgeoisieinlove
andmarriage.
love,wit,andgaietyoftenimmorality
Theprinciplethemewassexualintrigueeitherforits
ownsakeorformoney.
What topics did the comedy dealt with?

8. SALIENT FEATURES
Itwaswritteninprose.
Ithadthefunctiontoteachpeople“good
manners”showingwhatwerebadbehaviours.
Standard charactersincludefops,bawds,
schemingvalets,countrysquires,andsexually
voraciousyoungwidowsandolderwomen
How was it organized and written?

9. SALIENT FEATURES
Theplotswerecomplexandusuallydouble,sometimes,
triple,thoughreparteeanddiscussionofmaritalbehaviour
providemuchoftheinterest,reflectingthefashionable
mannersoftheday.
Itspredominanttonewaswitty,bawdy,cynical,andamoral.
Itwashumorousandfunny.
Playwrightscameunderheavyattackforfrivolous,
blasphemy,andimmortality.

10. POPULAR RESTORATION
COMIDIES
George Etherege The Man of Mode
William Wycherley The Country Wife
The Plain Dealer
William Congreve The Old Bachelor
The Way of the World
John Vanbrugh The Provoked Wife
George Farquhar The Beaux’ Stratagem

11. CRITICS’ COMMENTS
CharlesLambinhisthoughtprovokingessayon‘Comedy’callsthis
‘the artificial comedy.’
BonamyDobreeobservesthus:
The Restoration Comedy takes us away from our familiar surroundings into
a world of make belief. It is known for its wit, humour, and repartee. Its
predominant tone was witty, bawdy, cynical, and amoral.
CleanthBrooks(inhisUnderstandingDrama)saysthus:
The Restoration Comedy is an accurate mirror of the 17
th
century society
and is intensely realistic.

12. ANY QUERIES?