Restoration Comedy in English Literature: Features, Themes and Critical Analysis
Restoration Comedy is considered a very popular and influential dramatic genre in the history of English literature. This genre presents the social life, love relationships, marriage system and lifestyle of the urban upper class in 17th century England through interesting humor and sharp satire. These English plays, written during the Restoration Period, are famous for their intelligent dialogue, practical love stories, and depiction of the moral truths of society.
Restoration Comedy is given special importance in the study of English Literature, British Drama and Comedy of Manners at the university level, because it not only reflects literary developments but also clearly brings out the social, cultural and moral changes of that time.
Restoration Comedy: Detailed Analysis
Restoration comedy is an important dramatic tradition in English literature. It was developed after 1660. In that year the monarchy was re-established in England. Charles II became king. For this reason this period is called Restoration Period. At this time the theatre reopened. Writing and staging plays got a new life. Restoration Comedy reflects the social thinking and lifestyle of that time.
The main purpose of Restoration comedy was entertainment. These plays did not give serious moral advice. There was more humor and clever dialogue in these. The writers used to show the evils of the society in light satire. The life of upper class people was the main theme in these plays. Especially rich, fashionable and people living in the city were shown.
Love and marriage were the main themes in this type of comedy. Marriage is often portrayed as a practical deal. Instead of true love, cleverness and selfishness are more visible. The male and female characters try to deceive each other. Yet the story resolves comically in the end.
The language of Restoration Comedy is very clever and sharp. The dialogues are short but sharp. Wit is its biggest quality. The characters express themselves cleverly. There is a lot of use of sarcasm and sarcasm. This is why these plays seem interesting to read and watch.
The characters in these plays are often morally weak. The male characters are cunning, unstable in love, and self-centred. Female characters are also shown to be intelligent and practical. They also give equal competition to men. This was a new idea for that time, because earlier female characters were shown as weak.
In Restoration Comedy, society is criticized in a hidden form. The author does not preach directly. They show the truth of the society through laughter. Hypocrisy, false pretences and moral degradation are satirized. This makes the audience both laugh and think.
Prominent playwrights of this period include William Congreve, William Wycherley and George Etheridge. Congreve's play “The Way of the World” is very famous. It discusses marriage and love in a deep but light style. Wycherley's The Country Wife is also an important play. In this, the double morality of the society has been satirized.
Restoration Comedy also has some limitations. Morality was not given much importance in this. Sometimes the topics may seem obscene. Only the upper class has been shown instead of the general public. Still, its importance does not diminish from literary point of view.
In conclusion it can be said that Restoration Comedy is an important stage in the history of English drama. It gave a new identity to humour, satire and clever dialogue. It presents a living picture of the society of that time. Its study at the university level helps in understanding the social and cultural situation of that era.
Important questions and answers related to the Restoration Comedy
Question 1: What is Restoration Comedy?
Answer: Restoration comedy is a major genre of English drama. It developed after 1660. At this time the monarchy was re-established in England with Charles II. In these plays, society has been depicted through humour and satire. Love, marriage and urban life are the main subjects in these.
Question 2: Why is Restoration Comedy called “Comedy of Manners”?
Answer: In Restoration Comedy, the behavior and customs of the people of the society are shown. The lifestyle, fashion and speech of the upper class is satirized. That is why it is called Comedy of Manners. In this, more attention is given to their social conduct than their character.
Question 3: What are the main characteristics of Restoration Comedy?
Answer: Its main features are fast and smart communication. There is more use of satire and humor in this. Love and marriage are the main topics. The characters are clever and practical. There is less moral preaching and more entertainment.
Question 4: How are love and marriage portrayed in Restoration Comedy?
Answer: Love is not shown emotionally in these plays. It has been associated with intelligence and selfishness. Marriage has been presented as a social contract. The characters also show cunningness in love. This reveals the truth of the society.
Question 5: Who are the major playwrights of Restoration Comedy?
Answer: The major playwright of this period is William Congreve. His play “The Way of the World” is very famous. William Wycherley is also an important writer. His play The Country Wife is famous. George Etheridge is also a major playwright in this tradition.
Question 6: What is the role of female characters in Restoration Comedy?
Answer: The female characters in these plays are intelligent and self-reliant. They do not appear weaker than men. They also talk intelligently. Many times they challenge the male characters. This was a new change in the plays of that time.
Question 7: How does Restoration Comedy criticize society?
Answer: These plays do not preach directly. They show the evils of society through humor and satire. False pretences, hypocrisy and moral degradation are taken a dig at. The audience laughs and understands the truth.
Question 8: What are the limitations of Restoration Comedy?
Answer: Morality has been given less importance in these plays. Some topics may seem obscene. Only the upper class has been shown instead of the general public. Nevertheless, their importance is very high from literary point of view.
Question 9: Why is Restoration Comedy important in university exams?
Answer: It helps in understanding the development of English drama. This gives knowledge of the society and culture of that time. This is a good medium to understand the art of satire and humor. Therefore it is an important subject of the university curriculum.
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