Comedy of Manners (Restoration Comedy)

Definition

Encyclopaedia Britannica defines comedy of manners as a witty, cerebral form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and affectations of contemporary society. (Britannica) 

Authors usually wrote comedy of manners for members of their circle or social class.

The drama, especially Comedy of Manners proved to be one of the most important genres in the Restoration Era (1660-1688 approx). However, it had also been used by Greek and Roman authors many years ago. Ancient Greek playwright Menander contributed to New Comedy, the forerunner of comedy of manners. He was imitated by Roman poets, whose comedies were on the other hand copied during the Renaissance.

One of the greatest representatives of the comedy of manners was Molière (1622-1673), a French playwright and actor. His comedies typically involve complex plots filled with misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and social ambitions. His notable works are for example Tartuffe and Le Misanthrope.

Restoration Comedy

Re-opening of the theatres in 1660 (after being banned for 18 years by the Puritan régime) signaled a rebirth of the English drama. Puritan censorship was loosened when Charles II was restored in 1660. This era became one of the more free-spirited periods in English literary history. Restoration comedy also introduced the first professional actresses as before the closing of the theaters, boys had played all of the female roles. One of the famous actresses was Nell Gwynn, a mistress of Charles II.

Common subjects of the Restoration Comedy
* lust, greed, gossip and rumours, materialistic nature of people, hypocritical nature, marriage, love, adultery, fortune-hunting, false pretensions of people

Examples

·   William Congreve: The Old Batchelour (1693)

·                Sir George Etherege: Man of Mode (1676)

·   William Wycherley: The Country Wife (1675)

The comedy of manners continued to evolve in the 19th century, though it experienced some shifts in themes and style compared to the earlier Restoration period. In this century, the genre became more refined and was often characterized by focusing on social norms, class distinctions, and the intricacies of romantic relationships.

Examples

·   Richard Brinsley Sheridan: The School for Scandal (1777), The Rivals (1775)

·                Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), Lady Windemere’s Fan (1892)

·   Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice (1813), Emma (1815)

References

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "comedy of manners". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Dec. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/art/comedy-of-manners. Accessed 3 November 2024.

"Restoration Comedy". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 3 Nov. 2024, from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100416239.

"Comedy of Manners: A Literary Genre". https://english-studies.net/comedy-of-manners/

Zuzana Hvězdová  561842