13.2 Restoration Drama and Comedy of Manners

Restoration drama emerged in 1660 when theaters reopened after Puritan rule. It featured witty dialogue, stock characters, and social satire, exploring upper-class society and marriage dynamics. The genre introduced new theatrical conventions and pushed boundaries with risqué content.

Key playwrights like Wycherley, Congreve, and Behn shaped the comedy of manners. They mocked social pretensions, critiqued marriage customs, and exposed sexual double standards. Their works influenced later comedy and established enduring theatrical traditions.

Restoration Drama and Comedy of Manners

Characteristics of Restoration drama

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• Historical context shaped by Restoration period (1660-1710) witnessed reopening of theaters after Puritan rule ended
• Theatrical conventions introduced proscenium arch stage enhanced audience viewing experience
• Stock characters (fops, rakes) became staples in plays providing familiar archetypes
• Upper-class society took center stage exploring marriage dynamics and critiquing social norms
• Witty dialogue peppered with double entendres and innuendo entertained audiences
• Asides and soliloquies revealed characters' true thoughts to viewers
• Character types included rakish libertines, foppish dandies, naive country bumpkins, and clever heroines

Satire in Restoration comedies

• Upper-class pretensions mocked through exaggerated character flaws and witty dialogue
• Marriage customs critiqued highlighting absurdity of arranged unions and mercenary matches
• Sexual double standards exposed revealing societal hypocrisy (rakish men vs. "fallen" women)
• Political corruption lampooned through thinly veiled references to contemporary figures
• Social groups targeted included snobbish aristocrats, vulgar nouveau riche, and hypocritical Puritans
• Gender roles scrutinized portraying women's limited options and critiquing male privilege
• Changing social norms reflected shift towards individualism and emerging middle-class values

Contributions of Restoration playwrights

• William Wycherley penned biting satires (The Country Wife, The Plain Dealer) featuring complex plots and explicit themes
• William Congreve refined the genre with witty language and intricate love plots (The Way of the World, Love for Love)
• George Etherege's The Man of Mode established conventions of the comedy of manners
• John Vanbrugh's The Relapse pushed boundaries with its risqué content and social critique
• Aphra Behn broke ground as a female playwright with works like The Rover
• Restoration playwrights influenced 18th and 19th-century comedy shaping modern theatrical conventions
• Genre evolved from Wycherley's explicit satire to Congreve's more refined wit reflecting changing tastes