6.1 Restoration Comedy: Themes and Conventions

Restoration Comedy emerged in England from 1660-1710, reflecting the hedonistic court culture of Charles II. These plays featured witty dialogue, complex plots, and stock characters like the rake and fop, all set against fashionable London society.

Themes included challenging gender norms, satirizing social conventions, and exploring sexual freedom. While presenting more nuanced female characters, these comedies still operated within a patriarchal framework, often resolving plots through marriage despite their critiques of the institution.

Defining Characteristics of Restoration Comedy

Historical Context and Setting

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• Emerged in England during 1660-1710 following monarchy restoration under Charles II
• Predominantly set in urban environments (London) reflecting fashionable society
• Focused on upper-class manners and behavior, satirizing social conventions
• Influenced by reopening of theaters after Puritan rule, leading to libertine themes
• Reflected court culture of Charles II known for hedonism and pursuit of pleasure

Plot Structure and Characters

• Featured complex plots with multiple romantic intrigues and elaborate schemes
• Utilized stock characters (rake, fop, country bumpkin, witty heroine)
• Introduced "gay couple" concept featuring witty verbal sparring as courtship
• Concluded with multiple marriages, often questioning their sincerity
• Employed mistaken identities and disguises to drive plot complications

Language and Style

• Notable for wit, wordplay, and sexual innuendo pushing social propriety boundaries
• Utilized puns, double entendres, and other forms of linguistic complexity
• Employed asides and soliloquies for satirical commentary and audience engagement
• Contrasted affected speech (fops) with natural wit (heroines and rakes) for humor
• Incorporated French dramatic influences reflecting continental connections

Gender Roles in Restoration Comedies

Challenging Traditional Norms

• Presented women as intelligent, witty, and sexually aware characters
• Explored themes of sexual freedom and marital infidelity
• Satirized arranged marriages and marrying for financial or social gain
• Portrayed female characters pursuing their own desires and ambitions
• Divided male characters into libertines (rakes) challenging norms and fops adhering to etiquette

Complex Female Representation

• Developed more nuanced female characters than previous theatrical traditions
• Showcased women engaging in witty verbal sparring as a form of courtship
• Depicted heroines manipulating social conventions to achieve their goals
• Explored the tension between women's desires and societal expectations
• Presented female characters with agency in romantic and social pursuits (Mirabell in "The Way of the World")

Limitations and Patriarchal Framework

• Operated within overarching patriarchal societal structure
• Limited ultimate power of female characters by societal constraints
• Resolved plots often through marriage, reinforcing traditional institutions
• Portrayed women's sexual freedom as both liberating and potentially dangerous
• Reflected complex attitudes towards women's roles in Restoration society

Social and Political Influence on Restoration Comedy

Political Commentary and Allegory

• Incorporated political themes and allegories reflecting current events
• Used characters and plot lines as commentary on political figures
• Critiqued excesses and moral hypocrisy of the aristocracy
• Reflected broader social tensions of the time through satirical portrayals
• Employed caricatures of political factions (Whigs and Tories in "The Country Wife")

Changing Social Dynamics

• Satirized emerging middle class and changing social mobility
• Explored tensions between old aristocracy and newly wealthy merchants
• Depicted conflicts between town (sophisticated) and country (rustic) values
• Reflected changing attitudes towards marriage and sexuality in Restoration society
• Portrayed the impact of increased social mixing on traditional hierarchies

Religious and Cultural Influences

• Included religious themes and critiques of Puritanism
• Reflected complex religious landscape of post-Restoration England
• Incorporated continental influences, particularly from French drama and culture
• Explored the clash between traditional values and new, more libertine attitudes
• Depicted the impact of increased travel and global trade on English society (characters returning from Grand Tours)

Wit and Satire in Restoration Comedies

Forms of Wit and Wordplay

• Characterized by quick, intelligent, and often biting exchanges between characters
• Employed repartee for verbal dueling, character development, and comedy
• Utilized puns, double entendres, and complex wordplay
• Contrasted sophisticated wit with rustic or affected speech for comedic effect
• Showcased linguistic dexterity as a marker of social status and desirability

Satirical Techniques and Targets

• Targeted social conventions, political figures, and moral hypocrisies of upper classes
• Used dramatic irony to enhance satirical effect (audience aware of information characters are not)
• Employed caricature and exaggeration to highlight societal flaws
• Critiqued fashionable affectations and social climbing (Sir Fopling Flutter in "The Man of Mode")
• Satirized sexual hypocrisy and the gap between public morality and private behavior

Function of Humor and Critique

• Served as social commentary while providing entertainment
• Used humor to address controversial topics more palatably
• Employed wit as a means of social critique and character assessment
• Reflected changing societal norms through comedic situations
• Balanced biting satire with lighthearted comedy to appeal to diverse audiences