What is Restoration comedy or Comedy of manners?
Introduction: ‘Restoration comedy‘ or ‘Comedy of Manners‘ is directly linked to Charles II’s return to England, after nine years of exile in France, and restoring monarchy in England. Charles II who was for so long – time in France, was greatly influenced by the French way of life.
What is English comedy of manners?
A kind of English comedy, usually in the form of the comedy of manners, that flourished during the Restoration period in England (i.e. from the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660 to about 1700), when actresses were first employed on the London stage.
Why is there an emphasis on sexual situations in Restoration comedies?
This emphasis on sexual situations goes hand-in-hand with some other important social and theatrical changes. The period of Restoration comedy marked a transformation in English arts in a lot of ways. During this time, the first professional actresses took the stage. Prior to that, there were men and boys cross-dressing to fill the female roles.
What was the most important genre of drama during the restoration?
The drama, especially Comedy of Manners proved to be one of the most important genres in the Restoration Era. It started developing after reopening of the theatres in 1660. The cynical decadence of the age was alien to the spirit of the Elizabethan romantic comedy.
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What is the features of Restoration comedy?
Main characteristics of Restoration Comedy of Manners include a flamboyant display of witty, blunt sexual dialogue, boudoir intrigues, sensual innuendos and rakish behaviour. The tone of the plays is cynical and satirical, while the language and actions are sexually explicit.
What are the features of Restoration?
Characteristics of Restoration Period.... Social and Political Conflict. With the come – back of Charles II, England's social, political and religious tenets have transformed. ... Opening of Theaters. ... Rise of Neo-Classicism. ... Imitation of The Ancients. ... Realism. ... New Literary Forms.
What are the features of Restoration drama?
Restoration Literature CharacteristicsComedy of Manners. The Comedy of Manners is a theatrical genre that was uber-popular during the Restoration period. ... Satire. The Restoration writers couldn't get enough satire. ... Heroic Couplet. ... Social Life. ... Politics. ... Faith. ... Restoration of Monarchy. ... Rejection of Puritanism.More items...
What is meant by Restoration comedy?
"Restoration comedy" is English comedy written and performed in the Restoration period of 1660–1710. Comedy of manners is used as a synonym for this. After public stage performances were banned for 18 years by the Puritan regime, reopening of the theatres in 1660 marked a renaissance of English drama.
What is the main theme of Restoration comedy?
One of the major themes of restoration comedy is marriage and the game of love. But if marriage is a mirror of society, the couples in the plays show something very dark and sinister about order. Many critiques of marriage in the comedies are devastating.
What was the salient features of Restoration literature?
The Restoration dramatists drew their characters and copied their situations from the life they saw around them. The Restoration dramatists were interested in wit and portrayal of manners rather than in the movement and progression of events. So they employed a spatial rather than a temporal plot.
When did Restoration comedy start and end?
Restoration comedy is the name given to English comedies written and performed in the Restoration period from 1660 to 1700. After public stage performances had been banned for 18 years by the Puritan regime, the re-opening of the theatres in 1660 signaled a rebirth of English drama.
Who is the Restoration comedy dramatists model?
Answer. Explanation: Charles II was an active and interested patron of the drama. Soon after his restoration, in 1660, he granted exclusive play-staging rights, so-called Royal patents, to the King's Company and the Duke's Company, led by two middle-aged Caroline playwrights, Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant.
Who described Restoration comedy as artificial?
Q.Who described Restoration Comedy as “artificial”?B.charles lambC.mathew arnoldD.t.s. eliotAnswer» b. charles lamb1 more row
Who was the first great Restoration actor?
5. The first Restoration actresses were not very talented. 6. Historians call David Garrick England's greatest actor.
Which of the following is an example of Restoration comedy?
George Etherege, The Man of Mode. With a central character, the libertine Dorimant, who is thought to be based on the poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, this 1676 play is one of the most famous examples of the Restoration comedy.
Why is it called Restoration period?
The name 'restoration' comes from the crowning of Charles II, which marks the restoring of the traditional English monarchical form of government following a short period of rule by a handful of republican governments.
What three major events happened during the Restoration period?
Restoration Literature Timeline1642: Parliament shuts down the theaters in England. ... 1660: Restoration of Charles II. ... 1660: Theaters are reopened. ... 1667: John Milton publishes Paradise Lost. ... 1672: John Dryden publishes Marriage à-la-Mode. ... 1675: William Wycherley publishes The Country Wife. ... 1677: Aphra Behn publishes The Rover.More items...
What were the important developments in the Restoration period?
Restoration, Restoration of the monarchy in England in 1660. It marked the return of Charles II as king (1660–85) following the period of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth. The bishops were restored to Parliament, which established a strict Anglican orthodoxy.
What defines Restoration drama?
Restoration drama Plays and performances in the period following the restoration of Charles II, when the theatres reopened. The drama reflected the laxity of Court morals through broad satire, farce, wit, and bawdy comedy. Distinguished playwrights included Dryden and Congreve. World Encyclopedia.
Why restoration period is called Restoration?
The name 'restoration' comes from the crowning of Charles II, which marks the restoring of the traditional English monarchical form of government following a short period of rule by a handful of republican governments.
When did restoration comedy fade?
Restoration comedy faded in the early 18th century, though, and as we already mentioned, many of its more vulgar offenders weren't performed for over 100 years. Now many critics respect the works of the period for their humor and their ability to subvert the expected stereotypes.
What actors were in the Restoration period?
Though their names are mostly forgotten to the general public now, in their day, performers like Thomas Betterton, Nell Gwynn and Elizabeth Barry could fill houses based on their star power alone. This was true to such a degree that a group of celebrity actors even started their own theater company in the 1690s.
Why was the Restoration period called the Restoration Period?
Cromwell banned public stage performances for 18 years. When Charles , who was a personal fan of the arts, was restored back to the monarchy in 1660, one of his first acts was to bring theater back. That's why it's known as the Restoration period - the Restoration era of theater.
Who wrote the Rover?
In particular, Aphra Behn made a large mark on the theatre during this time, and we're going to talk about a couple major works of Restoration comedy right now, including one of hers. Professional female playwright Aphra Behn wrote The Rover, a Restoration comedy.
Was Restoration comedies satirical?
Going hand-in-hand with that, Restoration comedies aren't really known for being satirical or overly critical of society, at least not in any obvious way.
Who were the audience?
Actors enjoyed exploiting the divisions by ‘playing’ to different parts of the house. City merchants, their wives and servants, a growing middle class and a vocal group of fops and critics made up the regulars. In his diary, Samuel Pepys refers to frequent scenes of disorder, which he blamed on the large numbers of ‘cits’ (lower-class citizens), apprentices and ‘mean types’ seated in the gallery. Only Puritans, now on the losing side, stayed away. On stage they were ridiculed, portrayed as mercenary hypocrites bent upon spoiling innocent fleshly pleasures.
How long did Restoration comedy last?
Restoration comedy was written and performed from about 1660 to 1700, flourishing in the period after the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy. Some 500 plays survive, though only a handful of them are performed today, and few playwrights have achieved lasting fame. Leading names include William Wycherley ( The Country Wife, 1675), ...
What was the best way to keep the audience happy in Restoration Comedy?
Restoration comedy kept all sections of its audience happy by blending wit with ‘low’ humour such as farce and burlesque.
What is the comedy of manners?
The comedy of manners. The comedy of manners was Restoration comedy’s most popular subgenre. Although they ultimately uphold the status quo, these plays scrutinise and ridicule upper-class society’s manners and rules of behaviour, providing an up-to-the-minute commentary on class, desire and the marriage market.
What is the 4th wall?
There was no concept of a ‘fourth wall’, which made the relationship between players and audience electrifying at times. Audiences adored the simple technique of the ‘aside’, where characters addressed them directly, taking them into their confidence. They preferred predictable plots and exaggerated stereotypes. When disgruntled with a particular play, audiences sometimes became so rowdy that they could close a production down.
What was the theatre Royal in Drury Lane?
The Theatre Royal in Drury Lane (1663) and the Dorset Garden Theatre in Whitefriars (1671) became the focus for a resurgent interest in writing and staging a new kind of comedy. Playwrights were inspired by exciting advances in theatre design and technology, such as moveable scenery, candlelit chandeliers and footlights.
Why did playwrights sacrifice pace?
Playwrights would sacrifice pace to allow time for displays of wit between rivals aiming to cut each other down to size , or, more popular still, for the sparring, flirtatious wit between would-be lovers.
Characteristics of Restoration Comedy
Love, Marriage, and Sex
- Comedy of Manners is devoid of true and passionate love. True love is rarely seen in these comedies. The constancy of love was supposed to be dull and boring. In their married life there was no intimacy in the relation of husband and wife. They were busy in their own affairs outside the marriage and, in this way, we’re not loyal to each other. It is also notable that marriages wer…
Some Other Characteristics
- Comedy of Manners’ is famous for its sparkling portrayal of fashionable city life around the clubs, coffee houses and parks etc. Country life was given no importance, and, in fact, was thought bor...
- ‘The Way of the World’ is fully devoted to the life of London. The outsiders assumed the rustics. Sir Wilful who was a countryman never felt comfortable or adjusted in the fashionabl…
- Comedy of Manners’ is famous for its sparkling portrayal of fashionable city life around the clubs, coffee houses and parks etc. Country life was given no importance, and, in fact, was thought bor...
- ‘The Way of the World’ is fully devoted to the life of London. The outsiders assumed the rustics. Sir Wilful who was a countryman never felt comfortable or adjusted in the fashionable and high spir...
- Every Comedy contained a prologue and an epilogue which were welcomed by the audience.
