Why way of the world is considered as a Restoration comedy?

The Way of the World as Restoration Comedy. Restoration as a historical period was a time when England was an established colonial power in the world. It was a time of materialism and commerce and the people of the period emphasized money, pleasure and sex. This makes the play a typical restoration comedy of manners.

Also, why the play is called The Way of the World?

"The way of the world" is a flippant expression meaning the way people behave. However, in the Restoration times, the expression "the way of the world" connoted adultery, which was a common behavior in society and especially in theatrical Restoration Comedies.

Also Know, what are the characteristics of Restoration comedy? Restoration Literature Characteristics

Comedy 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.

Also question is, 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 is a Restoration play?

"Restoration comedy" is English comedy written and performed in the Restoration period from 1660 to 1710. Comedy of manners is used as a synonym of Restoration comedy. The best-known fact about the Restoration drama is that it is immoral.

38 Related Question Answers Found

Who is way of the world?

The Way of the World is a play written by the English playwright William Congreve. It premiered in early March 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. It is widely regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies and is still occasionally performed.

What is the theme of the way of the world?

Marriage and adultery are of course main themes in The Way of the World, and it seems that characters have much more of a problem with the potential for a tainted reputation than with any moral or emotional imperative not to cheat on their spouse.

Who is Waitwell?

Waitwell is Mirabell's hardworking servant who Mirabell allows to marry Foible. Newly married, he is eager to sleep with his wife throughout the play. Though not as cunning as his wife, he does put forth a good effort at trying to deceive Wishfort into thinking that he truly is a gentleman named Sir Rowland.

Who does Mirabell wish to marry?

Character Analysis Mirabell

As a cover for an affair, he cynically arranged for the marriage of his mistress to a man presumably his friend. He cynically flattered Lady Wishfort, for whom he feels contemptuous amusement.

What type of play is the way of the world?

The play is a comedy, a satire about life in the Restoration. It is about love and the ways of the worldœ this world: the world of the wealthy in London, 1700.

Who is Millamant?

Millamant A young, very charming lady, in love with, and loved by, Mirabell. She is the ward of Lady Wishfort because she is the niece of Lady Wishfort's long-dead husband. She is a first cousin of Mrs. Fainall.

Who is Mirabell?

Mirabell, a man of fashion, intelligent and authentically in love with Mrs. Millamant. He enjoys the favors, either overt or covert, of most of the women in the play, who, either through unrequited love of him or mutual affection, try to affect the course of his fortune.

How old is Wishfort?

fifty-five years

Who is the father of comedy of manners?

Oscar Wilde

What is comedy and its types?

Definition of Comedy

There are many different forms of comedy, such as screwball comedy, black comedy, innuendo, parody, satire, pun, comedy of manners, romantic comedy, farce, burlesque, sarcasm, dramatic irony, and self-deprecation.

What are the characteristics of a comedy?

Characteristics of Comedy There are many characteristics that make up a comedy. Characteristics such as mistaken identity, battle of the sexes, and jumping to conclusions are what set the comedic story apart from the tragedy.

What is restoration tragedy?

“Restoration tragedy” is a term commonly used to imply all types of tragedies written during this historical period. Heroic tragedy is at the centre of all kinds of tragedies written in this period. There are also some plays which were written under the influence of the Elizabethan dramatists.

What are the characteristics of comedy of manners?

The characteristics of a comedy of manners include:

the use of double entendre and other forms of risque language.
elaborate plots.
cross-dressing (usually women in men's clothing)
physical seduction.
extramarital affairs.
cynicism.
the meeting of the aristocracy and common folk.
intrigues such as forgeries and spying.

Who is the Restoration comedy dramatist model?

Top Restoration Comedy Plays. Esther Lombardi, M.A., is a journalist who has covered books and literature for over twenty years. Restoration comedies are English plays written and performed between 1660 and 1710, the "Restoration" period.

What is the use of comedy?

Function of Comedy

Comedy tends to bring humor and induce laughter in plays, films, and theaters. The primary function of comedy is to amuse and entertain the audience, while it also portrays social institutions and persons as corrupt, and ridicules them through satirizing, parodying, and poking fun at their vices.

What is the difference between comedy and drama?

As nouns the difference between comedy and drama

is that comedy is archaic greece a choric song of celebration or revel while drama is a composition, normally in prose, telling a story and intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.

Why is it called the 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.