This paper discusses comedy of manners in two English plays, Richard Sheridan's "A School for Scandal" and Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan".
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Paper Summary:
This paper explains that Richard Sheridan's "A School for Scandal" and Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" are both comedies of wit and manners which provide audiences with an absurd look at London's so-called aristocratic society, by using such devices as gossip, collusion, hidden identities, reversal of attitudes, generational recurrence and the discovery of the unexpected lady. The author points out that central to both plays is the question of whether a disappointed wife might justifiably retaliate or console herself by having an affair; and, in both plays, it is the aspiring gallant or lover, who nearly succeeds in convincing the wife to compromise her marriage and her morals. The paper summarizes that, in Wilde's play, it is gossip, which first creates the disappointment and mistrust in Lady Windermere; while in Sheridan's play it is Lady Teazle's attempt to excel at gossip in order to gain a place in what she considers fashionable society as well as the malicious gossip generated by that very society, which threatens to destroy her marriage. Many quotes.
From the Paper:
"Most of the characters in Wilde's play are noble enough, though their actions are not always. Usually, they initially act out of love or concern, though as in the case of the Duchess of Berwick her concern for Lady Windermere is questionable but her conviction at least seems true. Darlington, too, believing Lord Windermere to be a lout, acts on his love for Lady Windermere not wanting her to endure a loveless life. Her mother, Mrs. Erlynn, though perhaps long ago selfish when she abandoned her family does in the end act in a selfless manner when she claims responsibility for the fan in Darlington's quarters. And of course Lord Windermere attempting to protect his wife from shame was acting out of love."
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