Restoration, Congreve, And Restoration Drama

With the restoration of Charles II to the throne

drama was revived

new royal court loved drama

first time, women were allowed to act on stage

court itself was much less interested in moral rules than the Puritans had been

drama written during the period shows it

instead of catering to a popular audience, drama now targeted the rich and famous

making drama an activity of polite culture, as it is today

William Congreve
one of the foremost dramatists of the Restoration, came from two prominent rural families

early education occurred in Ireland, where his father, an Army officer, was stationed

studied law at the Middle Temple, but preferred the social life of the chocolate and coffee houses

met the poet John Dryden at Will's Coffee House

Dryden took Congreve under his wing


Congreve wrote and produced a number of successful plays

Dryden praised Congreve as a better playwright than Ben Jonson and the equal of Shakespeare

Congreve believed in the judgment of his audience

When The Way of the World was produced in 1700, the audience did not like it

Congreve never wrote another play afterward

became a minor government official

carried on a years-long love affair with the Duchess of Marlborough

Like Congreve's life, The Way of the World seems more concerned with social approval and success than with morality

plot is almost too complicated and topical to follow

hinging legal limitations that were put on women inheriting property during this period

interest of the play comes from the comedy of manners, the close observation of interesting and amusing social interactions

TV programs like Friends and Sex and the City have much the same tone

Conclusion

Literature in England underwent a sea of change (a radical, and apparently mystical, change.) in the 17th century

At the beginning of this period, poets were primarily connected with either the court or the church and pursue their poetry on the side

John Milton, the last great Renaissance poet, was a political radical who served the cause of the Puritan revolution

When the monarchy was restored in 1660, literature in general and drama in particular became much less morally earnest

Upcoming...

• Read Before Class: John Dryden: "Mac Flecknoe"; "Annus Mirabilis"; "To the Memory of Mr. Oldham"; "Song for St. Cecilia's Day"; "Essay of Dramatic Poesy"; "Author’s Apology for Heroic Poetry . . ."; and "Discourse Concerning . . . Satire"
• Complete Coordinating CPA