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The School for Scandal: A Satirical Comedy of Manners

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Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 'The School for Scandal' is a pivotal comedy of manners that critiques the aristocracy's gossip and moral hypocrisy. The play features characters like Lady Sneerwell and Sir Oliver Surface, who navigate a world rife with scandal and pretense. Themes of authenticity, matrimonial strife, and the mechanics of gossip are explored, reflecting Sheridan's keen social observation.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan's Legacy and "The School for Scandal"

Richard Brinsley Sheridan, an Irish-born playwright and politician, made a lasting impact on English theatre with his masterful comedies of manners, particularly with his acclaimed play "The School for Scandal." First performed in 1777 at London's Drury Lane Theatre, this work is a scathing satire of the pretensions and moral duplicity of the aristocratic class. The play unfolds in a series of sharp dialogues and complex situations that reveal the follies and vices of the elite, reflecting Sheridan's astute observations of the society around him.
18th-century drawing room with four individuals in period attire, ornate wallpaper, mahogany furniture, and a gilded mirror reflecting soft light.

Defining the Comedy of Manners

The comedy of manners is a genre that skewers the social customs and values of a particular society, often focusing on the aristocracy's affectations and insincerity. "The School for Scandal" epitomizes this genre by critiquing the rampant gossip and scandal that infest the social milieu of the time. Its enduring appeal lies in its incisive wit, memorable characters, and the timeless relevance of its themes, which echo those found in other genre staples like Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion."

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00

'The School for Scandal' debuted in ______ at the ______ and is a critical examination of society's hypocrisy.

1777

Drury Lane Theatre

01

Significance of 'The School for Scandal'

Satirizes high society's gossip, exposes insincerity and moral superficiality.

02

Appeal factors of 'The School for Scandal'

Sharp wit, dynamic characters, universal themes of hypocrisy and pretense.

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