Enumerate and elaborate on some of the prominent features of Restoration Comedy.

Enumerate and elaborate on some of the prominent features of Restoration Comedy.

If the age of Restoration is one of the most splendid periods in the records of English Drama, it is on the account of Comedy of Manners. The so called Heroic Tragedy which had a brief run concurrently with the Comedy of Manners, had also a little of popularity, but was too unnatural and artificial and merely a type from French soil. As compared to tragedy of Restoration Age, Comedy of Manners achieved greater distinction and shame. It was the most characteristic product of Restoration Literature & reflects the spirit of the age more comprehensively than its prose and poetry. Dryden was the first to write Comedy of Manners with his Wild Gallant, which was a failure. He wrote several other Comedies of Manners also which were more successful. The chief practitioners of the comedy of manners were:

(i)         Sir George Etherege (1635-1691)
(ii)        William Wycherley (1640-1715)
(iii)       William Congreve (1670-1729)
(iv)       Sir John Vanbrugh (1661 -1726)
(v)        George Farquhar (1678-1707)

Some of the  important features of the 'Comedy of Manners' are as follows:

1. The action always takes place in London.

2. There is always a contrast between the rural and the urban.For example in Congreve's "The Way of the World" Squire Witwoud is from the county of Shropshire and his arrival in London results in a lot of amusement and humour.

3. The presence of atleast one pair of very intelligent young lovers.

4. Witty dialogue is perhaps the most important feature of the Comedy of Manners.

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