Context, themes and comedy Flashcards
When was the comedy of manners developed?
After 1660.
What are the features of the comedy of manners?
- It satires the behaviour and attitudes of the upper classes
- Shows the different behaviour of upper classes in and out of public
- Celebrates the flamboyance and sophistication of the upper class
- Ridicules them and celebrates their wit
- Focuses on love affairs
When was the well made play developed?
In the late 19th century (‘earnest’ was first performed in 1895).
What do the comedy of manners and the well made play have in common?
The comedy of manners was revived in the form of the well made play. They are very similar.
What are the features of the well made play?
- Tight structure
- A series of relevant events that happened in the past become relevant at the end
- A set of discoveries are brought about by a newly found lost letter or set of papers, which explain the details
- One or more of the main characters discover that they are not who they thought they were
What was the aesthetic movement?
It attempted to escape industrial morals and the ugliness of victorian life.
What was the motto of the aesthetic movement?
Art for arts sake.
It means that art does not need any moral or alternate meaning- its simply made to look nice and done for pleasure.
Life of Oscar Wilde?
Born in Ireland, studied classics at Oxford, had a wife and 2 children, had relationships with other males (Robbie Ross), worked in a womens magazine, was a playright, sued one Alfred Douglas’ father due to liabibility, had 2 years of hard labour for being a homosexual, involved with male prostitues, had a trail of cigarette cases, when he died Robbie Ross bought back his playrights.
Who is Robbie Ross?
A canadian man who had romantic relations with Wilde- when Oscar died Robbie brought back his rights to his plays. He was with Wilde when he died.
Oscar Wilde being an immigrant?
The irish had moved en masse to London during famine. 5% of London’s population was Irish. Wilde never fully infiltrated the English due to being an immigrant.
What happened to the classes during Victoria’s reign?
The victorian aristocracy liked to be very close to the monarchy, but V+A wanted to encourage the growing middle class. The Mc
