RESTORATION COMEDY (1660-1700) | BBMKU FYUGP ENGLISH MJ 6 | BRITISH LITERATURE : 18TH CENTURY

 

Restoration Comedy (1660–1700)

Introduction

The term “Restoration Comedy” refers to the English comedies written and performed during the Restoration period, that is, after 1660, when King Charles II was restored to the throne of England.
This period marked the revival of theatre, which had been closed for about 18 years (1642–1660) during the Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell.

When theatres reopened, audiences wanted fun, fashion, wit, and worldly pleasure, and playwrights gave them exactly that.
Hence, Restoration comedy became known for its brilliance, humour, and satire on upper-class society.

 

Historical Background

·        During the Puritan rule, stage performances were banned as immoral.

·        When Charles II came to power, he allowed theatres to reopen.

·        Charles II had lived in France during his exile, where he admired French drama and manners.

·        He brought that French influence to England — leading to plays full of elegance, style, and wit.

·        For the first time, women were allowed to act on stage in England.

 

Kinds of Comedy Popular During the Restoration Age

1. Comedy of Manners

This was the most important and famous kind of comedy during the Restoration.
It reflected and mocked the manners, fashions, and behaviors of the upper-class society of London.

Features:

·        Deals with love intrigues, marriage, flirtation, and social hypocrisy.

·        Full of witty dialogues and clever repartee.

·        Characters are usually rakes, fops, coquettes, and fashionable ladies.

·        The focus is on style, wit, and conversation, not on plot or emotion.

Examples:

·        The Way of the World by William Congreve (1700)

·        The Man of Mode by George Etherege (1676)

·        The Country Wife by William Wycherley (1675)

Quote:
Dr. Johnson called this form of comedy “a picture of manners drawn from real life.”

 

2. Comedy of Humours

This kind of comedy was inspired by Ben Jonson’s style from the earlier 17th century.
It focuses on characters dominated by one particular humour or personality trait (such as jealousy, greed, or pride).

 

Four Humours (Body Fluids)

• They identified four main fluids in the body, called humours:

1.  Blood → cheerful, lively, social (Sanguine)

2.  Yellow bile → hot-tempered, ambitious (Choleric)

3.  Phlegm → calm, slow, lazy (Phlegmatic)

4.  Black bile → sad, thoughtful, serious (Melancholic)

Features:

·        Each character represents one strong passion or folly.

·        The aim is to correct social vices through laughter.

Example:

·        Every Man In His Humour (1598) by Ben Jonson

·        Every Man out of His Humour (1599) by Ben Jonson

·        Volpone (1606) by Ben Jonson

·        The Alchemist (1610) by Ben Jonson

 

Five Major Playwrights of Restoration Period

Main Features of Restoration Comedy

1.   Wit and Satire

The dialogue in Restoration comedies is full of wit, wordplay, and clever repartee.
The playwrights use satire to make fun of the hypocrisy of the rich.

 

2.  Theme of Love and Intrigue

Most stories revolve around love affairs, deception, seduction, and marriage.
Romantic entanglements are common, but the emphasis is more on clever conversation than deep emotion.

 

3.  Urban Settings

The plays are usually set in London, especially among the court and upper-class circles — not in villages or among common people.

 

4.  Stock Characters

Restoration comedies introduced memorable types such as:

·        The Fop – a man overly concerned with fashion (e.g., Sir Fopling Flutter in Etherege’s The Man of Mode).

·        The Rake –  a man who loves pleasure and women (e.g., Dorimant in The Man of Mode).

·        The Coquette – a flirtatious woman (e.g., Millamant in The Way of the World).

·        The Cuckold Husband – a foolish husband deceived by his wife.

 

5.  Realism and Immorality

Restoration plays showed the real life of rich and fashionable people in London.
But many critics called them immoral because they talked openly about love, sex, and extra-marital affairs.
Still, these plays reflected the spirit of that time, when people wanted to enjoy life and freedom after many years of strict Puritan rules.

 

Decline of Restoration Comedy

By the end of the 17th century, public taste began to change.
People started to prefer more moral and sentimental plays.
Thus, Restoration comedy declined and was replaced by the Sentimental Comedy of the 18th century.

Example: The Conscious Lovers by Richard Steele (1722).

 

 

Conclusion

Restoration Comedy was a bright and lively period in English drama. It showed the life and manners of rich people after many years of strict Puritan rule. These plays were full of wit, humour, love affairs, and social satire. Critics called them immoral, but they actually reflected the free and joyful spirit of that time. Famous writers like William Congreve, George Etherege, William Wycherley, Aphra Behn, and Sir John Vanbrugh made these comedies popular. In short, Restoration Comedy is remembered for its clever language, lively characters, and truthful picture of society.