In The School For Scandal Sheridan has touched the zenith of anti-sentimental movement. Define. [OR] “As far as anti-sentimental comedy is concerned, The School For Scandal is a brilliant work of art.” Justify the statement. [OR] The School For Scandal is closely related with sentimental comedy. Elucidate. [OR] Inspite of being an anti-sentimental comedy, The School For Scandal contains the flavour of sentimentality. Clarify.
Ans. The term ‘sentimental comedy’ came into existence during 18th century. During the Restoration period, the comedy of manners was in use, by the end of the year 1700, this comedy ceased to prosper. Now the taste of the audience was absolutely changed. They expected a sort of moral upgradation. They were completely annoyed with non-sensical laughter and now they wanted a change. In brief, they wanted to watch something meaningful and sensible. Richard Steele, was the dramatist, who recognised their taste and produced a play which is known as The Conscious Lovers although there was a strong reaction against this form of art. Sheridan and Goldsmith tried to free from immorality and licentiousness.
As far as The School for Scandal is concerned, it has touched the zenith of anti-sentimentality. When we go through the play there is hardly any feeling of love and emotion. Sheridan has very tactfully handled the situations and exhibited a remarkable restraint in his treatment of the subject-matter. He is primarily concerned with laughters, not with tears. In the hands of another playwright of that time the main theme of the drama might have changed into sentimental drama. In the hands of other writers, Maria would have become a tragic character, victimized by scandal-mongers. Similarly, Charles could have become a tragic hero, and a prey of scandalous gossiping. Most of the characters in the play display some vices but they have been portrayed in such a manner that they all appear very true to life.
The play School For Scandal is completely devoid of emotional love-scenes, although Lady Sneerwell shows her passionate love towards Charles. In a conversation with Snake, she admits that she can go to any extent to get Charles. But as the play proceeds we find that Sheridan does not provide sufficient exposure of her love-affair. In the course of reading the play we find that although Charles and Maria are deeply in love with each other, but, a minute study reveals that the playwright did not introduce even a single romantic scene between these two lovers. Sheridan has displayed his anti-sentimentalism to such an extent that he ignored altogether any passional expression by Charles of his love for Maria. He also doesn’t permit Maria to show her honest and poignant love to Charles. Even Sheridan shows his anti-sentimentalism to such an extent that in Joseph’s request of his love towards Maria. His attempt of winning Lady Teazle’s favour is also free from any sense of sentimentality. In a nutshell, we can say that Sheridan has maintained a safe distance from romantic and physical relations.
Apart from the above-mentioned facts, the play School For Scandal, to some extent, is related with sentiment. We see that benevolence is one of the theme of the play. Benevolence is very closely related with sentiment. Sir Oliver is a character who admires benevolence because he himself is a benevolent man. A concrete evidence of his benevolent attitude is his financial assistance to both of his nephews. At another occasion, when Charles send one hundred pound to poor Stanley, inspite of his critical financial condition, Sir Oliver appreciates his actions. On the other hand he gets very much annoyed with Joseph’s behaviour because he is absolutely devoid of benevolence and gratitude.
Despite of being an anti-sentimental play, School For Scandal contains some flavour of sentimentality too. In the screen scene, when Sir Peter expresses his genuine affection for Lady Teazle who was hiding behind the screen she gets moved by her husband’s sincere love for her. And this is the reason when she is detected behind the screen she honestly conveys her feelings to her husband and says that she would try her level best to maintain a better relation with him. Lady Teazle’s comment is sentimental and it touches our heart. Apart from this, in the concluding scene when Lady Sneerwell’s plan comes to the surface she is completely exposed and the manner in which she is humiliated and demoralised is very heart touching.
So we see that the play School For Scandal is basically an anti-sentimental comedy but a meticulous reading of the plays shows that is a sentimental feeling in its plot too.