In the play School For Scandal, Sheridan has satirised the lifestyle of his contemporary society. Elucidate. [OR] The play School For Scandal is an excellent example of the comedy of manners. Assess. [OR] “Sheridan has a minute observation of the lifestyle of his contemporary society”. Analyse this statement in the light of School For Scandal. [OR] The play School For Scandal contains all the characteristics of a perfect comedy of manners. Define.
Ans. The play School For Scandal is undoubtedly an excellent example of comedy of manners. In brief, the comedy of manners is a literary device which has frequently been in use during the Restoration period. Congreve and Wycherley are considered to be the pioneers of the art of comedy of manners. This kind of comedy can be accepted in any sophisticated urban society. In this type of writing, the author generally satirises the fashionable lifestyle of a particular section of the society, but he does it without any malice towards them.
The play is a remarkable satire on a sophisticated urban society. It is one of the most entertaining satire on the lifestyles of ladies and gentleman of contemporary society. Actually Sheridan is a keen observer of the life of the upper class people of his time. He spent some part of his life in a highly fashionable city, namely Bath. In fact Bath was a meeting point for the fashionable ladies and gentleman of English upper class. The play provides an apparent picture of the fashionable society of Sheridan’s period. Almost all the aspects of comedy of manners such as scandal mongering, love, conspiracy, lavishness and pseudo morality etc. have got enough exposure in the play. People indulged in money lending have also been satirised in the play. He has also adopted a satirical approach in describing the conducts of vibrant and aristocratic young men.
The practice of scandal mongering has been vehemently criticised in the play. Lady Sneerwell is the representative of scandal mongers. Her group which comprises both men and women of upper class give us a clear idea about their habits of slanderous gossiping. These people are devoid of all moral sentiments because they do not even spare their own acquaintances. People engaged themselves in these inferior activities just to entertain themselves. Mr. Benjamin Backbite and uncle Crabtree and Mrs. Candour are all confirmed slanderers. We get maximum pleasure when we come to know that these scandal mongers have invented the story of adult[ery] between Sir Peter and the lover of his wife. In course of this discussion we cannot imagine ignore Mr. Snake, who is a professional liar but ultimately speaks the truth but not because of sympathy. He reveals the truth because of being doubly paid for it. Certainly, Sheridan has satirised the scandal gossipings with dexterity.
Sheridan has also satirised the hypocritical tendency of the people of that time. Joseph Surface is one of the most important character in this play. He is a replica of hypocrisy and pretentious moralising. In the very opening scene we find a clear picture of Joseph’s real character when Lady Sneerwell reveals him. She says that he is a malicious fellow, in brief “a sentimental Knave”. But Joseph gets exposed in the screen scene that is a source sheer joy for readers.
In the play we come across a number of love affairs. Lady Sneerwell is in love with Charles whereas both Charles and Maria love each other but Joseph wants to marry Maria only because she was wealthy. Joseph only wants to usurp her huge money and Maria knows it. So she hates Joseph and tells her guardian very frankly that she cannot marry him. As the play develops, we see that Lady Sneerwell and Joseph leave no stone unturned in preventing Charles’ marriage with Maria. But their very attempt proves a wild goose chase. Besides Joseph is also entangled in a love affair with Lady Teazle because she wants to tame for fashion’s sake.
Sheridan also ridicules those irresponsible youngmen of the contemporary society, who are in habit of squandering their money & consequently becomes victims of the usurers. Charles Surface is supposed to be the representative of such young men. We see how Charles sells all the portraits of his ancestors in order to get some money. Sheridan has portrayed the character of Charles in order to give us a satirical picture of the youngmen of that time who are not only lavish in their attitude but also they are devoid any sense of regard for their elders.