After theatres in England were reopened again in the course of the Restoration in 1660, after a period of eighteen years, the English theatre developed very much. Many plays were written for the two theatre companies in London, now in the tradition of the Restoration. Different forms of Restoration plays developed, e.g. the Heroic Tragedy, and the Comedy of Manners. But not only the Restoration and the following Glorious Revolution from 1688 were made a subject, but also the former Puritan period. Both periods differ very much in their politics, their ideas, and their way of living. When William Congreve‘s comedy The Way of the World was published in 1800 and performed by The Dukes‘s Men theatre company at Lincoln‘s Inn Fields in the same year, it was already more than fourty years after the Puritan period and exactly fourty years after the Restoration. By then the constitunional monarchy was well established, and even the ideas of the Restoration were not that uptodate any more. Nevertheless Congreve and his works are seen as part of the Restoration tradition, and his drama The Way of the World even makes not only the Restoration time, but also the Puritan period a topic. Here Congreve acknowledges the dual presence of the Puritan heritage and of the immoral spirit of the Restoration. He does this by presenting both Puritan and Restoration formed characters, by including ideas of both sides, and by refering to exponents and terms of these as I am going to show in the following.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the Historical Context of Restoration Drama
2. Restoration Traditions and Character Development
2.1 The Nature of Restoration Characters
2.2 Individual Case Studies of Vicious and Intellectual Traits
3. The Puritan Heritage and Inconsistent Behaviour
3.1 Lady Wishfort as a Dualistic Figure
3.2 The Influence of Puritan Morality in Private and Public Spheres
4. Philosophical Influences and Social Contracts
4.1 John Locke and the Concept of Binding Contracts
4.2 Hedonism and Epicurianism in the Restoration Period
5. Synthesis of Historical Directions
Objectives and Themes
The study examines how William Congreve integrates the conflicting cultural paradigms of the Puritan legacy and the Restoration spirit within his play The Way of the World, specifically analyzing how characters embody or reject these historical pressures.
- Dual influence of Puritanism and Restoration values
- Character psychology and intellectual malice
- The role of social contracts and marriage agreements
- Philosophical currents such as hedonism and epicureanism
- Inconsistent behavior and public vs. private morality
Excerpt from the Book
The dual presence of the Puritan heritage and of the immoral spirit of the Restoration
These three examples show that Congreve made many characters of The Way of the World to be influenced by the Restoration tradition. They are both malicious, and very intelligent, so that they can direct action as they please. But despite all these characters, there is also one Puritan character, namely Lady Wishfort. In public she behaves like a Puritan, e.g. she has got strict views on sexual morality. She even raised her daughter with the Puritan spirit. „I promise you, her education has been unexceptionable. I may say it; for I chiefly made it my own care to initiate her very infancy in the rudiments of virtue, and to impress upon her tender years a young odium and aversion to the very sight of men.“ This shows that Lady Wishfort supports the Puritan ideas. But even though she keeps to this in public, she is quite different in private. There her action is mainly determined by her constant sexual drive, which fits in with the immorality of the Restoration period. Thus Congreve shows the dual presence of the Puritan heritage and the immorality of the Restoration not only in the confrontation of different characters in the play, but also in the inconsistent behaviour of one character.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the Historical Context of Restoration Drama: This chapter outlines the development of the English theatre post-1660 and establishes the foundational conflict between Puritanism and the Restoration era.
2. Restoration Traditions and Character Development: The chapter explores how the majority of the play's characters embody the norms of the Restoration, characterized by a blend of intellectual brilliance and moral vice.
3. The Puritan Heritage and Inconsistent Behaviour: This section focuses on Lady Wishfort as a vessel for the internal conflict between external Puritan performance and private Restoration-style desires.
4. Philosophical Influences and Social Contracts: This chapter analyzes how philosophical thought, particularly John Locke's influence, shaped the characters' use of contracts to manage their social and romantic lives.
5. Synthesis of Historical Directions: This concluding summary reviews how Congreve uses speech, character traits, and literary references to acknowledge the coexistence of two opposing cultural eras.
Keywords
William Congreve, The Way of the World, Restoration Comedy, Puritanism, John Locke, Hedonism, Epicureanism, Lady Wishfort, Mirabell, Social Contracts, Restoration Tradition, English Drama, Libertinism, Moral Vice, Dualism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research analyzes the coexistence of Puritan ethics and the immoral culture of the Restoration period as depicted in William Congreve's comedy, The Way of the World.
What are the primary thematic areas of the study?
The main themes include historical influence, character archetypes, the duality of public and private morality, and the application of philosophical concepts like social contracting.
What is the main objective of this paper?
The objective is to demonstrate how Congreve acknowledges the "dual presence" of two distinct historical epochs through his characterization and the thematic structure of the play.
Which scientific methods are employed in the study?
The work utilizes a literary analysis approach, examining character behavior, dialogue, historical context, and the integration of philosophical references from the period.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body chapters cover the transition of the English theatre, detailed character studies, the analysis of moral inconsistency, and the role of marriage contracts in the context of Enlightenment philosophy.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include Congreve, Restoration Comedy, Puritanism, Hedonism, social contracts, and dualism.
How does the author interpret the character of Lady Wishfort?
Lady Wishfort is interpreted as a manifestation of psychological duality, maintaining a strict public image of Puritan virtue while struggling with personal desires that align with the Restoration spirit.
How do marriage contracts function within the narrative?
Marriage contracts serve as a tool for both social regulation and personal maneuvering, representing a shift toward more rational, consent-based relationships influenced by thinkers like John Locke.
- Quote paper
- Jana Groh (Author), 2006, The dual presence of the Puritan heritage and of the immoral spirit of the Restoration in Congreve‘s "Way of the World", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80830
