| Front | Sir George Etherege |
|---|---|
| Back | 1635 91 Playwright Whose works profoundly influenced the Development of drama in Restoration England Soon after the Restoration in 1660, Etherege wrote his comedy of The Comical Revenge or Love in a Tub, which brought him to the attention of Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of Dorset. This was performed at the Duke's Theatre in 1664 and a few copies were printed in the same year. It is partly in rhymed heroic verse, like the stilted tragedies of the Howards and Thomas Killigrew, but it contains comic scenes that are notably bright and fresh. The sparring between Sir Frederick and the Widow introduced a style of wit hitherto unknown upon the English stage. The success of this play was very great, but Etherege waited four years before repeating the experiment. Meanwhile he gained a high reputation as a poetical beau and moved in the circle of Sir Charles Sedley, Lord Rochester and other noble wits of the day. His temperament is best shown by the names his contemporaries gave him: "gentle George" and "easy Etheredge". In 1668 he brought out She Would if she Could, a comedy of action, wit and spirit, although by some thought to be frivolous and immoral. Here Etherege first showed himself as a new power in literature. He presents an airy and fantastic world, where flirtation is the only serious business in life. Etherege himself was living a life no less frivolous and unprincipled. The Man of Mode |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Euphues john lyly's anatomy wit published learning style
Previous card: Ethan frome narrator frome's edith learn warton struggles
Up to card list: Wordsworth companion to literature by Bahman Moradi