ANTI SENTIMENTAL COMEDY.

  S.Y.B.A. (ENG)                                                                       

  SEM :  3                                                                                   

  CCE :  5                                                                                   

 

 

v ANTI SENTIMENTAL COMEDY.

Anti Sentimental Comedy which Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan cultivate in eighteenth century and was the reaction against the sentimental comedy of Colley Cibber, Sir Richard Steele, Hugh Kelly.

Anti-Sentimental Comedy is one that does not use emotions to evoke reflection in an audience, they used cynicism to achieve its message.

It deals with the relation and women living in an upper class society. It evokes laughter and vulgarity.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH

Oliver Goldsmith, in his “A Comparison Between Laughing and Sentimental Comedy” (1773), noted the extent to which the comedy in the England of his day had departed from its traditional purpose, the excitation of laughter by exhibiting the follies of the lower part of humankind.   

Goldsmith and Sheridan through their anti-sentimental comedies tried to bring back humour, wit and intellectuality to the stage in the 18th century. 

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN

The best examples of their work include Sheridan’s The School for Scandal (1777) and Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

Again, a little over a century from this date, Comedy of Manner plays were being perfected in England by famous Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, with wonderful works like Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).

Characteristics of Anti Sentimental Comedy.

1.     Verbal Dialogue and Wit

Ex of wit. Marriage is when a man looses his bachelor’s degree and woman gets her Master’s degree.

2.     Use of Farce

Entertaining the audience through situation that are highly exaggerated.

3.     Use of Disguises

To modify the manner or appearance of a person through wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways.

 

 

Sentimental Comedy	Anti Sentimental Comedy
It evokes pity and sorrow.	It evokes laughter and Vulgarity.
Deals with middle class.	Deals with upper class.
It is nearer to Tragedy.	It is nearer to comedy.
Ex. The conscious lovers by Richard Steele.	Ex. The Rivals by Richard Sheridan.