The Rivals (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- First Published: 1775
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Comedy of manners
- Time of Work: Eighteenth century
- Setting: Bath
- Genres: Satire, Drama, Comedy of manners
- Subjects: Love or romance, England or English people, Eighteenth century, Letter writing, Aristocracy or aristocrats
- Locales: Bath, England
Characters Discussed
Captain Jack Absolute (Ensign Beverley), a young aristocrat who poses as a penniless ensign to win the love of Lydia Languish. After many problems—among them relatives who oppose his marriage, rivals who challenge him to duels, and misunderstandings with his fiancée—Jack wins fair Lydia.
Lydia Languish, Jack Absolute’s beloved, a girl whose head is so stuffed with the fantastic adventures of popular fictional people that she cannot bear to marry anyone in her own class. She spurns Jack Absolute when she learns that he is not the penniless...
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See Also:
See Also:
- - The Rivals summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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