She Stoops to Conquer | Advancements in the Era
A member of the English department at California State University, Stanislaus, Schmidt focuses his essay on how the advances of Goldsmith's era affected and enriched his comedy.
Not accidentally, ages of great social change frequently leave behind great comedy. Oliver Goldsmith' s She Stoops to Conquer provokes laughter— often at situations that are quite serious. Parent/child relationships and marriage stand at the center of Goldsmith's play, as the characters attempt to strike some balance between authority and freedom, obedience and independence. While Goldsmith treats these themes lightheartedly, the play's humor conceals a somber undercurrent. By the time Goldsmith's play debuted in the late 18th century, England had undergone great...
[The entire page is 1460 words long]
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