What is the theme of The Rivals?

The role of women in eighteenth century England is another important theme of The Rivals. At the time the play was written, women in polite society were regarded as mere objects, property to be bought and sold as part of a business transaction with prospective husbands. It wasn't called the marriage market for nothing. The play, then, can be seen as exploring the possibility of women retaining a sense of freedom in a society in which they are regarded as inherently unequal.

In its complex subplot of gender politics, it's clear that The Rivals intends to challenge (and ever so moderately subvert) prevailing relations between the sexes. The theme is developed extensively throughout, before culminating in the Epilogue, in which Julia speaks the following lines:

"Man’s social happiness all rests on us: Through all the drama—whether d-n’d or not—Love gilds the scene and women guide the plot."

Women find what little freedom they have in love. It's love that adds luster to both the play and to life, in this time period, itself. And it's the love of women that drives the plot in both. A woman's love subtly undermines the status-conscious society and its marriage conventions. Sheridan is, however, limited in his presentation; he wants to satirize society without turning it upside-down. This ambiguity is reflected in the character of Lydia. Her notion of love is thoroughly romantic; she's prepared to marry Captain Absolute, even though she's been falsely led to believe that he's her social inferior.

At the same time, however, Lydia's often far from being a sympathetic character. There's an element of stereotyping about her as the willful bluestocking capriciously cocking a snook at society's most cherished conventions. Nevertheless, she is fully and delightfully human, for all her evident faults. There is no doubt that she's a witty, confident, feisty woman who is considerably more grounded than the stock of absurd male characters in the play.

The role of Julia is to act as the moral core of the play. She's almost like a Greek chorus, providing a running commentary on the ludicrous moral standards of her class and social environment. Though formally subordinate to Faulkland she still has some sense of freedom, which lies in her being true to herself and the genuine love that she feels for her intended. As with her sister, love is freedom. And her love wins out in the end, overcoming Faulkland's unreasonable doubts and also the suspicions of society towards an intelligent woman who knows her own heart and mind.

What is the theme of The Rivals?

One of the most prominent themes of The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is that of artifice, defined as the practice of appearing genuine, sincere and innocent while all the while looking out for your own selfish interests at others' expense, subterfuge. Artifice is practiced throughout the play and by every character.

Lucy lies about the author of the love letters to Sir Lucius. David acts a pretense to make himself appear more socially acceptable than he is. Jack impersonates Ensign Beverley. Fag lies to Sir Anthony. Mrs. Malaprop slaughters language in an action of pretense to appear more worldly wise than she is. Jack asks Fag to lie. Faulkland tries to trick Julia. And Julia is the only who does not practice artifice.

Another prominent theme is that of the 18th century opposition between courtship's means and objective: falling in love and marriage. Falling in love was not necessarily valued by the marriage makers, the parents. But marriage without love was spurned by those who would wed, the children, who were often forced into marriages without love to gain financial or social advantage, which was particularly painful is the individuals being wedded were--one or both--in love with someone else.

A third theme is the importance of education and language, which give one social importance or rob one of social importance. This is a relevant issue in today's world as well and one that garners hot debate within the ranks of sociolinguists and educators. The higher your education, the higher your language attainments; the higher your language attainments, the higher your social standing; the higher your social standing, the higher your potential for financial success.

What is the theme of rivalry in The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan?

The theme of rivalry in The Rivals is one of the central themes since it is the titular theme, though the theme of Romantic, irrational sentimentality is the most directly pointed theme.

LYDIA ... we had never had a quarrel, ... I was afraid he would never give me an opportunity [to]. So, last Thursday, I wrote a letter  ... [and] charged him with ... falsehood, put myself in a violent passion, and vowed I'd never see him more. [...] I intended only to have teased him three days and a half, ....

Yet, the theme of the title is without doubt important as there is at least one direct rivalry and at least one illusionary rivalry. Absolute, by a clever plot device, is in a rivalry with himself and at the same time with Acres, Julia's near neighbor. All, the Ensign, Absolute, and Acres are vying for Lydia's affection and hand in marriage. Absolute is in a rivalry with himself because he has adopted a false identity to make himself acceptable to Lydia who has wild Romantic sentimentalist notions of forfeiting her inheritance and running off to elope with an impoverished gentleman, thus bringing her name to shame and closing every social door to her and her husband. Absolute has feigned the identity of a lowly ensign when he is in fact an heir. He is in a standard sort of rivalry with Acres who loves Lydia himself and, of course, wants to outdo Absolute.   

Of the illusionary rivalry, it might be said that Faulkland is in--or rather fancies himself in--a rivalry with Lucy's emotional state. When he is away from her, he is in an utter torment of unhappiness for himself and for what he imagines to be her forlorn and sad condition. It is Acres' information that Lucy has been cheerful, danced, sung, and the light of every social gathering, that undoes Faulkland's happiness even further. Now he cannot stop thinking that she must be very inconstant in her love to be able to sing and dance without him--and such a song!:

ACRES ... now I recollect one of them—My heart's my own, my will is free.

This illusionary rivalry between Faulkland and Julia's emotions results in contests to prove her sincerity. Lucy eventually learns to loath his continual distrust and very rationally sends Faulkland away for good. It is only the intervention of Sir Anthony's recommendations on Faulkland's behalf that reunites them and preserves their wedding day.

JULIA ... you have trifled with my sincerity ——[...] I now see it is not in your nature to be content or confident in love. With this conviction—I never will be yours.  [...] it lost you the love of one who would have followed you in beggary through the world!

FAULKLAND She's gone—for ever!,
[...]
Sir ANTHONY ... Come, Julia, ... All the faults I have ever seen in my friend Faulkland ... proceed from ... his affection for you—There, marry him directly, Julia; you'll find he'll mend surprisingly!

In this satirical comedy of manners, the theme of rivalry is meant to illustrate the ludicrousness of heightened sentimentality (Lydia & Faulkland) and foolishness (Acres) while applauding rational and reasonable behavior (Julia & Absolute); though Absolute uses trickery, he is acting and thinking reasonably while finding a way past Lydia's prejudices and sentimentality. The theme of rivalry is bound up in the theme of sentimentality:

Look on her well—
[...]
 Do solemn sentiments become that mouth?
 Bid her be grave, those lips should rebel prove
 To every theme that slanders mirth or love. (Prologue)

How is the theme of age presented in The Rivals?

One aspect of the young versus old theme relates to how it affects marriages of young people that are arranged by old (older) people, namely, the parents. The Rivals illustrates the unhappiness these arranged marriages produce within the bride and groom. It also shows the differing value systems and objectives that drive old people in arranging marriage and young people in wanting marriages. For the older, security of wealth and social standing are of greatest importance. For the young, happiness, love and felicity are of the greatest importance.