Introduction

Richard Brinsley Sheridan's School for Scandal is a classic five-act comedy of manners first published in 1777. Set in late-eighteenth-century London—during a period known as the Georgian era—the play unfolds within the aristocratic circles of London society. There, gossip, scandal, and social climbing were rampant.

Sheridan was famous for his renderings of London's upper crust due to his sharp eye for high society's quirks, which he hilariously portrays in School for Scandal. In the drama, a wealthy uncle puts his nephews to the test to determine which—if either—is worthy of inheriting his fortune. Meanwhile, the nephews find themselves entangled in love triangles and comedic misunderstandings.

Sheridan's portrayal of scandalous rumors and an abundance of manipulative schemes offers a humorous commentary on the moral decay and hypocrisy of his time. As a Restoration comedy—celebrated for its sharp wit, complex plots, and satirical depiction of the pretentiousness and snobbishness of the wealthy—these less-than-lofty elements are fitting and not as unconventional as they may first appear. 

Plot Summary

Lady Sneerwell spends her time spreading gossip and lies. A favorite pastime of hers is tarnishing the reputation of young women. At the outset, the other characters imagine Lady Sneerwell is in love with Joseph Surface, a man with a “good” reputation but a selfish nature. However, she is secretly infatuated with his brother, Charles Surface, known for his lavish nature and love for parties. 

Take note: Lady Sneerwell's unrequited love for Charles and assumed love for Joseph sets the stage for the play's first love triangle.

Simultaneously, Charles and Joseph Surface seek the affection of Maria, a wealthy heiress. While Charles' love for Maria is genuine, Joseph's is not—he merely wishes to marry her for the rich inheritance she is set to receive from her guardian, Sir Peter Teazle. 

Yet another note: Two brothers and one heiress; true love and selfish intentions. Charles' true love and Joesph's ill intentions toward Maria spark the play's second love triangle.

When it comes to the future of his ward, Sir Teazle prefers Joseph over Charles. As readers know, his instincts are poor. However, Sir Teazle is himself unlucky in love, evidenced in his marriage to the young Lady Teazle, who tends to gossip and argue. 

With the characters introduced, the play delves into the first of many intrigues. 

Scheme #1: Lady Sneerwell reveals that she and Joseph are plotting against Charles and Maria. She adds that she has asked her assistant, Snake, to spread rumors about Charles, accusing him of having an affair with Lady Teazle. The rumors, of course, do little to endear Charles to Sir Teazle. 

Shortly after, Sir Teazle's friend, Mr. Rowley, arrives and explains that the Surface brothers' uncle, Sir Oliver Surface, is back in town after years away. This innocuous announcement leads to the introduction of yet another layer of intrigue.

Scheme #2: Sir Surface aims to discover his nephews' true characters, so he plans a test. To see if Charles is as greedy and Joseph as stingy as they say, to test each brother, he intends to disguise himself as a rich banker named "Mr. Premium" and a poor man named "Mr. Stanley." 

When he visits Charles, pretending to be Mr. Premium, Charles does not recognize his uncle. As such, he asks for money, promising to repay the loan once he inherits his wealthy uncle's estate and can sell the family portraits. The disguised Sir Surface agrees to buy his own self-portrait, but Charles refuses to sell it because it depicts his respected uncle. Unintentionally, Charles has proven to his uncle that he is a good and honorable person at heart

Meanwhile, Lady Teazle...