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The Way of the World

by William Congreve

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Why is William Congreve's The Way of the World considered a "comedy of manners"?

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The Way of the World is considered a "comedy of manners" because it satirizes the behaviors and social norms of the upper class through wit and humor. Congreve uses complex plots and well-drawn characters to reveal the follies and corruption within society, critiquing human nature while entertaining the audience. His keen observations and sharp wit make his work a sophisticated critique of social behavior.

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William Congreve chose to write a “comedy of manners” in The Way of the World because he wanted to satirize the manners and affairs of society in a witty way that gets to the heart of human nature. Let's look at how he does this.

As with most comedies of manners, Congreve's play reveals the follies and foibles of the upper class and their associates. Lady Wishfort is weak and filled with jealousy and the desire for revenge. Her former lover, Mirabell, has scorned her, and she is now determined that he shall not marry her niece, Millamant. Mirabell and Millamant snipe at each other continually, but they do seem to love each other. They plot to deceive Lady Wishfort (whom Mirabell had been “courting” to get to Millamant) by dressing up Mirabell's servant as a suitor.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Marwood has schemes of her own, trying to get Lady Wishfort...

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to disinherit Millamant for Fainall, Mrs. Marwood's own lover. Fainall, in turn, wants to claim that his own wife (Lady Wishfort's daughter) has been unfaithful with Mirabell.

We can see, then, that this play centers around the depths of corruption in the upper class but presents all this underhanded dealing in a way that is witty and appealing. Congreve wants to show us the truth about human nature through his complex plot and well-drawn characters.

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Why did William Congreve choose the comedy-of-manners genre?

William Congreve had a keen eye for observing the truth and a sharp wit for exposing it in a humorous yet critical way. His tool was the comedy of manners. To get you started on your assignment, let's explore Congreve's life and his dramatic instrument of choice.

We will begin with a bit about Congreve himself. He was the son of an army man who grew up in Ireland even though he was English, and he studied law for a while, although he never seemed to care much for it. He was more interested in observing the world around him and then writing about it, and he ended up being mentored by John Dryden, a master of wit and satire, who modeled such techniques for Congreve.

Congreve wrote his first play while he was recovering from an illness. He simply wanted to amuse himself, but he ended up amusing many other people, too, including Dryden. The play, called The Old Bachelour, was a success, and Congreve found himself pursuing the life of a man of letters.

Other plays, like The Way of the World, followed, and Congreve settled into the style of the comedy of manners, which allowed him to turn his keen observations of the world and its people into a humorous entertainment that also critiqued human foolishness. Let's take a moment to define the comedy of manners.

A comedy of manners focuses on people's social behavior and relationships, satirically revealing the silliness of manners and exposing the deep currents that lie beneath the shallow exterior of society. The characters are revealed in all their foibles and follies. Yet there is nothing slapstick or over-the-top about a comedy of manners. It is witty yet sophisticated, and it makes its audience think closely about the characters and plot and about their own behavior.

Congreve was perfectly suited to write in this genre, and he was excellent at it. Using his wit, he could make his audiences laugh at the silliness of society and themselves without being vulgar or low.

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