The Mourning Bride was Congreve's sole dramatic tragedy. Premiering in 1697, it achieved great success, running for thirteen consecutive days at Lincoln's Inn Fields. Set in southern Spain, the play depicts historical conflicts between Granada and Valencia, as well as the involvement of Moorish expeditions from North Africa. However, the storyline is fictional, with characters inspired by earlier heroic plays rather than historical figures.

When The Old Batchelour, Congreve's debut play, was published in 1693, it was an instant hit, and Congreve was celebrated as John Dryden's successor. Dryden himself assisted the twenty-three-year-old Congreve in preparing the play for the stage. This initial work, similar to his later comedies, reflected the manners of fashionable society. It is notable for its lively and youthful energy but also contrasts with his later works, which exhibit a more mature and discerning perspective on society.

William Wycherley's play The Country Wife stands as one of the finest examples of early Restoration comedy. Born in 1640, thirty years before Congreve, Wycherley, along with Sir George Etherege, is often considered one of Congreve's significant literary predecessors. While there is some debate about the exact date of its first performance, most scholars agree it was between 1672 and 1675. The play offers a satirical examination of the jealous husband, ultimately portraying jealousy as a self-destructive force.

Among English playwrights, Ben Jonson likely had the most significant impact on the comic tradition that Congreve belongs to. Jonson was instrumental in the development of the comedy of "humours" during the Elizabethan era. His play Volpone, or The Fox, first performed in 1606, remains a prime example of comedy used to serve social satire.

When Jeremy Collier's Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage was released in 1698, several contemporary playwrights, including Congreve, responded to his critique. Collier's book is even referenced in Congreve's play The Way of the World, where Lady Wishfort suggests Mrs. Marwood read it while hiding in the closet during the third act. Collier's work is regarded as a significant expression of the Puritanical effort to reform the stage and eliminate its perceived moral corruptions.