William Wycherley Criticism
William Wycherley (1640?-1716) remains a pivotal figure in Restoration drama, celebrated for his incisive satire and witty dialogue. His works sharply critique social hypocrisy, materialism, and pretense, often provoking controversy for their candid exploration of moral and sexual themes. Wycherley's most notable plays include Love in a Wood, The Gentleman Dancing-Master, The Country-Wife, and The Plain-Dealer, each reflecting his mastery of Restoration conventions and his penchant for sexual intrigue and mistaken identity.
Wycherley's biographical journey saw him oscillate between various religious and educational influences. Born in Shropshire, he was educated in France to escape Puritan constraints, initially converting to Roman Catholicism before returning to Protestantism with the Restoration. His legal studies in England gave way to literary pursuits, ultimately leading to a successful career marked by his debut play Love in a Wood and subsequent social ascent, bolstered by connections to the English court.
His literary success was punctuated by personal trials, including a fall from royal favor and financial ruin following an ill-fated marriage to Lady Laetitia-Isabella. Despite these setbacks, Wycherley's Miscellany Poems caught the attention of Alexander Pope, leading to a revised edition that showcased his poetic prowess alongside his plays.
Wycherley's plays engage with themes of sexual control, social danger, and the theatricality of madness. As explored by critics like Aspasia Velissariou, his works often depict patriarchal tactics of control and the complexity of female desire. The Country Wife, in particular, has been analyzed for its tension and energy in social contexts, as noted by Derek Cohen. The play’s language and metaphorical richness have been examined by Barrie Hawkins, and its portrayal of fear and weakness discussed by John Vance.
Overall, Wycherley's legacy is marked by a sophisticated critique of Restoration society, his works simultaneously entertaining and challenging audiences. Despite changing moral perspectives over the centuries, his sharp social commentaries and complex character portrayals continue to provoke analysis and debate, as seen in Helen Burke's examination of The Plain-Dealer, which underscores the play's subversive cultural context.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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A Great Stage of Fools: Theatricality and Madness in the Plays of William Wycherley
(summary)
In the following essay, Marshall defines the historical context of theatricality and madness in Wycherley's plays.
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The Country Wife and Social Danger
(summary)
In the essay below, Cohen examines the tension and energy inherent in the social situation presented in the play The Country Wife.
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Patriarchal Tactics of Control and Female Desire in Wycherley's The Gentleman Dancing-Master and The Country Wife
(summary)
In the following essay, Velissariou discusses examples of sexual control in Wycherley's plays.
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Law-suits, Love-suits, and the Family Property in Wycherley's The Plain Dealer
(summary)
In the following essay, Burke examines the internal and external contexts of The Plain Dealer that determine the structure of its plot and subplot. Burke argues that the play's full subversiveness is noticeable only when its cultural context is recognized.
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The Country Wife: Metaphor Manifest
(summary)
In the essay below, Hawkins discusses Wycherley's use of language and imagery in The Country Wife.
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Against Theory? Knowledge and Action in Wycherley's Plays
(summary)
In the following essay, Hynes describes how Wycherley's protagonists use knowledge to gain the upper hand.
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The Play-World of William Wycherley
(summary)
In the following essay, Young offers brief synopses of Wycherley's plays, a discussion of society in Wycherley's time, and an examination of women's roles in the plays.
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The ‘Plyant Discourse’ of Wycherley's The Country Wife
(summary)
In the following essay, Knapp examines the language of The Country Wife for evidence of then current social practices and attitudes. She maintains that this play would have been understood differently by various groups of the time.
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‘Plagues and Torments’: The Country Wife
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Vance discusses Wycherley's varied portrayals of fear and weakness in The Country Wife. As portrayed by Wycherley, the male's primary fear is the loss of sexual potency, while the female's is perpetual incarceration.
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A Great Stage of Fools: Theatricality and Madness in the Plays of William Wycherley
(summary)
- Further Reading