The Country Wife and Other Plays: Love in a Wood; The Gentleman Dancing-Master; The Country Wife; The Plain Dealer
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Author Description
Wycherley's four comedies are admired for their satirical wit, farcical humour, vivid characterization, and social criticism.Love in a Wood, a lively comedy of intrigue, established him as a brilliant new dramatist.The Gentleman Dancing-Master, in contrast, disappointed contemporary audiences, but the central relationship between Hippolyta and Gerrard features an original and sympathetic study of a young woman's attitudes and feelings. The Country Wife is a sharp but also highly amusing attack on social and sexual hypocrisy. The Plain Dealer, a powerful dramatic satire loosely based on Moliere's Le Misanthrope, continues and enlarges Wycherley's assault on greed and corruption. Under the General Editorship of Michael Cordner of the University of York, the texts of the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and punctuation. In addition, there is a scholarly introduction, a note on staging, and detailed annotation. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
William Wycherley’s collection of Restoration comedies exposes the moral decay and social hypocrisy inherent in 17th-century London high society. Through a series of intricate plots involving deception, courtship, and greed, the plays follow various protagonists navigating the rigid expectations of their class. The narrative framework utilizes the conventions of the comedy of manners, relying on sharp dialogue and farcical situations to challenge the status quo. These plays operate within the physical constraints of the Restoration stage, emphasizing public performance and private intrigue as primary drivers of the action.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Satirical examination of sexual hypocrisy and social pretension
- Use of complex, multi-layered plots involving intrigue and mistaken identity
- Vivid characterization of archetypal figures from the Restoration era
- Sharp, witty dialogue designed for theatrical performance
- Exploration of greed and corruption within urban social circles
- Modernized spelling and punctuation for contemporary readability
- Scholarly introduction providing historical and theatrical context
- Detailed annotations to clarify archaic references and staging notes
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on Wycherley’s ability to balance biting social critique with the lighthearted mechanics of farce. Readers frequently highlight the sharp, cynical wit present in The Country Wife as a defining example of the genre’s capacity for subversion. Critics often note the evolution of the author’s style from the early intrigue of Love in a Wood to the more aggressive satire found in The Plain Dealer. The collection is widely regarded as a significant resource for understanding the theatrical landscape of the late 17th century. Scholars and students alike appreciate the inclusion of modernized texts and comprehensive notes that facilitate a deeper engagement with the material.
Page Count:
529
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191611425
ISBN-13:
9780191611421
Drama
Satire
Restoration Comedy
Plays
Classic Literature
Theatre
Special Topics
Humanities