To
what extent does She Stoops to Conquer succeed as an anti-sentimental comedy? Substantiate with close
textual references.
Anti-Sentimental comedy is
reaction against sentimental comedy. The pioneer of anti-sentimental comedy is
Oliver Goldsmith who criticized the sentimental comedy in his essay- ‘Essay on
the Theatre’ or ‘A comparison between Laughing and sentimental comedy’. Oliver
Goldsmith writes that the true function of a comedy was to give a humorous
exhibition of the follies and vices of men and women and to rectify them by
exciting laughter. Goldsmith opposed sentimental comedy because in place of
laughter and humour, it provided tears and distressing situations, pathetic
lovers, serious heroines and honest servants.
He
argued that sentimental comedy was more like tragedy than a comedy. If comedy
was to trespass upon tragedy where humour will have right to express itself. On
two occasions and with unequal success, Goldsmith tried to revive sincere
laughter on stage.
Richard
Sheridan also reacted against sentimental comedy. He ridiculed the sententious
moralising of weeping sentimental comedy in his plays ‘The Rivals’ and ‘The
Critic’. Anti-sentimental comedy is kind of comedy representing complex and
sophisticated code of behaviour current in fashion circles of society where
appearance count more than true moral character. Its plot usually revolves
around intrigues of lust and greed the self interested cynicism of the
character. Being masked by decorous pretence in these two dramatists’ comedies.
As a
result of the reaction of Goldsmith and Sheridan, the comedy of sentiment was
driven out, gone were the pathos and morality, preaching and meddling
sentimentality. Their place was taken by humour and mirth, pleasant dialogues
and wit. The writers who brought about the revival of true comedy in 18th century
were Henry Fielding, Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Sheridan.
Anti-sentimental
comedy takes us from old form of comedy, Comedy of manners, which is also
called, generally for anti-sentimental comedy.
Characteristics of Anti-Sentimental Comedy:
It
is also called comedy of manners. Anti-sentimental comedy is going to old
forms. It is a low farce, situational humour. It is high polished in
Restoration comedy.
Generally,
it deals with the relations and intrigues of men and women living in
sophisticated upper class society. So, it is called comedy of manners. There is
also violation of social standards and decorum immortality of situation.
Comedy
of humours or anti-sentimental comedy is a pure comedy which generate laughter
and not tragic with our emotions. Verbal and situational irony is also
characteristic of anti-sentimental comedy.
Oliver
Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ is one of the best examples of
anti-sentimental comedy, and follows all the characteristics of anti-sentimental
comedy.
‘She Stoops to Conquer’ as an Anti – Sentimental Comedy:
We
very well know that Goldsmith is pioneer of anti-sentimental comedy. ‘She
Stoops to Conquer’ is second play of Goldsmith, produced in 1771. It is also
known under the title ‘The Mistakes of a Night’. The play practically
introduces the reign of humour in comedy.
The
entire play with its fun and humour, its intrigues and sparkling dialogues, its
mischievous tricks and roguish attempts by Tony Lumpkin is a direct blow on the
sentimental comedy. A piquant observation, elements of ingenious and new
realism, a welling forth of pleasantry that never dries up, and baths even the
rare moments when emotion could rise – all go to make this charming comedy an
unalloyed source of amusement.
The
principal characters of this comedy are Hardcastle, who loves ‘everything that
is old’; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine, Mrs.
Hardcastle and Miss. Hardcastle, Their daughter, Mrs. Hardcastle’s son by former
marriage, Tony Lumpkin, young Marlow are the chief characters.
