Discuss The Way of the World as Comedy of Wit
and Humour. / Show how verbal wit contributes to the overall humorous intent in
The Way of the World.
‘The Way of the World’ as a
Comedy of Wit: - ‘Wit’ expressed itself in the rhetorical devices
provides pleasures on several levels, but it is essentially an exercise of the
intellect and its appeal is always to the intellect. It is the most effective
weapon with which a sophisticated society can be made aware of its own
shortcomings. As used by the 17th century dramatists, however, the
term does not mean mere brilliance in conversation, or even cleverness. ‘Wit’
means also intelligence, the intelligence to perceive and understand. On the
other hand, ‘Humour’ implies certain eccentricities of behavior arising from
differences of “constitutions, complexions and disposition of men’ (From
Congreve’s letter to his friend John Dennis). In his letter to John Dennis,
Congreve defines wit as the art of “speaking pleasantly and amusingly”. Now let
us proceed to analyze Congreve’s handling of wit on the basis of this
definition in his play The Way of the World. The Way of the World is a comedy
of wit and humour.The most remarkable aspect of this play is the witty
conversation of characters who have been portrayed brilliantly by William
Congreve. Actually, wit and humour are essence of this play. In the play, not
only the main characters but even minor characters like the maid servant of
Lady Wishfort are also competent enough to indulge in witty conversation. In
fact, Congreve pays more attention to wit and humour than plot and action in
the play)
Witty and humorous elements in
the conversation of characters: --
(a)
Mirabell and Mrs. Fainall:--
Mrs. Fainall who is the wife of Mr.Fainall
has an illicit relation with Mirabell, the hero of the play. When Mrs.
Fainall and Mirabell meet together in
the play, the readers come across a magnificent display of wit. Mrs. Fainall
who is not satisfied with her husband expressed her irritation to Mirabell. Mirabell
tells her that she should hate her husband but carefully. In Mirabell’s words: ‘’O,
You should hate with prudence.” Further we find numerous wits in their
conversation when they talk about Lady wishfort. Mirabell thinks Lady Wishfort “would
marry anything that resembled a man, though, it were no more than what a butler
could pinch out of a napkin’
