Examine Goldsmith’s use of comic
devices in
She Stoops to Conquer.
She Stoops
to Conquer is a ‘pure comedy’, for the dramatist aims only at the amusement
of his readers and audience, and has no ulterior aims. It is not a comedy with
some serious social message. The dramatist aims neither at satirizing human
follies and weaknesses with a view to reforming them, like a writer of the
Comedy of Manners, or the Comedy of Humours, nor does he aim at moving them to
tears like the writers of the sentimental comedy of the day. There is no
intrusion at all of such elements; it is a ‘pure comedy’, a ‘laughing comedy’
which aims at laughter, more laughter and nothing but laughter. It is one of
the greatest comedies of the world and its appeal has been universal and
enduring.
The comic
devices used by Goldsmith in She Stoops to Conquer are as follows:
Masterly Use of Dramatic Irony: - The
device called dramatic irony has been fully exploited to increase the
entertainment value of the comedy. Throughout the play the audience knows the
truth which is not known by the actors on the stage who consequently act and
talk at cross-purposes to the great amusement of the readers and audience.