Consider
“She Stoops to Conquer” as an
anti-sentimental comedy./
To what extent does She Stoops to Conquer succeed as an anti-sentimental comedy? Substantiate with close textual references.
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.
