Characteristics Of The Restoration Period

Restoration was a time when England was established colonial power in the world. It was a time of materialism and commerce and the people of the period emphasised money, pleasure and sex. Love and sex were judged in terms of money. Artificiality and immorality were the defining features of the stage. People looked forward to relaxation and pleasures and serious things mattered less to them. Theatres were closed by Puritans and commonwealth government between 1642 and 1660 because of Cromwell. But Charles II was a fun, woman and theatre loving ruler. So, it was under his reign that theatre flourished once more. Restoration period has been noted for its comedies although some serious dramas were also published during this time. Comedy of manners,

There is a great important of epilogues and prologues in this genre of writing. This genre flourished most during the restoration period when it became more prompt, easy, rich and light-hearted. There were few conventions that governed restoration comedies like constancy in love is boring, love thrived on variety, sex should be tempting. Country life was also often considered very boring. Humour was mostly targeted on those who allowed themselves to be deceived or wanted to deceive others. Laughter was directed at the fop, the pretender at wit. The fop, a womanly male was fashionable and butt of all sarcasm and jokes. The plays would often begin and end by hilarious pieces of poetry. Comedy of manners is a high class comedy because it involves the use of sophisticated wit and is intellectual and totally opposite to slapstick, which requires little skill. There is little action but heavy dialogues. It employs and equal amount of farce and satire which results in great comedy. The comedy of manners has been employed by Roman satirists as early as the first century BC. William Shakespeare attempted the first comedy of manners in England with “Much Ado About Nothing” but the genre mainly flourished in restoration