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comedy of manners |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.04 sec. |
comedy of mannersWitty, ironic form of drama that satirizes the manners and fashions of a particular social class or set. Comedies of manners were usually written by sophisticated authors for members of their own social class, and they typically are concerned with social usage and the ability or inability of certain characters to meet social standards, which are often exacting but morally trivial. The plot, usually concerning an illicit love affair or other scandalous matter, is subordinate to the play's brittle atmosphere, witty dialogue, and pungent commentary on human foibles. Its notable exponents include William Congreve, Oliver Goldsmith, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Oscar Wilde, and Noel Coward. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| Like all comedies of manners, ``Seinfeld'' insisted that the meaning of life is in the silly details. Some sharply observed comedies of manners emerged from that era, including John Dryden's ``All for Love,'' William Congreve's ``The Way of the World,'' George Farquhar's ``The Beaux' Stratagem'' and William Wycherley's ``The Country Wife. |
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