The Double Standard of Morality in Congreve's Way of the World DOCX

Title	The Double Standard of Morality in Congreve's Way of the World
Author	Shivangi Sinha
Pages	4
File Size	21.2 KB
File Type	DOCX
Total Downloads	235
Total Views	749

Summary

Sinha 1 Shivangi Sinha 18th Century British Literature 10th April 2020 “Literature is the mirror of society” – these words ring true for Congreve’s play Way of the World which reflects the ethos of 18th century fashionable society being centered on a facade. The emergence of social comedies like Way...

Description

Sinha 1 Shivangi Sinha 18th Century British Literature 10th April 2020 "Literature is the mirror of society" – these words ring true for Congreve's play Way of the World which reflects the ethos of 18th century fashionable society being centered on a facade. The emergence of social comedies like Way of the World is in itself a result of this façade as Englishmen condemned the sexual promiscuity of the French in public but in private, admired the restoration drama for imitating the French wit along with its explicit social conduct. This façade between what is real and what seems to be, between the public sphere and the private sphere is the source of the comic in such plays. Even the King of that time, Charles II personifies the facades of his age. In public, he embraced Protestantism for power but in secret remained a catholic. In Way of the World all characters are driven by an unmitigated Hobbesian appetite. All of them pretend to be amiable but beneath their seemingly playful repartee lurks a sense of distrust. In order to maintain social appearances, gentlemen like Mirabell and Fainall exchange witty word- play in a chocolate house although in reality, both are wary of each other. Similarly, Mrs. Fainall and Mrs. Marwood gossip together in St.James Park but a feline animosity runs around them. These friendships are no more than a travesty and therefore, highlight how social conduct in such a society is an act. The double standard of morality becomes even more evident in a character like Lady Wishfort who is obsessed with decorum but her moral righteousness is just a performance. She tries to be an embodiment of Puritan piety but in actuality, she betrays her geriatric lust in protesting too...