Female Playwrights and Eighteenth- Century Comedy

Neg otiating Marriage on the Lond on Stage

MISTY G. A

NDERSON

FEMALE PLAYWRIGHTS AND EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY COMEDY

Misty G. Anderson, 2002 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published 2002 by PALGRAVETM 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE is the new global publishing imprint of St. Martins Press LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and Palgrave Publishers Ltd (formerly Macmillan Press Ltd). ISBN 0312239386 hardback Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Anderson, Misty G. 1967Female playwrights and eighteenth-century comedy : negotiating marriage on the London stage / Misty Anderson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index. ISBN 0312239386 1. English drama18th centuryHistory and criticism. 2. Women and literatureGreat BritainHistory18th century. 3. English dramaWomen authorsHistory and criticism. 4. TheaterEngland LondonHistory18th century. 5. English drama (comedy)History and criticism. 6. Courtship in Literature. 7. Marriage in literature. 8. Women in literature. PR708.W6 A53 2002 822.052309928709033dc21

2001036573

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Letra Libre, Inc. First edition: February 2002 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Printed in the United States of America.

C o n t e n t s

Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Funny Women Repetition, Contract, and Comedy You Irreplaceable You: Behns Unalienable Bodies Coming to Market: Centlivre and the Promise of Contract Rule, Britannia: Women and the National Community in Cowleys Comedies Beyond the Law: Contract, Divorce, and Community in Inchbalds Comedies The Repetitive Future of Comedy

ix 1 9 45 73 109 139 171 201 209 237 253