Comedy of manners” is a term applied to a type of play that provides a depiction of the very artificial

manners and conventions of society. Characters are usually types and not individuals. Their names
reflect their “type.” The dialogue in these plays is witty and is of more interest to the audience than the
plot, which serves more as an excuse to deliver humorous lines. The comedy of manners is associated
most closely with the Restoration of the late-seventeenth century. But the illicit love affairs and lack of
morality that defined the genre eventually resulted in their disappearing from the stage. Sheridan
revived this genre in the late eighteenth century.
To produce “laughing comedy,” Sheridan returned to the witty, satiric comedy of manners of the
Restoration, but without the Restoration cynicism and sexual license. Whereas the Restoration offered
refinement and style as a substitute for goodness, Sheridan still believed in its possibilities. The result is
a warmly human balance similar to that in Henry Fielding’s novels. As William Hazlitt said of The School
for Scandal, “it professes a faith in the natural goodness, as well as habitual depravity, of human
nature.” Human frailties are laughed at and, if acknowledged, usually forgiven. Among prominent
failings is hypocrisy, and anyone too good is suspect. Most of all, empathy has become a sense of
participation—the author’s and the audience’s—in the vices and follies of humankind. This laugh of
recognition is perhaps Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s greatest gift to “high seriousness.”

Satire on the Aristocratic Society–

The etiquette play made its introduction in about 1620 within the English Theatre. Comedy of
manners are often defined in several ways like most dramatic classifications, but in its origin it had been
meant to be a joyous and witty reflection of the fashionable lifetime of its time. A form during which
laughter is caused by exaggerations of fashionable behavior, absurdities of its own fashion, or deviations
from what’s considered civilized normality of behavior. Accepting the social code of the upper classes
doubtless , The play gives a direct attack on the superficial engagement of the upper class society on
gossips, hypocrisy and self-interestedness. The characters such as Lady Sneerwell , Mrs. Candour, Sir
Benjamin Backbite and Mr Crabtree loves to spread false and fabricated stories about their own friends
and acquaintances which destroys their reputation in the society. Clearly, the hypocrisy of the upper
class society and their engagement to sophisticated lifestyle is exposed in the play and Sheridan is
satirically attacking the characters personality and behaviour. the exposure of hypocrisy and pretentious
character are exposed in play where such character like Joseph Surface is exposed by Lady Sneerwell
who decleared him as the malicious and hypocritical person she knows because he is in the run to
destroy his won brother Charles. He actually have a false sympathy for Peter Teazle because Teazle
thinks that his wife is having an illicit affair with Charles but it was Joseph who is in love with Mrs.
Teazle.

Love Intrigues–
 young girl married to an old man who has money by which he keeps this young girl and others
engaged. Lady Sneerwell makes fun of such marriage and that’s why she makes the plot.
The plot is a conspiracy which deals with how to make a suspicion in the mind of Sir Peter to separate
him from his wife Lady Teazle. Lady Sneerwell and her company run the school for scandal. During the
uncle’s absence, they make such plot
The theme of love intrigues is another common writing of comedy of manners. In the play, there are so
many characters who are engaged in immoral love affairs despite having relationships and married. This
kind of love affairs is the exposure of love intrigues but are immoral. Lady Sneerwell is in love with
Charles Surface but he is in love with Maria. However, in this intrigue Joseph and Lady Sneerwell is the
active player who tried to destroy other people’s marriage. Joseph wanted to marry Maria because he
knew that she will bring money and riches to him and Lady Sneerwell to Charles by declaring that
Charles will pledge to marry her but the strategy of Lady Sneerwell and Joseph fails. Meantime, Joseph
tried to seduce Mrs. Teazle but he fails because Peter Teazle comes in between.

Witty Dialogues and Speeches–

The witty dialogues and speeches as well as the name of the characters and the very title is witty
in the play. The title justifies Lady Sneerwell’s character and her house as the “The School for Scandal”.
She is assisted by Mr. Snake where the name of the character as a snake implies a negative connotation
of poisoning someone’s reputation and destroying their image in the society. There are many witty
dialogues where the characters uses it to defend themselves against accusations.  Wit means right thing
at the right time. Caricaturing is a part of scandal mongering. One starts and other ends. True wit is from
nature. And the intention behind such wit is to improve the person. For instance, the conversation
between Crabtree and Sir Benjamin about ‘defining’ a woman shows wit at its best. Crabtree remarks
that it is “the oddest countenance”, and “it is a collection of features.” Sir Benjamin tells it to be “an Irish
front.”

Satire on Immorality–
There are attacks on immoral behaviour that starts from the columns of newspaper by Lady
Sneerwell. The immoral and fabricated stories invented by them is satirized by Sheridan who tries to
publish fake and ingenuine stories about other people. There is also an attack on extravagant lifestyle of
Charles and fashion by Mrs. Teazle. Mrs. Teazle is a woman of fashion but it becomes a stire when her
husband mocks at her for spending money over fashion and Charles has a debt and he even tries to clear
off his debts by getting loans and selling family portraits. He is a classic example who showcases the
youth who are in debt.

Repartee:
 It is quick but intelligent response. The conversation between Sir Peter and Lady Teazle is nice
example of repartee.