CONGREVE IS AN IMPORTANT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENGLISH 'COMEDY OF MANNERS'.

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CONGREVE IS AN IMPORTANT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENGLISH "COMEDY OF MANNERS".MOLIERE IS AN IMPORTANT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRENCH THEATRE.

THEY BOTH MAKE A PICTURE OF THEIR SOCIETY ,ABOVE ALL VICES.COMPARE THE DRAMATIST ,UNDERLINING AT THE END, 525d36f THEIR CONCEPT OF LOVE.

William Congreve is the outstanding writer of the English "comedy of manners". "Comedy of manners" is the witty form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and the vices of a contemporary society. The main theme of the "comedy of manners" was illicit love affairs or similarly scandalous matter.As a matter of fact ,in some work, Congreve wants to show what marriages were at his time.He lived during the Restoration, an agr in which monarchy was restored because people never liked the republic rule of the army. Theatres were

re-opened, nobles lived a frivolous life rich in vices and marriages were arranged. The behaviour of the noble class was against the puritan morality. They liked dancing, playing cards, they enjoyed making love, swearing.

Molière is the most important French dramatist .With "Les precieuse ridicules" he promoted "La comedie des moeurs" which analysed social behaviour. For Molière the rule of all rule is to amuse. His aim is to paint the human nature. His works have a well organized plot , a lot of characters with symbolic names and, like Congreve he make a picture of his society.In his work he denounced the abuses and vices of his society, as a matter of fact his heroes represent a vice which is expressed in is same name.

Congreve and Molière have another common theme :love. Congreve criticizes the idea of love of his period which wanted love and marriage as a social institution ,a bargain arranged by others ,on the contrary he promoted "Love for love",just like Molière who believed that marriage was sacred.