International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) International Open Access Journal ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume - 2 | Issue – 3 Form of Sentimentalism in Sheridan’s “The Rivals” T. Thilagavathi, T. Poornima, M. Priyanga MA. English, Nadar Saraswathi College of Arts and Science, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT The literary history, Sheridan belongs to the period Malaprop, from whose amusingly in appropriate which was designed as the age of Johnson which was word usage the term “malapropism” was derived. also alternatively called the age of Transition. During Sheridan's libretto for the light opera The the age of Johnson his throne as classical dictator of Duenna landscapes characters and incidents the age was already tottering to its fall as rebellion drawn from Roman New Comedy and ends with against his authority was rife in spite of his attempt to a double marriage happily realized despite the stamp it out. Sheridan occupies an important position opposition of DonJerome the play's heavy father in the history of English drama. He was certainly the symbol. Another of Sheridan's minor works, the most important dramatist of the eighteenth century, nonsensical St. Patrick's Day; or The Scheming and some critics give him the second place after Lieutenant exists very much in the mode of The Shakespeare. Thus Balston has remarked in his Rivals and endeavors to amuse audiences with its introduction to The Rival, of the only three plays in affable, if outrageous, characters. The School for the English Language besides those of Shakespeare, Scandal is both the most popular of Sheridan's which have achieved permanent popularity, two, The comedies and the most strongly evocative of the School for Scandal and The Rival are by Sheridan the Restoration period. This attack on a conversation third She Stoops to Conquer, was by Oliver loving society demonstrates Sheridan's brilliant Goldsmith. However long the interval the name of display of wit in its sharp indictment of manners that Sheridan comes second to Shakespeare’s on the role departs considerably from the gentle tone and of English dramatists. approach of The Rivals. The story follows double Keywords: Sentimental comedy, humour, artificial plot as it portrays the manipulative Lady Sneer well, comedy, achievements of comedy. the hypocritical Joseph Surface, the naïve trendsetter Lady Teazle, the testy Sir Peter Teasel, INTRODUCTION and the reformed libertine Charles Surface, among Thomas Brinsley Sheridan was an Irish playwright, many other comic figures. Heavily influenced by librettist, and poet. The following entry presents the Duke of Buckingham's The recent criticism of Sheridan's works. Throughout his Rehearsal, Sheridan’s The Critic; or, brief career as a playwright, Sheridan assisted recover Tragedy Rehearsed provides a satirical look at the the English Restoration comedy of manners, which theatrical world and caricature was a conceit of portrays the amorous intrigues of wealthy society. artists and critics. In his comic drama The Rivals Sheridan parodies th manners using humor that was pointed but never Comedy in 18 Century: cruel. Essentially an ironic play about character, The A dramatic genre of the 18th century, representing Rivals presents a number of ridiculous individuals plays in which middle-class heroes successfully and then proceeds to laughter their flaws and overcome a series of moral trials. Such comedy meant peculiarities. Among its range of characters, the at producing tears rather than laughter. Sentimental play introduces the infamous figure of Mrs. comedies reflected contemporary philosophical @ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 3 | Mar-Apr 2018 Page: 839 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 conceptions of humans as integrally good but capable lovers and honest servants. That was what they of being controlled a field through corrupt example. discover in the typical sentimental Drama of the late eighteenth century. They are in the world of drama, The restoration comedy was extremely limited in not of comedy; in the realm of emotion, not of the scope. It catered to a world predominantly concerned intellect. with sex. It was artificial not natural because it was preoccupied with superficial manners rather than with Before Goldsmith and Sheridan appeared on the the profound realities of life. But it was true to the scene, there had been a decline of the spirit of true spirit of mirth and amusement it was gay witty comedy of which the best advocate was Congreve. satirical highly amusing but it did not make the The comedy of Manners, so popular in the slightest attempt at honorable teaching. When the Restoration period, was now quickly disintegrating. It stalwarts of the Restoration Comedy such as became much too abrasive, reproduction and Congreve Wycherley, Farquhar etc., they finished transparently immoral. Its hero became the young their works the comedy of manners degenerated. It gallant who was seemingly immoral and its heroine, a became completely immoral. The hero became the woman of fashion who had no sound moral young gallant who did not believe in moral principles. philosophies to go through. Surely, such a state of The heroine also became the witty young woman of things could not last long. Towards the beginning of fashion who was definitely not a great respecter of the eighteenth century, revolt of feeling set in against morals. All this could not last forever. A change in this type of roughness and wickedness and a change tone was inevitable. All this came by the force of in tone and moral viewpoint was soon apparent. Great public opinion, ultimately ushering in a new way of social and economic changes also exaggerated the life with new standards of conduct giving rise to the affluences of English comedy with the rise of the sentimental comedy which abolished laughter from its middle class. Matters soon came to a head with the legitimate place while tears filled the emptiness. publication of Jeremy Collier’s ‘short view of the profaneness and Wickedness of the English Stage’ in Sheridan’s Dramatic Techniques In “The Rivals”: 1698, which gave appearance to the middle- class protest against the grossness into which the Sheridan’s main object of writing plays was to Restoration Comedy of Manners had destroyed. By provide entertainment to his audience. It was Ben the middle of the eighteenth century the Sentimental Jonson who popularized the theory of humours. The Comedy had fully recognized itself on the English ruling passion or preponderant of a person was stage. Its characteristics became more clearly defined presented in an exaggerated from in the play of Ben and the process of moral reformation was carried a Jonson. To a certain extent Sheridan follows this step further when wit and humour were completely practice in this play “THE RIVAL”. That was why he replaced by ‘concious moralization’ and the comedy lacks the high seriousness and the depth of became professedly moral in its purpose and outlook. Shakespeare with whom he stands no comparison. But In the works of such writers as Hugh Kelly and to condemn as has often been done because he was Richard Cumberland there was little life of the true trivial and superficial because he arouses on deep spirit of comedy. Naturally a reaction began to be emotion and thought was to condemn all irresponsible visible in the domain of drama against growing amusement. sentimentalism. Sentimentalism drama was the eighteenth century emigrant laughter from its genuine place and This reaction against Sentimental Comedy gradually introduced tears to fill the emptiness. The Sentimental resulted in the revival of the Comedy of Manners in a drama simply celebrated in the additional of despair new setting. The pioneers of this reaction were and upset situation in which offended purity was held Goldsmith and Sheridan who declared an open revolt up to draw forth the understanding tears of the against the systematic attempts of advocates of the audience. Forcing light on the fashion of such drama, sentimental comedy to kill the comic muse. A. Nicoll observes ‘Comedy had departed from its Goldsmith registered his protest in his essay ‘on the original home. In the place of laughter tears in place Theatre’ and then illustrated his views in a comedy, of laughter tears in place of conspiracy dramatic and The Good – natured Man. But it was for Sheridan to distressing condition in place of languages, gallants project the protest with greater force in his three and entertaining damsels, tragic heroines and serious @ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 3 | Mar-Apr 2018 Page: 840 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 plays, The School for Scandal, The Rivals, and The Mrs. Malaprop as an “old weather-beaten, she- Critic. dragon” is most comical. The Rivals was an artificial Comedy of Manners. But One of the most outstanding features of “The Rivals” it was totally devoid of sentimentalism. Of course, was humorous dialogue. The manner in which Sir Sheridan has tried to satirize the heroine of Anthony snubs and scolds his son for disobeying his sentimental comedy in the person of Lydia Languish wishes, the manner in which Captain Complete deals who was ready to die with disappointment when the with Mrs. Malaprop when he meets her first, and Sir prettiest distress imaginable and the prospect of one of Lucius manner of industry with Lands when he the most sentimental elopements seem about to fade teachesExpanses in the rules of struggling is also into the common light of convention a ceremony. So witty.Humorous and ludicrous situations are also in the main plot Sheridan attempts to carry out his generally found in a comedy of manner. Captain challenge to perfection.