Comedy of manners

Comedy of Manners Vs Comedy of senses of Humours

There are, of course, many similarities between the Comedy of Manners and the Comedy of Humours. Both are based on reality. Both commonly attack anti-social elements and both are sarcastic, but the difference between the two is so much clear that there is no scope for doubt. The Comedy of Manners makes fun of those weaknesses which occur, while the Comedy of Humour characterizes the inherent nature of human nature. 

what is Comedy of manners

Comedy of manners is a type of comedy that emphasizes the social behavior of a particular class or group of people, often with a focus on the foibles and pretensions of the upper classes. The term “manners” refers to the social norms and conventions that govern behavior within a particular social group, such as the aristocracy or the bourgeoisie.

Comedy of manners often features witty dialogue, clever wordplay, and subtle satire to poke fun at the social conventions and pretensions of the characters. These comedies typically take place in urban settings and often involve romantic entanglements and social intrigue.

The genre of comedy of manners has its roots in the Restoration era of English theater in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, with notable works including William Congreve’s “The Way of the World” and Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s “The School for Scandal.” However, the genre has continued to be popular in various forms throughout the centuries, including in modern film and television.

Comedy of Manners examples

Comedy of manners is a type of play that satirizes the manners and affectations of a particular social class. It often features witty dialogue, clever situations, and characters with revealing names. Comedy of manners plays often expose the hypocrisy, frivolity, superficiality, and money-mindedness of the aristocracy.

Here are some examples of comedy of manners plays:

  • The Way of the World by William Congreve
  • The Country Wife by William Wycherley
  • The Rivals by R.B. Sheridan
  • The School for Scandal by R.B. Sheridan
  • She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith

These plays all feature the elements of comedy of manners, such as witty dialogue, clever situations, and characters with revealing names. They also all expose the hypocrisy, frivolity, superficiality, and money-mindedness of the aristocracy.

Comedy of Manners plays are often very funny, but they can also be quite scathing in their criticism of the upper classes. They can be a valuable tool for understanding the social and political issues of the time in which they were written.

What is comedy of humours?

The comedy of humours is a type of comedy that was popular in the 17th century. It was developed by English playwrights such as Ben Jonson and Thomas Middleton and was based on the theory of the four humours, which held that the human body was composed of four basic substances: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.

The theory of the four humours suggested that a person’s character was determined by the balance of these substances in their body. For example, a person with too much blood was thought to be sanguine, or cheerful and optimistic, while a person with too much black bile was thought to be melancholic, or sad and pessimistic.

In comedy of humours, the characters were often exaggerated versions of these humours. They were presented as caricatures with one dominant humour that dictated their behavior, speech, and actions. The humor in the plays came from the clashes and conflicts that arose from the interactions of these characters with each other and with the world around them.

Overall, the comedy of humours was a form of social commentary that used satire and parody to poke fun at the follies and vices of society, while also highlighting the importance of balance and moderation in human behavior.

Comedy of humours examples in literature

Comedy of humors is a genre of drama that focuses on the eccentricities and excesses of characters. It was most closely associated with the English playwright Ben Jonson in the late 16th century. The term comes from the Latin word “humor” (more properly “umor”), meaning “liquid,” and its use in medieval and Renaissance medical theory that the human body was composed of four fluids or humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.

Some examples of comedy of humors in literature include:

  • Volpone by Ben Jonson
  • Everyman in His Humour by Ben Jonson
  • The Alchemist by Ben Jonson
  • All Fools by Chapman
  • A Trick to Catch the Old One by Middleton
  • A New Way to Pay Old Debts by Massinger
  • The Squire of Alsatia by Shadwell
  • Bury Fair by Shadwell

In these plays, the characters are often exaggerated and represent one of the four humors. For example, a character who is full of blood might be hot-tempered and impulsive, while a character who is full of phlegm might be slow and lazy.

Difference between Comedy of manners and Comedy of Humours

The Comedy of Manners deals with the superficial characteristics of man, while the Comedy of Humours analyzes the inner feelings of the human heart. Humour may also be used in plays written by playwrights worthy of the Comedy of Manners, but they are not emphasized so much as those in their plays that follow the example of Ben Jonson.

The comedy of manners and the comedy of humours are both types of comedy that focus on the behavior and manners of the characters. However, there are some key differences between the two:

  1. Characters: The comedy of manners typically features characters from the upper or middle classes, who are often depicted as shallow, self-absorbed, and hypocritical. The comedy of humours, on the other hand, focuses on characters with exaggerated or extreme humours (personality traits) that determine their behavior and actions.
  2. Setting: The comedy of manners is often set in a sophisticated, urban setting, such as a salon or a ballroom, where the characters interact with each other and display their manners and social graces. The comedy of humours, on the other hand, can be set in any location, as the focus is on the characters’ humours rather than their social setting.
  3. Plot: The comedy of manners often revolves around the characters’ scheming and manipulations to achieve social and financial success, while the comedy of humours focuses on the characters’ efforts to balance their humours and achieve a state of equilibrium.
  4. Tone: The comedy of manners is often satirical and cynical in tone, poking fun at the hypocrisy and superficiality of the upper classes. The comedy of humours, on the other hand, tends to be more lighthearted and whimsical in tone, with the characters’ exaggerated humours providing the main source of comedy.

 Comedy of Manners is found in our humorous characters, while Jonson displays them in all his supporting characters. The meaning of humour in these two comedies also varies. In Jonson’s plays, the humour is meant to magnify the characteristics of characters, while in the Comedy of Manners, it refers to the superficial oddities that come to humans through the various restrictions and behaviors of social life.

The Comedy of Humour was composed by English scholars who were following a moralistic gimmick in the back, while the Comedy of Manners was inspired by French artists, in particular Moliere. The depth and intensity of Comedy of Humour are not seen in Comedy of Manners.

 While Jonson has taken up the weaknesses of his time and tried to correct them through his writing, at the same time Comedy of Manners only presents an unusual form of the fashionable life of his time. The intensity of Jonson’s ideas was refined and corrected by Congreve in the intelligent-controlled way in which he moved the momentum wisely. The Comedy of Humour is universal in itself, as it expresses a high level of morality. The Comedy of Manners, on the other hand, displays a hatred for the simple level of morality. Its significance is hopeful, as it shows only the superficial aspect of life at a particular time.

Jonson’s comedy is a satirical comedy, while the Comedy of Manners is certainly a comedy of intelligence. The rigor and satire are found more in the Comedy of Humour rather in the Comedy of Manners. This type of comedy is fragile. It emphasizes the satirical display of the incompatibility between two thoughts and one idea and action by the power of intelligence. Both have different writing methods.

 Ben Jonson’s writing style is poetic and emotional, while the style of the practitioners of Comedy of Manners is cultured, intelligent, and littered with literally complex techniques. In fact, the difference between the two types of comedy is in – according to Bonamy Dobree –  the art of showing on stage, rather in the view of. The characters in Humour’ comedy reveal some more vibrancy. Restoration comedy is the creation of the younger generation, the freshness is full and powerful but it also has a sense of easy irresponsibility for the younger generation. 

Who is known as comedy of humours?

The comedy of humours is a type of comedy that was popular in Elizabethan England, especially in the works of William Shakespeare. In this type of comedy, the characters are defined by a dominant personality trait or “humour” that determines their behavior and actions.

Shakespeare is perhaps the most well-known writer of the comedy of humours, and many of his plays, such as “The Comedy of Errors,” “As You Like It,” and “Twelfth Night,” feature characters with exaggerated or extreme humours.

Other writers of the Elizabethan era, such as Ben Jonson and John Marston, also wrote comedies of humours. The comedy of humours was a popular form of comedy in Elizabethan England, and it can still be found in modern works of comedy that depict characters with exaggerated or dominant personality traits.

What is Comedy of Manners?

Comedy of Manners is a type of comedy that satirizes the social behaviors of the upper class.

What is Comedy of Senses?

Comedy of Senses is a type of comedy that relies on physical humor and often incorporates exaggerated or absurd situations.

How do the Comedy of Manners and the Comedy of Senses differ?

Comedy of Manners focuses on satirizing social behaviors, while Comedy of Senses relies on physical humor.

Can a work of comedy fall into both Comedy of Manners and Comedy of Senses categories?

Yes, some works of comedy incorporate both elements of the Comedy of Manners and the Comedy of Senses.

What are some examples of works that fall into the category of Comedy of Manners?

Some examples of Comedy of Manners include u0022The Importance of Being Earnestu0022 by Oscar Wilde and u0022Pride and Prejudiceu0022 by Jane Austen.

What are some examples of works that fall into the category of Comedy of Senses?

Some examples of Comedy of Senses include u0022Airplane!u0022 and u0022Naked Gunu0022 movies.

How do these types of comedy reflect the society of their time?

Comedy of Manners reflects the social norms and behaviors of the upper class in the time period it was written. Comedy of Senses often reflects the popular culture and societal values of the time.

Which type of comedy is more popular today?

Comedy of Senses is often more popular in modern times, as it has a wider appeal and is more accessible to a general audience. However, the Comedy of Manners still has a dedicated following and continues to be performed and studied.