Restoration Comedy is a type of Restoration Drama, which is related with the manners and attitudes of the characters and what the audience laugh at them after the pursuit of sex and money. In a way, the Comedy of Manners is a witty, and cerebral form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and affectations of a contemporary society. A comedy of manners is concerned with social usage and the question of whether or not characters meet certain social standards. The plot of such a comedy, usually concerned with an illicit love affair or similarly scandalous matter, is subordinate to the play's brittle atmosphere, witty dialogue, criticism and commentary on human foibles. “The Way of the World” which is written by William Congreve, is a restoration comedy play with its witty dialogues between the characters, criticism of the upper class people’s manners and also satiric and effective scenes such as lady and maid; unmasking scene of male libertine and proviso scene that ends in a lyrical celebration of unity.

“The Way of the World” (1700), in fact “a world of wit and pleasure inhabited by persons of quality and deformed neither by realism nor by f

Love may be the basis of their relationship, as Mirabell appears honest; however, their alliance is a sterile romance, devoid of the "touchy, feely stuff," which we hope for in a courtship. Mirabell and Millamant are two wits perfect for each other in the battle of the sexes; nevertheless, the pervading sterility and greed reverberates as the relationship between the two wits becomes much more confusing. But then, that is the way of the world. In this situation, it can be assumed that the Restoration Period was the period of logic and wit instead of sense and emotions. Maybe, that is why William Congreve, as a passionate unmarried man, became a successful restoration period playwright who had the abilities of using a perfect and witty language, showing the importance of logic, criticising the behaviours of upper class people and also making satire in terms of the aspects of the period, in “The Way of the World.” As Congreve created these characters to behave according to the a!

So, it is obvious that there is the aspects of the hypocrisy, selfishness, and ungratefulness of the characters who called “upper class” and “aristocrats” in society. As the result, it can be said that, the satire and criticism of these selfish and proud characters are derived from the characteristics of Restoration Comedy.

spects of the period and comedy of manners; such an explanation is given for the reason of the situation: “Why in the play Mirabell should want to saddle himself with Millamant; they want each other because they do; it is a given that the audience understands because the performers cast in the roles have been chosen so as to make it subsconsciously obvious they are made for each other.” (Hume, Robert D. The Rakish Stage: Studies in English Drama, 1660-1800. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1983.)Probably, this is another aspect of Restoration comedy according to the conditions of the period.

“Mirabell: You are very free with your friend’s acquaintance.

arce” (Congreve, p.401) which has come to be regarded as one of the great comedies in the English language. The plays of Congreve are considered the greatest achievement of Restoration comedy. They are comedies of manners, depicting an artificial and narrow world as explained above, peopled by characters of nobility and fashion, to whom manners, especially gallantry, are more

Some topics in this essay:
William Congreve, Lady Wishfort, Mirabell Witwoud, Comedy Besides, Restoration Comedy, Comedy Manners, Mirabell Millamant’s, Press Ltd, University Press, Millamant Mirabell, restoration comedy, comedy manners, “the world”, upper class, lady wishfort, male libertine, scene male libertine, scene male, audience laugh, unmasking scene, william congreve, unmasking scene male, class people’s manners, upper class people’s, criticism upper class,