Journal of Northeastern University(Social Science) ›› 2021, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (4): 120-126.DOI: 10.15936/j.cnki.1008-3758.2021.04.016

• Linguistics and Literature • Previous Articles    

Integration and Development of the Characters of English Renaissance Comedy in The Way of the World

ZHU Yuhan1, WU Meiqun2   

  1. (1. College of Foreign Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; 2. School of Foreign Languages, Changsha University, Changsha 410022, China)
  • Published:2021-07-30
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Abstract: The aristocratic gentleman in Romantic Comedy and the witty trickster in Satirical Comedy are the main characters in the traditions of English Renaissance Comedy. However, the aristocratic gentleman is kind and nice but unable to solve dramatic conflicts whereas the witty trickster is clever and resourceful but somewhat coarse and uncivil. In his famous comedy The Way of the World, William Congreve creates a new character-Mirabell, a capitalist gentleman, by developing the good characteristics of traditional protagonists in English Renaissance Comedy, emulating qualities mentioned in Some Thoughts Concerning Education and impersonating the spirit of contract. He is not only as gentle and noble as an aristocratic gentleman but also as sophisticated and shrewd as a witty trickster. In the comedy, Mirabell outwits the wicked opponent by contract, punishing the evil and praising the good. This character is not only the innovation of Congreve but also the embodiment of the period.

Key words: aristocratic gentleman; witty trickster; The Way of the World; Some Thoughts Concerning Education; capitalist gentleman

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