R.B. Sheridan's "A School For Scandal": a play in a colonial context

Term Paper (Advanced seminar) , 2004 , 14 Pages , Grade: 2,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

This paper shall analyse Richard Brinsley Sheridan`s play “The School for Scandal”. This drama was first performed in 1776 in London’s Drury Lane Theatre, and was a cultural part of the colonization process in India.
The aim of the first chapter is to provide some background information about Sheridan and his time, and also serves to explain the role which the concept of the sentimental comedy played during the time it was first performed in London. The main focus here, however, is to explore the differences as well as the comparable elements with other comedy genres.
The second chapter deals with the production of “The School for Scandal” which was first performed in Calcutta in 1777. Here it seem appropriate to analise the motives behind the exportation of British culture into the colony and to find out more about the commercial as well as the cultural aspects.
An important source of information in reference to this production is the Folger manuscript; a handwritten copy of the play complete with stage directions, which had been used at the New Playhouse in Calcutta. It is necessary to mention here that this Folger manuscript “recovered” by Mita Choudhury, whose essay about the production of “The School for Scandal” is the main source for the second part of this paper. The aim of this chapter however, is not to summarise her work, but rather to approach her argumentation critically.
The last part of the paper deals with the question whether or not there is a connection between the play and the process of colonialism in Calcutta in terms of the production itself and its content. It also examines the part which colonialism plays within the drama, with regards to its moral and financial aspects.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• "The School for Scandal"- a sentimental comedy?
• "The School for Scandal" in Calcutta
  • The Production
• The Importance of “The School for Scandal”
• Conclusion
• Works Cited

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to analyze Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play "The School for Scandal" in the context of its production in Calcutta, India, during the 18th century. The paper explores the play's relationship to the sentimental comedy genre, examines the motives behind the exportation of British culture to the colony, and investigates the play's connection to the process of colonialism in Calcutta.

• The role of sentimental comedy in 18th-century London and its influence on Sheridan's work
• The production of "The School for Scandal" in Calcutta and its cultural and commercial significance
• The relationship between the play and the process of colonialism in Calcutta
• The moral and financial aspects of colonialism as reflected in the play
• The use of character types and themes from restoration comedy in Sheridan's work

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The first chapter provides background information about Sheridan and his time, exploring the role of sentimental comedy in 18th-century London. It examines the differences and similarities between sentimental comedy and other comedy genres, highlighting Sheridan's unique approach to the genre.

The second chapter focuses on the production of "The School for Scandal" in Calcutta in 1777. It analyzes the motives behind the exportation of British culture to the colony and explores the commercial and cultural aspects of the production. The chapter draws upon the Folger manuscript, a handwritten copy of the play used in Calcutta, and critically examines Mita Choudhury's essay on the production.

Schlüsselwörter

The key themes and keywords of this text include Richard Brinsley Sheridan, "The School for Scandal," sentimental comedy, restoration comedy, colonialism, Calcutta, British culture, cultural exchange, and the Folger manuscript.

• College: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Institut für Anglistik)
• Course: Seminar
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Miriam Dunja Berraissoul (Author)
• Publication Year: 2004
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V114766
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640162185
• ISBN (Book): 9783640163991
• Language: English
• Tags: Sheridan, School, Scandal, Seminar