The comedy, as a form of drama is ‘an imitation of action that is complete and of certain magnitude.’ Unlike the tragedy it deals with the lighter side of life. The themes and characters are ‘frivolous.’ The characters are usually drawn from low type of people and are presented worse than they are in ordinary life.
In the comedy, human nature is displayed with all its defects, which are sometimes exaggerated for comic effect. The ugliness that gets exposed in a comedy provokes laughter as the spectator feels a sense of superiority.
The theme presents the spectacle of life in which inferior men perform the action. They are placed in comic circumstances, which reveal their follies and foibles. It ends on a happy note and it aims at social reformation.
Like the tragedy, the comedy may be classical or romantic. The classical comedy is based on the Greek conventions. It observes the three unities – unity of action, place and time. The comedies of Ben Jonson and the Restoration playwrights are classical.
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The romantic comedy does not follow the conventions. The comedies of Shakespeare are mature and romantic. The Merchant of Venice, A Mid Summer Night’s Dream and Taming of the Shrew are some of his important comedies
Ben Jonson wrote the comedy of hum ours in the Elizabethan Age. It is a drama ‘not of action, but of conversation. It treats with indulgent cynicism the hum ours, follies and vices of the world of fashion.
It is urbane, sentimental at times………… and a trifle unreal.’ Its aim is not to preach, though it draws a moral sometimes.
The subject matter of the comedy of manners is follies of the people. It flourished in England in the Restoration era. Congreve and Wycherley made it very popular. The Restoration Period was an age of toppish clubs and illicit love. Life was, in general, sensual and immoral. The comedy of manners was at its height at the hands of Sheridan, to whom manners make people interesting. He satirizes hypocrisy, sentimentality and frivolity in human nature.
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The modern comedy of manners turns mainly upon the trivial complication of love, and has lost its ‘robust humor and wit.’ Somerset Maugham’s initial popularity rests on his comedy of manners. They are based on Love.
Lady Frederick, Mrs. Dot, Our Betters and Home and Beauty are a few of his long list of comedies. Madam Fulton sums up the attitude of modern woman in The Unattainable when she says, ‘After mature consideration I have come to the conclusion that one husband is not enough for one woman……. three more satisfactory – live two days a week with each and have my Sundays to myself.’
There is the comedy of intrigue in the Restoration period. It specializes in situations which arise out of the infidelity in love and marriage. Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer and Sheridan’s The Rivals and The Schools for Scandal are good examples in this regard.
Shaw revived the comedy which was in torpor for nearly a century. Hedwig interested in morals, politics and philosophy and wrote the comedies of ideas. The modern comedy does not hesitate to entertain with dirt, meanness and sexuality. For instance, Charles Dyer’s Staircase deals with homosexuality.