Restoration dramaHeroic tragedy: high milieu, nations depend on actions of superhero, conflict love-duty; loyalty; heroic coupletsNeo-classical tragedy: strict structure, 3 unities, violence off stage, bank verse, very often turgid. Spanish intrigue comedy: disguises, mistaken identities

Restoration drama

• Comedy of manners: satirical, witty repartee, wits vs wit-woulds; character stereotpyes: rake, witty heroine, fop, country fool, lustful old woman, senile old husband/suitor, love = sexual lust, not romantic involvement

• Tastes changed at the turn of the century.

Restoration women dramatists

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle:The Convent of Pleasure

Katherine Philips, „the matchless Orinda“

Aphra Behn 1640?-89In her youth went to Surinam?Married a Dutch merchant?Went to Netherlands as a spyWrote 15-19 playsThe Rover 1677Feign‘d Courtesans 1679The Lucky Chance 1686The Widdow Ranter 1689

Aphra Behn

• Love-Letters between a Nobleman to his Sister (1684)

• The Fair Jilt (1688)• Oroonoko (1688)