Product Description

Wycherley's comedy of marriage and infidelity is accompanied by a new introduction which illuminates matters of language and of dramatic and theatrical artistry for readers, theatre-goers and play-makers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41714 in Books
• Published on: 1991-03-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

restoration comedy rings true today to AS students
Naive little Margery Pinchwife, the eponymous country wife, hotly pursues roue Horner in this Restoration comedy. Town breeding versus country bumpkinry, true love (of a fashion) versus immoderate lust, disguise and deception of the lewdest kind are the generic ingredients which Wycherley weaves into a plot considered masterly of its kind. The world of the Restoration is conveyed in language that shows the playwright's keen ear for wit and polish, and, to the 21st century reader seems depressingly familiar. Materialistic, socially exclusive and preoccupied with sex, Wycherley's heroes are far from admirable characters. They strut the stage, satirical about women who only value their public reputations and about men who believe in them. Foolishness in all its forms is their target. The women (bar one, Alithea) are mercenary, immoral and hypocritical. As satire, The Country Wife lacks the energy and fierce catharsis of Jonson's work; Wycherley's railers remain self-satisfied in their viciousness. Set for AQA Syllabus A AS level Ken Bush's edition has plentry of room for note making, and easily understandable notes opposite the text to clarify language usage and point dramatic significance. There are also very valuable Resource Notes at the back of the text for teachers and students. These fill in biographical and historical details, include a useful time line and contain a series of activities appropriate to students working at this level whether in groups or individually.

Bawdy Restoration comedy.
Wycherley's comedy is firmly of the restoration period, a bawdy and sometimes lewd play, one could quite easily imagine Sid James, Barbara Windsor et al in the leading roles! On another level it could be argued that this play is commenting more seriously on the free-and-easy atmosphere of Restoration England.