Page 263 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA
P. 263
Unit 20: The School for Scandal: Criticism to the Text and Characterization
Sir Oliver Surface Notes
Wealthy uncle of Charles and Joseph Surface. After returning to England from the East Indies, he
disguises himself to find out the truth about his nephews. Sir Oliver, appearing in ten of the fourteen
scenes of the play, is instrumental to the development of the characterization. Once he makes his
entrance in the third scene of the second act, he is never again off the stage for more than part of a
scene.
The antiquity of the business of testing character would make a role such as Sir Oliver’s easily
recognizable to the audience. In the role of tester, Sir Oliver will be the prime mover in the events to
follow, but not necessarily the hero, that role devolving upon Charles. Sir Oliver well demonstrates
an ability to see the unfortunate side of his friend’s marriage.
He began by laughing at the stock comic situation reminiscent of the Country
Wife:
“So my old friend is married, hey?—a young wife out of the country—ha! Ha! Ha!”
But he shows compassion for the personal situation upon being appraised of it by Rowley. In all
essentials, Sir Oliver represents the vigorous proponent of truth and good humor. Such a man could
be Peter Teazle before he made the mistake of marrying a young wife.
To make a comparison between Sir Peter and Sir Oliver, both are kindly. But Sir Oliver has more
common sense and broader humanity. Sir Peter is slightly self-centered. It is likely that his love for
humanity was tempered by his frequent maulings by the social backbiters. Yet he is fair and not too
exacting in his dealings with his wife whose inclination to an expensive gaiety is all too human.
20.2.2 General Criticism of all the Minor Characters
Sheridan makes each character embody a single trait in order to show the follies of London’s
fashionable life in the late eighteenth century. The significance of this type of characterization is
evident in the very names which Sheridan gives his actors.
Sir Benjamin Backbite is just that—a clawing, “catty kind of man.” Premium reminds us of the extra
bonus or high interest which a money lender or a usurer would exact from a borrower. Careless is
careless of his tongue. Snake, who is called Spatter in an earlier draft of the play, is a snake in the
grass, darting his poisonous tongue at anybody for a price. The supposedly virtuous Mrs Candour
with her assumed sweetness of disposition is ironically named. Lady Sneerwell, the attractive widow,
is an unpleasant, vindictive scandalmonger, retaliating on the world. She knows no pleasure equal
to the reducing others to the level of [her] own injured reputation. Trip plays the fop and is a burlesque
exaggeration of his master’s vices. Moses is set as a Jewish moneylender with canting speech.
Maria
Desirable and wealthy young ward of Sir Peter Teazle. She is a woman of principle who refuses to
gossip.
Lady Sneerwell
Young widow of a knight. She is attracted to Charles Surface and plots with Joseph Surface to break
up Charles and Maria.
Snake
Cat’s paw of Lady Sneerwell. He spreads false rumors designed to help Lady Sneerwell achieve her
goals.
LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 257