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Unit 20: The School for Scandal: Criticism to the Text and Characterization

(c) Rowley withhold the really important information of the scene until the end Notes
(d) made Sir Oliver hid his identity.
Fill in the blanks:
19. The character Charles Surface is depicted as a young bachelor notorious for his extravagance
and ...... .
20. Lady Sneerwell presides over a ...... composed of Mrs Candour, Crabtree, Sir Benjamin
Backbite, Snake and Joseph.
21. Fooled by Joseph Surface’s pretentions, Sir Peter Teazle promotes a marriage between ......
22. Backbite is gossip who will ......, even those he does not know.
23. Both Sir Peter and Sir Oliver are kindly but Sir Oliver has more common sense and ......
State whether the following statements are true or false:
24. No one in The School for Scandal acts as he does simply because some circumstance compels
him: people act out of their own characters and shape events accordingly.
25. Sneerwell describes Joseph as a rude nave.
26. Sir Peter Teazle is named after the teasel, a thorny and prickly plant which suggests Sir
Peter’s vexatious nature.
27. In the role of tester, Sir Oliver will be the prime mover in the events to follow, as well as a
hero.
28. When Sir Peter Teazle visits Joseph Surface one day, he discovers his wife hiding behind a
screen, whom he now brands as a villain.

20.3 Summary

• Witty, sparkling dialogue is the hallmark of Sheridan’s plays. Everybody including servants
and fops displays wit in The School for Scandal. Even when a leading character such as Sir Peter
Teazle loses his composure while quarreling with his wife and explodes with “Aye, … you
had no taste when you married me!” he does not lose his wit. His lines are of equal wit with
those of his wife, whose earlier words, “If you wanted authority over me, you should have
adopted me, and not married me. I am sure you were old enough.” The whole play is full of
epigrams and aphorism. “Charity begins at home,” is but one of the many that we still cherish
at home. To say the least, Sheridan’s wit is an incessant flame. What distinguishes it from
ordinary wit is that it has inherent charm and grace.
• In addition to his witty and epigrammatic dialogue, Sheridan is skillful in manipulating
intrigues. The Playwright is inventive enough to give us an entertaining story in The School for
Scandal in a vivacious manner which moves us smoothly from one incident to another. He is
a master of good theatre as revealed in the screen scene in the library of Joseph Surface’s
house. The scene is a three ring circus done so well that it does not degenerate into common
broad farce.
• The marvel of Sheridan’s dramatic craft can also be attributed to his application of comic
suspense, the audience gains joy and delight. Knowledge of action does not lessen the
enjoyment because Sheridan adroitly subordinates action to anticipation. Through authentic
portrait, liveliness permeates Sheridan’s characters. Verisimilitude is his own disguise and
masquerading as there is enough inconsequence to suggest realism. As an actor-manager
Sheridan possesses a sensitive feeling for his audience, transforming in action and boredom
into fun and wisdom.

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