Satire on the Aristocratic Society– The play gives a direct attack on the superficial engagement of the upper class society on gossips, hypocrisy and self-interestedness. The characters such as Lady Sneerwell , Mrs Candour, Sir Benjamin Backbite and Mr Crabtree loves to spread false and fabricated stories about their own friends and acquaintances which destroys their reputation in the society. Clearly, the hypocrisy of the upper class society and their engagement to sophisticated lifestyle is exposed in the play and Sheridan is satirically attacking the characters personality and behaviour. the exposure of hypocrisy and pretentious character are exposed in play where such character like Joseph Surface is exposed by Lady Sneerwell who decleared him as the malicious and hypocritical person she knows because he is in the run to destroy his won brother Charles. He actually have a false sympathy for Peter Teazle because Teazle thinks that his wife is having an illicit affair with Charles but it was Joseph who is in love with Mrs. Teazle.
Love Intrigues– The theme of love intrigues is another common writing of comedy of manners. In the play, there are so many characters who are engaged in immoral love affairs despite having relationships and married. This kind of love affairs is the exposure of love intrigues but are immoral. Lady Sneerwell is in love with Charles Surface but he is in love with Maria. However, in this intrigue Joseph and Lady Sneerwell is the active player who tried to destroy other people’s marriage. Joseph wanted to marry Maria because he knew that she will bring money and riches to him and Lady Sneerwell to Charles by declaring that Charles will pledge to marry her but the strategy of Lady Sneerwell and Joseph fails. Meantime, Joseph tried to seduce Mrs. Teazle but he fails because Peter Teazle comes in between.
Witty Dialogues and Speeches– The witty dialogues and speeches as well as the name of the characters and the very title is witty in the play. The title justifies Lady Sneerwell’s character and her house as the “The School for Scandal”. She is assisted by Mr. Snake where the name of the character as a snake implies a negative connotation of poisoning someone’s reputation and destroying their image in the society. There are many witty dialogues where the characters uses it to defend themselves against accusations.
Satire on Immorality– There are attacks on immoral behaviour that starts from the columns of newspaper by Lady Sneerwell. The immoral and fabricated stories invented by them is satirized by Sheridan who tries to publish fake and ingenuine stories about other people. There is also an attack on extravagant lifestyle of Charles and fashion by Mrs. Teazle. Mrs. Teazle is a woman of fashion but it becomes a stire when her husband mocks at her for spending money over fashion and Charles has a debt and he even tries to clear off his debts by getting loans and selling family portraits. He is a classic example who showcases the youth who are in debt.
Sheridan The Rivals as a Comedy of Manners
