Was born 24th of January, 1670

Born in Bardsey, West Yorkshire, England

Most celebrated of the Restoration comedy writers

Playwright and poet

Congreve was educated at Trinity College in Dublin; there he met Jonathan Swift

Artistically, he became a disciple of John Dryden, a poet, playwright and literary critic.

The Old Bachelor (1693)

The Double-Dealer (1693)

“Love for Love” (1695)

The Mourning Bride (1697)

The Way of the World (1700) The most important

Congreve never marriedHe had a romance with Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd

Duchess of Marlborough

Afflicted with poor eyesight for most of his life

He suffered a carriage accident in 1728

William Congreve died on 19 January 1729

He is buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey

Premiered in 1700

ComedyLoveMoney

Restored by Charles II with the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies.

It has been forbiddened by the puritans for 18 years

The comedy has sexual explicity.

Irony and wit

Marrige, relationship, gossip and sex

Politic,society image

The characters were sharply differentiated by their speech patterns and their wit.

The freedom of marriage for women.

Reation against the puritanism

It takes place in the Present.

Comedy of manners

I Love's but the frailty of the mind

When 'tis not with ambition joined;A sickly flame, which if not fed expires,And feeding, wastes in self-consuming fires.

II 'Tis not to wound a wanton boy

Or am'rous youth, that gives the joy;But 'tis the glory to have pierced a swainFor whom inferior beauties sighed in vain.

III Then I alone the conquest prize,

When I insult a rival's eyes;If there's delight in love, 'tis when I seeThat heart, which others bleed for, bleed for me.

Natasha AlexandraLee