/script> Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona
 
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Llibres de ciència, cultura i actualitat
Febrer
2015
Novetats editorials d’Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona
Dilluns 9 de febrer
«Like the most representative comedies of the 1670s, The Marriage-Hater Matched is set in London. In this case, however, the action moves westwards from the typical locations of Covent Garden and St James to Kensington, where the new court now resided. London provides the standard for polished manners, in contrast with the simple, rude customs of country characters (Sir Lawrence’s family, who constantly refer to their native Shrewsbury). Events last just over one day (in fact, 30 hours, as specifically indicated in the play-text). The plot also displays a series of characteristic features of the comic genre, such as the occurrence of love-triangles which complicate the action: the relationship between Sir Philip, Phoebe/Lovewell and Lady Subtle makes it more difficult for Phoebe to marry Sir Philip, while Solon’s courtship poses an obstacle in Darewell’s attempt at conquering Berenice. And like so many earlier Restoration comedies, it is written entirely in prose, even if the leading characters tend to use rhyming verse to mark their exit, the end of an act or a proverbial saying […]. Rhymed verse (couplets) is employed in both Prologue and Epilogue too.»

»If the great debate in the comedies of the 1670s had been that between humours and wit, in The Marriage-Hater Matched the prevalence of humours over wit is overwhelming. There is little in the way of witty repartee in this work, apart from several exchanges between Sir Philip and Phoebe, Lady Subtle and Sir Philip, and Darewell and Berenice. The only rakish character seems to be Sir Philip, although the fact that he ends up marrying the girl he had debauched and got with child introduces a very significant departure from most previous Restoration rakes and from the moral values underlying the comedy of wit. The two female leads are rather unconventional for this model of comedy too: a widow and an unmarried mother. Both show their wit in their schemes to overreach Sir Philip, but the peculiarities of their situation occasionally make them prey to Sir Philip’s mockery.»


 
 
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