Women in Restoration Comedy

B. Mrs. Witwoud as victim of male objectification

C. Male control over womenÆs sexuality in Wycherly

D. Male control over womenÆs education in Sheridan

E. WomenÆs expression ôdisguisedö in Congreve

F. A more graphic reality of women in Behn & Etheredge

G. Sexuality as equalizer in Dryden

H. Sir Harbottle Grimstone and defining ômeaningö

I. Sir Harbottle Grimstone and the limitations of ôwordsö to define and express human nature

A. Restoration comedy as harbinger of modern gender relations

B. Then as now: An uneven playing field for women and men

Restoration comedy is a style that developed within English theater beginning around the time of the Restoration in 1660. One major development English theater during this period was the first use of female actors on the stage. Women were particularly employed in the breeches part, a part that was specifically designed so the actor had to wear male clothing. This tight-fitting attire was utilized to display a womanÆs figure to its greatest advantage. While there are many themes running through Restoration comedy, from kingship and aristocracy to libertinism and sexual intrigue, the game of love and marriage preoccupy a central role in a majority of the comedies of the era. Within the game of love and marriage women play a focal role. Despite

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inly women were at a disadvantage in Restoration society regarding power relations with men. On the Restoration stage; however, womenÆs often hidden abilities in society to maintain power over the men found expression in comedy. We see this when, in The Rivals, Sir Anthony discusses how dangerous a literate woman can be to a man, ôLiteracy, Sir Anthony argues, puts an end to female submissiveness. Books proved to be æinjury sufficientÆ to his late wife, and he intends that any successor of hers will be almost completely illiterate: æwere I to choose another help-mate,Æ he says, æthe extent of her erudition should consist in her knowing her simple letters, without their mischievous combinations,Æö (Bacon 427). Intelligent women are less easily controlled, which made them a dangerous prospect to most men during the Restoration era. The women who lived during the Restoration period were typically able to gain power through physical charms, position or wealth. Nevertheless, women who wished to lead a full sexual life, educate themselves, or engage in other behavior that did not conform to the social mores and values of the era often maintained such an internal existence in secret. Such a covert expression was necessary to exist
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