Oliver Goldsmith: The Master of Laughing Comedy

Hareshwar Roy,
Oliver Goldsmith: The Master of Laughing Comedy

Oliver Goldsmith is a prominent literary figure of the 18th century. He is a poet, novelist and essayist. But his contribution to the field of drama makes him special. In an era dominated by the sentimental comedy, Goldsmith emerged as a champion of ‘laughing comedy’. It is a style that aims to provoke genuine laughter through witty dialogue and realistic situations. His contributions revolutionized English theatre. He is appreciated in the entire world even today.

A Brief Glimpse into His Life:

Born in Ireland around 1728, Oliver Goldsmith's early life was marked by struggle. He was an aimless student. In the beginning of his career he chose medicine and law to study. But finally he embraced writing as his career. His travels across Europe on foot exposed him to a wide range of human experiences. Later these experiences became the rich source material for his literary works. Despite his financial hardships, he was known for his generous spirit and kind nature. He was a founding member of ‘The Club'. It was an exclusive literary circle. Literary giants like Samuel Johnson and Edmund Burke were also the members of this circle. Goldsmith's life was full of color and character like his plays. He died in 1774 in London.

His Popular Plays:

Goldsmith's dramatic legacy rests on two major works. The Good-Natur'd Man (1768) is his first play. It explores the theme of excessive generosity. The protagonist of this play is Honeywood. He is so good-natured that he becomes a victim of his own kindness and the deception of others. She Stoops to Conquer (1773) is Undoubtedly his masterpiece. This play is a timeless classic. It tells the story of two young men, Charles Marlow and George Hastings. By mistake they lose their way and consider a country house as an inn. This central misunderstanding leads to a series of hilarious confusions and comical situations, particularly for the shy Marlow, who can only talk to lower-class women.

Themes of His Plays:

Goldsmith's plays are a reaction against the sentimental comedies of his time. He criticizes it for being too serious and moralizing. He believes that the purpose of comedy should be entertainment and exposure of human follies. It should not play the role of a preacher. His themes often revolve around the contrast between appearance and reality. Characters often behave differently than they seem. In his plays Goldsmith satirizes those who pretend to be something they are not. He champions genuine kindness and simplicity over artificial sentimentality and social pretenses.

His Art of Characterization:

Goldsmith's characters are multi-dimensional figures. They are real individuals with both good and bad qualities. Goldsmith creates a delightful gallery of memorable characters. Tony Lumpkin from She Stoops to Conquer is a perfect example of a mischievous and fun-loving country boy. Despite his pranks, he is fundamentally harmless and good-natured. Charles Marlow is a shy protagonist of the same play. He is a man who is tongue-tied around women of his own social class but flirts with servants. Miss Hardcastle is not just a typical romantic heroine. She is a clever young woman who takes charge of her own destiny by 'stooping' to a lower social position to win her suitor's heart.

His Art of Plot Making:

Goldsmith’s plots are masterfully constructed. To drive the action forward, the dramatist uses dramatic devices like misunderstandings and coincidences. The plot of She Stoops to Conquer is a brilliant example of a simple setup. By mistake a country house is taken for an inn. This mistake creates a cascade of hilarious complications. Goldsmith's plots are the result of the small human interactions.

His Style of Writing:

Goldsmith's writing style is known for its wit, elegance, and clarity. His dialogue is natural and lively. He avoids the flowery and formal language. His humor is not malicious. It is gentle and satirical. its chief aim is to correct human flaws with a smile rather than a harsh rebuke. His prose is a pleasure to read.

A Lasting Legacy:

In an age of stiff moralizing, Goldsmith reminded us that laughter is a powerful tool. He brought back the joy and vitality to the stage and proved that comedy doesn't need to be preachy to be meaningful. His She Stoops to Conquer is a testament to his genius. Oliver Goldsmith wasn't just a dramatist but he was a revolutionary. He left an indelible mark on the history of theatre.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

Translate

Popular Posts

JOHN DONNE AS A METAPHYSICAL POET

Hareshwar Roy,
INTRODUCTION: John Donne is the leader and founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry. His poetry is a revolt against the popular current. First of all Dryden used the term ' Metaphysical' for Donne's poetry. He said,' Donne affects the metaphysics'. Later on Dr. Johnson called Donne and his followers 'the metaphysical poets'. Since then the word metaphysical has been used for Donne and his followers. WHAT IS METAPHYSICAL POETRY: The term metaphysics means something supernatural and transcendental. Its sense is 'what is beyond physical'. It is concerned with fundamental problems of life and death and soul even after death. The term metaphysical poetry means poetry dealing with metaphysical subjects. These subjects are - nature of universe, movements of stars and planets and the whole relationship of man to God. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS: We should cast a glance at the main characteristics of metaphysical poetry before we proceed to examine Donne a...
Read more

The Axe by R.K.Narayan: Text & Summary

Hareshwar Roy,
An astrologer passing through the village foretold that Velan would live in a three-storeyed house surrounded by many acres of garden. At this everybody gathered round young Velan and made fun of him. For Koppal did not have a more ragged and godforsaken family than Velan’s. His father had mortgaged every bit of property he had, and worked, with his whole family, on other people’s lands in return for a few annas a week . . . A three-storeyed house for Velan indeed! . . . But the scoffers would have congratulated the astrologer if they had seen Velan about thirty or forty years later. He became the sole occupant of Kumar Baugh—that palatial house on the outskirts of Malgudi town.   When he was eighteen Velan left home. His father slapped his face one day for coming late with the midday-meal, and he did that in the presence of others in the field. Velan put down the basket, glared at his father and left the place. He just walked out of the village, and walked on and on ti...
Read more

LONGINUS: SOURCES OF SUBLIMITY

Hareshwar Roy,
INTRODUCTION: Longinus is one of the greatest Greek critics. His position is only next to Aristotle. His 'On the Sublime' is an immortal critical document of great worth and significance. It deals wit h the principle of sublimity in the world of writing. Here Longinus discusses the meaning, the nature and the sources of sublime. He distinguishes the true sublime from the false sublime. He advises how to overcome the vices of sublime. His suggestions are of permanent and paramount value. WHAT IS SUBLIMITY: Sublimity is a certain loftiness, distinction and consummation of excellence in language, expression and composition. It is the echo of a great soul. It raises style above the ordinary. Some persons are of the view that sublimity is a gift of nature. They think that it has nothing to do with art. But one should not forget that nature needs the help of art to control its wild impulses. In fact, both nature and art contribute to sublimity in literature. According to L...
Read more