Overview of The School for Scandal
by
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
The situation of the first plot [Lady Teazle, Sir Peter Teazle, and Joseph]: Sir Peter married a simple country girl, much younger than himself, because she would accept an "old fellow"; as it turns out the simple country girl wants to become an urban sophisticate, complete with a gossip circle (the "school for scandal") and a gallant (Joseph Surface) to call her own.
- What is at stake?
- Is Lady Teazle to be a simple country girl or a member of the world of the city, the school for scandal?
- Subject to the authority of her husband or an independent woman? (She wants a settlement.)
Situation of the Second Plot: Joseph Surface is pursuing Maria as a heiress, pretending to be Lady Teazle's admirer to get access to Maria. If he can actually seduce Lady Teazle, he will be able to extort her support in his pursuit of Maria. Meanwhile, Sir Peter Teazle is actively championing Joseph to Maria, because Joseph is a "man of sentiment," and Sir Peter can use his guardianship of Maria in a coercive way. Also, Lady Sneerwell, who has designs on Charles, tries to alienate Maria from Charles by blackening the reputation of Charles; the threat of scandal is supposed to scare Maria off.
What's at stake? Maria's affections. Will she be ensnared by the false and manipulative Joseph? Or will she be able to satisfy her natural affection for Charles?
- Big theme: Hypocrisy vs. Candor:
- Joseph is a hypocrite; all of his passions and sentiments are for show; he views life as a game to be played & won. He pretends to candor when he tries to convince Lady Teazle that in order to protect herself from the scandal of adultery she should have an adulterous affair, because it will make her so much more careful.
- In contrast, Charles is true to his nature, his love of wine, his friends, and Maria. He has disinterested affections (for his uncle Oliver) and for "old Stanley."
- Mrs. Candour's "candor" is really only a mask for scandal mongering.
What is the pleasure of scandal-mongering?
(Since the eighteen century the emphasis of the word "candor" has changed. Now we think that the primary meaning of "candor" is frankness or honesty, and we expect a candid opinion of ourselves to hurt a little. In the eighteenth century the dominant meanding of "candor" was fair-mindedness or impartiality, and a person might expect a candid opinion of him/her-self to confirm her/his opinion of him/her-self.)
What's funny? Blowing up sentimental platitudes.
- A primary one is the irresistible passion of love. An affair is supposed to be propelled by irresistible attraction, but for Joseph it is propelled only by financial interest, for Lady Teazle, only by faddishness, and all is contradicted by the exasperated, but ultimately respectful love of Sir Peter Teazle for his wife.
- A minor one is Snake's wish that his honesty not be made public.
- Another minor one is that the despicable, money-lending Jew, Moses, turns out to be a really decent guy.
- More from the students?
It's a comedy of manners. Of course "manners" means more than how polite you are.