History Main / RestorationComedy

Films in the vein of the ''Film/VanWilder'' series can be seen as a sort of revival of this trope.

It's a mostly ForgottenTrope now, but the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] was a popular character type during the Restoration. The Rake was always a [[DeadpanSnarker witty]], elegant, [[TheCasanova charming]] man whose (sexual) escapades went far beyond the boundaries of what was acceptable at the time.

!!Notable Restoration Comedies include:

* ''Theatre/TheManOfMode'', by George Etheredge

* ''Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery'', by John Wilmot (probably)

* ''Theatre/TheRecruitingOfficer'', by George Farquhar

* ''The Country Wife'' by William Wycherley
* ''Love for Love'' by William Congreve
* ''The Man of Mode'', by George Etheredge
* ''The Rover'', by Aphra Behn

* ''The Way of the World'', by William Congreve

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of Restoration Comedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover''), and in 2004, the story of his life was made into a film, ''Film/TheLibertine'', starring Creator/JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of Restoration Comedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover''), and in 2005, the story of his life was made into a film, ''Film/TheLibertine'', starring Creator/JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

[[WMG:Notable Restoration Comedies include:]]

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of Restoration Comedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover''), and in 2005, the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring Creator/JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

Typically, Restoration Comedy would involve a dashing, witty hero trying to have sex with as many women as possible without getting into trouble, [[HilarityEnsues with hilarious consequences]]. Common Tropes from RestorationComedy include [[DoubleEntendre ribald humour]], {{Wholesome Crossdresser}}s, RecursiveCrossdressing, [[TheCasanova Rakish Heroes]], [[DeadpanSnarker witty dialogue]] and {{Fanservice}}. [[RuleAbidingRebel In deference to the Puritan morality]] that was still prevalent at the time, most of the cast would usually end up paired off and happily married by the end of the play. Aphra Behn (touted as "the first woman to make a living by her pen") wrote several of these plays, and she still has something of a following today.

Restoration Comedy is the name given to to a particular type of play written during England's Restoration period (from 1660-1670). The RestorationComedy was a reflection of English high society life during the reign of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfStuart Charles II]], and several plays were written with the express purpose of flattering Charles II and his court.

Typically, RestorationComedy would involve a dashing, witty hero trying to have sex with as many women as possible without getting into trouble, [[HilarityEnsues with hilarious consequences]]. Common Tropes from RestorationComedy include [[DoubleEntendre ribald humour]], {{Wholesome Crossdresser}}s, RecursiveCrossdressing, [[TheCasanova Rakish Heroes]], [[DeadpanSnarker witty dialogue]] and {{Fanservice}}. [[RuleAbidingRebel In deference to the Puritan morality]] that was still prevalent at the time, most of the cast would usually end up paired off and happily married by the end of the play. Aphra Behn (touted as "the first woman to make a living by her pen") wrote several of these plays, and she still has something of a following today.

The most famous real life Rake was John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester. Wilmot was a vivacious courtier and poet who lived a thoroughly debauched and scandalous life and ended up banished from the English court for writing a satire on Charles II criticising the King for his disgraceful behaviour (a real life example of HypocriticalHumour), being forgiven and then falling out of favour ''again'', writing volumes of excellent (and spectacularly filthy) poetry and a RestorationComedy (''Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery'', although it's never been proved that he wrote it), and then died when he was just 32 years old, having embraced Christianity on his deathbed.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of Restoration Comedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring Creator/JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

Restoration Comedy is the name given to to a particular type of Play written during England's Restoration period (from 1660-1670). The RestorationComedy was a reflection of English high society life during the reign of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfStuart Charles II]], and several plays were written with the express purpose of flattering Charles II and his court.

----

The most famous real life Rake was John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester. Wilmot was a vivacious courtier and poet who lived a thoroughly debauched and scandalous life and ended up banished from the English court for writing a satire on Charles II criticising the King for his disgraceful behaviour (a real life example of HypocriticalHumour), being forgiven and then falling out of favour ''again'', writing volumes of excellent poetry and a RestorationComedy (''Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery'', although it's never been proved that he wrote it), and then died when he was just 32 years old, having embraced Christianity on his deathbed.

Restoration Comedy is the name given to to a particular type of Play written during England's Restoration period (from 1660-1670). The RestorationComedy was a reflection of English high society life during the reign of [[TheHouseOfStuart Charles II]], and several plays were written with the express purpose of flattering Charles II and his court.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of Restoration Comedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of RestorationComedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[TheCasanova Rakish Hero]] character type.

Films in the vein of the VanWilder series can be seen as a sort of revival of this trope.

It's a mostly ForgottenTrope now, but the [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Hero]] was a popular character type during the Restoration. The Rake was always a [[DeadpanSnarker witty]], elegant, [[{{Casanova}} charming]] man whose (sexual) escapades went far beyond the boundaries of what was acceptable at the time.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of RestorationComedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Hero]] character type.

Typically, RestorationComedy would involve a dashing, witty hero trying to have sex with as many women as possible without getting into trouble, [[HilarityEnsues with hilarious consequences]]. Common Tropes from RestorationComedy include [[DoubleEntendre ribald humour]], {{Wholesome Crossdresser}}s, RecursiveCrossdressing, [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Heroes]], [[DeadpanSnarker witty dialogue]] and {{Fanservice}}. [[RuleAbidingRebel In deference to the Puritan morality]] that was still prevalent at the time, most of the cast would usually end up paired off and happily married by the end of the play. Aphra Behn (touted as "the first woman to make a living by her pen") wrote several of these plays, and she still has something of a following today.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of RestorationComedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''The Libertine'', starring JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Hero]] character type.

Typically, RestorationComedy would involve a dashing, witty hero trying to have sex with as many women as possible without getting into trouble, [[HilarityEnsues with hilarious consequences]]. Common Tropes from RestorationComedy include [[DoubleEntendre ribald humour]], {{Wholesome Crossdresser}}s, RecursiveCrossdressing, [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Heroes]], [[DeadpanSnarker witty dialogue]] and {{Fanservice}}. [[RuleAbidingRebel In deference to the Puritan morality]] that was still prevalent at the time, most of the cast would usually end up paired off and happily married by the end of the play. AphraBehn (touted as "the first woman to make a living by her pen") wrote several of these plays, and she still has something of a following today.

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of RestorationComedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''TheLibertine'', starring JohnnyDepp (the casting was quite apt). It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Hero]] character type.

<<|{{Theater}}|>>

Wilmot was the inspiration for several heroes of RestorationComedy (Dorimant in ''the Man of Mode'' and Wilmore in Aphra Behn's ''The Rover'') and in 2005 the story of his life was made into a film, ''The Libertine'', starring Johnny Depp. It could also be argued that Charles II was an example of the [[{{Casanova}} Rakish Hero]] character type.