The School for Scandal

"The School for Scandal" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a comedy written in the late 18th century. The play focuses on the themes of gossip, hypocrisy, and the complexities of human relationships within high society, primarily through the encounters of characters such as Lady Sneerwell, Sir Peter Teazle, and Mr. Surface, who navigate the labyrinthine world of scandal and reputation. The opening of the play sets the tone for its exploration of scandal as it introduces Lady Sneerwell and various gossiping characters who indulge in the art of rumor-mongering. Lady Sneerwell discusses her manipulative strategies to spread false rumors about others, revealing her malice and the delight she takes in scandalous news. As conversations unfold among her peers, the hypocrisy of the characters becomes apparent, highlighting their contradictions—while they engage in slandering others, they vehemently defend their own reputations. The witty dialogue and sharp observations on societal behavior lay the foundational framework for the comedic yet critical examination of a world fueled by slander and deceit. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Anglo-Irish playwright, writer and Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1780 to 1812, representing the constituencies of Stafford, Westminster and Ilchester. The owner of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London, he wrote several prominent plays such as The Rivals (1775), The Duenna (1775), The School for Scandal (1777) and A Trip to Scarborough (1777). He served as Treasurer of the Navy from 1806 to 1807. Sheridan died in 1816 and was buried at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. His plays remain a central part of the Western canon and are regularly performed around the world.