She Stoops to Conquer Reflects the 18th-Century Society of England.

Answer

Show how “She Stoops to Conquer” reflects the 18th-century society of England. 

Oliver Goldsmith’s (1728 – 1774) most celebrated drama, “She Stoops to Conquer” (1771),  represents 18th-century England. This iconic play exposes the pictorial quality of country life, the fashion and taste of the people, class consciousness, manners, false appearance, and truth. Goldsmith, with his expert hands, portrays these elements of 18th-century England.

Picture of the Polluted Country Life: “She Stoops To Conquer” gives us an inside look into the country life of 18th-century England. The village of the time was first losing its glory, simplicity, and purity. The fashions of town life polluted the village life and made the people vain and affected. From the conversation between Mr and Mrs Hardcastle in the opening scenes, we learn that the rich village people, especially the women, used to lack dignity. They take a trip to town now and then to bring back vanity and affection to corrupt the villagers.

Is there a creature in the whole country but ourselves, that does not take a trip to town now and then, to rub off the rust a little?

Inns of the Village: The inn occupied an essential social role in 18th-century life. The country youth gathered there to talk about village politics and religion over glasses of wine until night.

Tradition of Receiving the Guests: In society, formal social gatherings were entertaining phenomena, and it was customary for the host to receive the guests, as in the play. The text shows that Mr Hardcastle welcomes his guests, Marlow and Hastings.

Condition of Village Roads:  From the drama, the condition of the country roads appeared very bad, and their money and travelling on those roads were extremely difficult and risky, especially at night. In the play, Marlow and Hastings have many accidents on the way to Hardcastle. This is how country life or village life has been described in the play.

False Appearance and Truth: Throughout “She Stoops to Conquer”, there is an underlying confusion between appearance and truth. Marlowe’s misunderstanding of the Hardcastle house drives the plot forward, and his mistaking Kate Hardcastle for a barmaid leads to their falling in love. Marlow says: 

Your beauty at first caught my eye; for who could see that without emotion?

Goldsmith eventually allowed false appearances to reveal the truth. Kate’s cheating on Marlowe doesn’t just fuel their relationship; It also reveals Marlowe’s true self. 

Picture of 18th century London: “She stoops to conquer” reflects on 18th century London. The English people were so fond of fashion. St James Square was one of the fashionable places. To make fun, women have ladies’ clubs where young men are not allowed. The club members enjoyed themselves with wine, cards and old women. Here we find,

Yes, as merry as cards, supper, wine and old woman can make us

Class Consciousness: Class consciousness was acute in 18th-century England. In “She Stoops to Conquer,” Marlow and Hastings consider Mr Hardcastle an innkeeper. So they behave with him, expressing their vanity: 

To mistake this house of all others for an inn, and my father’s old friend for an innkeeper!

They think the innkeeper is a man of lower status. Marlow falls in love with Miss Hardcastle but cannot marry her because of his lower status.

To conclude, it is pretty clear that Oliver Goldsmith vividly coloured 18th-century England with his power of literature. He satirised 18th-century England and English people throughout his masterpiece, ” She Stoops to Conquer.”