The use of wit and humour is the soul of the play “She Stoops to Conquer”-Discuss.
She Stoops to Conquer is a notable literary work by ___. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of She Stoops to Conquer.
Answer
The use of wit and humour is the soul of the play “She Stoops to Conquer”-Discuss.
Wit refers to clever wordplay, while humour comes from funny situations. Oliver Goldsmith’s (1728-1774) play “She Stoops to Conquer” (1773) is full of wit and humour. These elements make the play lively and entertaining. The play uses both to mock social norms and human flaws. Through jokes and smart dialogues, Goldsmith makes us laugh and think. This is why wit and humour are called the “soul” of the play. This paper will clearly examine Goldsmith’s use of wit and humour in this play.
Funny Mistakes: The whole play is full of funny mistakes. Marlow thinks Mr. Hardcastle is an innkeeper. Hastings thinks Mrs. Hardcastle is a landlady. These mistakes create many funny scenes. The audience knows the truth, but the characters do not. This makes the play more enjoyable. The jokes are not heavy or cruel. These are soft and sweet. These comic mistakes make the play very lively. Goldsmith uses them to keep the story moving with joy and fun.
Marlow’s Shyness and Boldness: Many lines in the play are full of wit. Charles Marlow has two very different sides. He is shy with rich women but bold with poor ones. When he sees Kate as a barmaid, he talks freely. But when he sees her as a rich girl, he cannot even speak. As Marlow says,
“An impudent fellow may counterfeit modesty; but I’ll be hanged if a modest man can ever counterfeit impudence.”
This shows how Marlow changes his behavior based on class. Goldsmith uses this double-sided approach to make us laugh. But he also helps us understand Marlow’s fear. Marlow’s two identities help him learn more about love and himself.
Kate’s Wit and Trick: Kate is one of the wittiest characters in the play. She speaks with clever words and sharp ideas. Her lines often make people laugh and think. For example, she says,
“A reserved lover, it is said, always makes a
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