Key characteristics of Restoration comedy include:
1. Wit and Satire: Restoration comedies are known for their clever wordplay, sparkling dialogue, and satirical humor. They often poke fun at the social, political, and moral conventions of the time.
2. Sexual Innuendo: Restoration comedies are not shy about sexual matters and are filled with risqué jokes, innuendos, and double entendres. This emphasis on sexual themes reflects the more permissive social attitudes of the Restoration era.
3. Social Criticism: While predominantly entertaining, Restoration comedies also serve as vehicles for social commentary. They critique the excesses and hypocrisies of the upper classes and explore issues such as marriage, fidelity, and class distinctions.
4. Stock Characters: Restoration comedies often feature stock characters such as the witty rake, the scheming mistress, the country bumpkin, and the cuckolded husband. These characters represent different aspects of society and provide fodder for humor and satire.
5. Gender Roles: Restoration comedies challenge traditional gender roles and explore the changing status of women. Female characters are often strong, independent, and outspoken, subverting the submissive roles expected of women in that period.
6. Influence of French Comedy: Restoration comedy was heavily influenced by French comedy of the time, particularly the works of Molière. The farcical elements and witty dialogue of French comedies were adopted and adapted to the English stage.
Some notable Restoration playwrights include William Wycherley, William Congreve, George Etherege, and Aphra Behn. Their comedies, such as "The Country Wife," "The Way of the World," and "Love for Love," continue to be performed and enjoyed for their wit, humor, and social critique.