Richard Brinsley Sheridan中.pptVIP

Richard Brinsley Sheridan(理查得·布林斯·谢利丹)(1751-1816) * Ⅰ. Position★ Ⅱ.Life Ⅲ.Major works★★ ⅰ.the most important English playwright of the 18th century ⅱ.His plays are generally considered as important links between the masterpieces of Shakespeare and those of Bernard Shaw(萧伯纳) (补充) position Life ⅰ.1751-born in Dublin；father an actor; mother a novelist ⅱ.1772-fell in love and eloped(私奔) with Elizabeth ⅲ.1775-first comedy The Rivals was produced at Covent Garden Theatre in London ⅳAfter it ,several plays Masterpiece:The School for Scandal (1777) ⅵ1780-went in for politics ;a Whig M.P.(辉格党议员) ⅶLater years –sad the death of his wife(1792) the loss of Drury Theatre by a fire(1809) ⅷ1816-died in neglect and ruin ⅴ.1776-manager of Drury Lane Theatre Major works The Rivals (《情敌》) The School for Scandal（《造谣学校》） Sheridan’s first comedy: The Rivals Captain Absolute Lydia A girl full romantic fancies, prefers an admirer(爱慕者) without social standing to the heir(继承人) of a baronet（准男爵） of 3,000 pounds a year So her suitor(求婚者)Captain（上尉） Absolute assumes the character of a poor ensign(少尉) to capture her fancy, and his courtship(求婚) is favourably received. Bob Acres Absolute But Absolute has a rival ,named Bob Acres, who is a coward(懦弱的人) but compelled to fight a dual. When Bob Acres discovers that his rival is his friend Absolute, he refuses to fight and give up his claim to Lydia. And Lydia forgives Absolute’s deception. Mrs. Malaprop, Lydia’s aunt, a famous comic character .she often uses words incorrectly . From her is derived the term “malapropism”(文字误用；词语荒唐误用) e.g: she says “epitaph(墓志铭)”instead of “epithet(绰号)” It has been called a great comedy of manners（风俗喜剧）. It gives brilliant portrayal and biting satire of English high society. This play, repudiating（批判） the high society for its vanity（虚荣）, greed（贪婪） and hypocrisy（伪善）, has been regarded as the best English comedy since Shakespeare. *