The School for Scandal
The play unfolds in London, centering around the lives of two brothers, Charles and Joseph Surface, and their guardian, Sir Peter Teazle. The narrative begins with Lady Sneerwell and her accomplice, Snake, plotting to ruin Charles's reputation while promoting Joseph as a model of virtue. Lady Sneerwell is interested in Charles, despite his reckless behavior, while Joseph pretends to be a caring brother, all the while scheming to win the affections of Maria, Sir Peter's ward. Sir Peter, recently married to the young and fashionable Lady Teazle, finds himself increasingly frustrated with her extravagant lifestyle and the influence of their scandalous social circle. Tensions rise as Sir Peter suspects Lady Teazle of being unfaithful, particularly with Charles, whom he believes is trying to seduce her. Meanwhile, Lady Teazle is caught between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to Charles. As the plot thickens, Sir Oliver Surface, the brothers' wealthy uncle, returns from India, intending to assess the characters of his nephews. He disguises himself as Mr. Stanley, a poor relation, to gauge their true natures. Joseph, unaware of his uncle's true identity, treats him with disdain, while Charles, in a moment of unexpected generosity, offers to help him financially. The climax occurs when Sir Peter discovers the truth about Lady Teazle's interactions with Joseph and Charles, leading to a confrontation that reveals the hypocrisy and deceit among the characters. Lady Teazle ultimately defends her honor, exposing Joseph's manipulative nature and affirming her loyalty to Sir Peter. In the end, Charles's genuine character shines through, leading to a reconciliation with Maria, while Joseph's duplicity is laid bare. Sir Oliver decides to support Charles, recognizing his potential for reform. The play concludes with a celebration of honesty and virtue, contrasting the earlier themes of scandal and deception, as the characters navigate the complexities of love, loyalty, and reputation in a society rife with gossip.
By Richard Brinsley Sheridan · First published 1777 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Drama · 14 chapters · 49,839 words
First lines
Dramatis Personae
As originally acted at Drury-Lane Theatre, May 8, 1777.
What this Textopian page supports
The School for Scandal is listed on Textopian as a play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, dated 1777 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- Date: 1777 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Drama, Theater, Romantic Comedy
- Length: 49,839 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 1,443 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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- How does this play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Comedy — The play employs humor and satire to critique societal norms and behaviors.
- Satire — It targets the hypocrisy and moral failings of the upper class through exaggerated characters and situations.
- Drama — The narrative includes serious themes of deception, betrayal, and social commentary.
- Theater — As a play, it is structured for performance, focusing on dialogue and character interactions.
Tags
Satire · Comedy · Social Commentary · Class Satire · English Literature · 18th Century Literature · Theatre · Play · Farce · Wit · Humor · Manners and Morals
Contents
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III