This critical study surveys how plays shifted from sharp wit to a focus on private virtue, feeling, and moral reflection, tracing a lineage from Restoration precursors to 18th-century stage practice.

The author guides readers through the roots of this trend, discusses key arguments for and against sentimental drama, and explains how writers and critics shaped public taste. Though the topic centers on stage history, the book also sheds light on how audiences responded to characters who display virtue, emotion, and personal struggle.

Clear explanations of why sentimental comedy emerged and what it valued in contrast to earlier forms
Character studies of central figures and how their motives drive the action
Contextual notes on contemporary critics, plays, and the shifting moral climate
Discussion of how later dramatists drew on or reacted to this tradition

Ideal for readers of theatre history, literary criticism, and those curious about how drama reflects evolving social mores. This edition offers accessible prose that invites both newcomers and seasoned readers to consider how sentiment, morality, and humor intertwine on the stage.

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