comedy of manners
Plural
comedies of manners
1
a comic play, movie, book, etc. that portrays the behaviors of a particular social class, satirizing them
A comedy of manners is a type of play or film that focuses on the behaviors, customs, and social interactions of a particular class or group of people, often with an emphasis on satirizing their manners and social pretensions. This genre typically features witty dialogue and humorous situations that reveal the characters' social habits, hypocrisy, and eccentricities. The aim is to entertain while offering a critique or commentary on societal norms and conventions.
- "Emma" by Jane Austen explores matchmaking in Regency England, a classic comedy of manners.
- "Clueless" offers a modern take on the comedy of manners genre.
- "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde entertains with its biting comedy of manners, critiquing Victorian moralities.
- "Metropolitan" humorously portrays New York City socialites in a comedy of manners setting.
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan's "The School for Scandal" satirizes 18th-century British society with sharp comedy of manners.