When the monarchy was restored in England and Charles II returned from exile in France in 1666, he established a court in London and licensed two theaters that were popular among nobles and fashionable people. Plays during this period aimed to please sophisticated London society but were often cynical and immoral in tone. One of the most prominent writers of this era was John Dryden, who wrote heroic plays filled with melodramatic situations focusing on the struggle between love and honor.

2. Restoration
England is Marked
ByNewton, William
• English imitation of • John Locke, Isaac
the French
• The Great Plague Harvey
of 1665 AND the • Deism – “The
Great Fire of 1666
Watchmaker
• A turn to the Theory”
scientific/rational
(Age of Reason)

3. When the monarchy was restores and Charles II
returned in 1666 from his exile in France, he
established a court in London.
The King licensed two theaters which were
supported by the nobles and people
of fashion. (Duke’s company & King’s
company)
The diary of Samuel Pepys details about
the performance was revealed.

5. • The French classical drama, called the heroic
play, came to be written.
• The most prominent writer of this type was
John Dryden. His heroic plays
were filled with melodramatic
situations.
• Struggle between love and honor
and the speeches were very artificial.

7. • Aim to please sophisticated London society.
• Immoral and cynical in tone.
• William Congreve – wrote the finest of all the
characterizations in restoration
comedy with Mirabell and
Millamant.
• Revived in New York and London.

9. • The audiences had tired of comedies of
intrigue and loose morals.
• Jeremy Collier – published his short view
of the immorality and
profaneness of the English
Stage, criticizing contemporary
comedy, which invariably
rewarded vice and ridiculed
virtue.