George Etherege, The Comical Revenge, or Love in a Tub

Dawn Lewcock (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1664

Places

France (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play

Resources

The Comical Revenge: or Love in a Tub was the first play written by Sir George Etherege (1636-1691/2), first performed in 1664. The play is important in the history of drama because of the unique way in which Etherege employs two separate language styles. The love and honour plot, which has two couples, Beaufort and Graciana, Bruce and Aurelia, mistaking each other's feelings and becoming embroiled in intrigue, duels, sword play and sentimental aphorisms, is written in rhyming couplets. For example in Act 4, scene 5, the two girls believe Bruce has been killed by Beaufort.

AURELIA. Cruel Graciana, go but in and see
The fatal Triumph of your victory.
The noble Bruce to …

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1274 words

Citation: Lewcock, Dawn. "The Comical Revenge, or Love in a Tub". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 September 2007 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1225, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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