ABSTRACT
Critics of Restoration William comedy have naturally been much attracted to Congreve the man as well as to Congreve the drama tist. Students of his drama take pleasure in recognizing Congreve as the ideal Restoration gentleman, whose humanity does not suffer through his polite sympathy with the social conventions of his age. The influence of the Elizabethan dramatists upon Congreve is generally recognized, but beyond occasional parallels the precise nature of that influence has not been indicated. A more conspicuous and fundamental influence in Congreve’s comedy is the influence of the Elizabethan tradition. Most writers of Restoration comedy fell back at times, with a sense of relief, upon Elizabethan plots and humours. Elizabethan tradition had at least more influence than Molière’s drama on the spirit of Congreve’s plays. Congreve takes no pains to distinguish Valentine himself, in special excellence of wit, from the common run of Restoration gallants.
