ABSTRACT
In 1711, Joseph Addison published a short essay “True and False Humour” in the Spectator. In this essay, Addison noted the developments in genre, performance, and style, and identified five ways in which humour was being used and presented falsely as a weapon to attack individuals. He condemned “wild irregular fancies” and warned playwrights to keep their use of humour “under the check of reason.” Addison’s criticisms provide a unique snapshot of Restoration playhouse practice from the vantage point of the critical spectator. In this chapter, we explore what Addison’s definition of true and false humour meant in relation to the plays staged during the Restoration period and focus in particular on the mocking, mimicking, and belittling of others, notably aristocrats, ladies, and Puritans, on the stage that clearly pleased audiences but that Addison disapproved of strongly.
