Victorian Drama

Think about the most famous plays you have explored and studied so far in your academic career. Most them likely feature tragic deaths, elaborate speeches, violent battles, or passionate romance. Many of the world's most famous dramas comment on society or teach valuable moral lessons about life. And then there is Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, a drama that is so outrageous in its hilarity that it is almost a play about nothing at all. Yet when you take a closer look, you will notice that in addition to the sharp wit and improbably scenarios, there is a deeper reflection on the consequences of strict Victorian social norms.

As a counterbalance to Wilde's comedy of manners, you will also explore for comparison the play Death of a Salesman, an acclaimed American classic written by Arthur Miller. Death of a Salesman is a sobering tragedy about an American family and their hopes of achieving the American Dream.

Essential Questions

• In what ways are British and American plays similar or different?
• How do dramas use plot and dialogue to develop themes?