파쿼의 멋쟁이들의 전략 읽기: 컨트리가 런던을 대체하는가?

Abstract

In Restoration England London was divided into Town and City and the values of Town were identified with those of the aristocratic class despising the newly enriched citizens. Restoration Comedy was used to reinforce the aristocratic values and lampooned the bourgeois in City or the country gentry lacking the sophistication of Town. English ruling classes, however, were recast after the Glorious Revolution and dramatists realized that London Town including Court was no longer the only center but the power of Parliament was strengthened. In addition, Collier and moral reformers of the 1690s began to attack earlier Restoration Comedy as a cesspit of moral corruption. In The Beaux’ Stratagem Farquhar tried to meet the needs and expectations of post-Revolution audiences. This play’s setting is not London but Litchfield, the country, unlike the earlier comedies. Here Litchfield is divided into greedy Boniface’s inn and charitable Lady Bountiful’s house. Aimwell and Archer squandering their resources in London arrive at Boniface’s inn to use tricks to marry a rich heiress. The beaux skillfully enter the house and their scheme works since Aimwell masquerading as his elder brother Lord Aimwell wins the heart of the heiress Dorinda. Unlike Archer, Aimwell is morally reformed by virtuous Dorinda and accordingly rewarded by becoming Lord Aimwell. Finally Dorinda and Aimwell with a title and wealth, Archer with £10,000 and divorced Mrs Sullen would go to London for enjoying Town. With this Farquhar suggests a possible reconciliation of the aristocratic values of Town and the moral and healthy values of country. Therefore, it can be said that Farquhar does not represent the country as a substitute for immoral and corrupt London, but rather embodies it as the necessary place where aristocracies in London must regenerate themselves by accommodating moral and healthy values for being born again as the rightful class to rule even after the Glorious Revolution.