造谣学校

TheSchoolforScandal•刘丽•邵晶徽Author：RichardBrinsleySheridan•Sheridan’sfamouscomedytheSchoolforScandal,writtenin1777,isconsideredhismasterpiece.ThisplaypresentsabrilliantportrayalofEngland’shighsocietyandabitingsatireonthemoralsandmannersofthatage.ThestorytellsthatladySneerwellandsomenobilitypeopleinterestofspreadingscandalanddestroyingpeople’sfamily.Ladysneerwell’shomebecomes‘theschoolforscandal’.Theplayevolvesaroundthestoryoftwobrothers:thehypocriticalJosephSurfaceandthegoodnaturedCharlesSurface.CharlesisinlovewithMaria,SirPeterTeazle’sward.LadySneerwelltakestoCharlesbutCharlesdoesnotloveher.Asarevenge,LadySneerwellinstigatesJosephtopursueMariaforhermoney.Joseph,whilecourtingMaria,secretlytriestoseduceLadyTeazle,theyoungandinnocentgirlwhohasjustmarriedtoSirPeterTeazle.SirPeterTeazle,misledbyLadySneerwellandJoseph,assumesthatCharlesisthepersonflirtingwithhisyoungwife.Oneday,whileLadyTeazleandJosephareonthevergeofcommittingadultery,SirPetercometoJoseph’shome.LadyTeazleisforcedtohidebehindthescreen.Thenquitebyaccident,Charlesshowsup.SirPeterhideshimselfwithaviewtocatchingtheadultereronthespot.Charlesrushesinandheknocksdownthescreen.Everythingcomestolight.SirPeterfindsoutthatitisnotCharlesbutJosephwhoistheseducerofhiswife.Inthemeanwhile,SirOliverSurface,therich,olduncleoftheSurfacebrothers,camebackfromIndia.Hewantstoknowwhichnephewisloyaltohim.HevisitsCharlesfirst.Charlessellsallhisfamilyportraitsexceptthatofhisuncle.ThenhedisguisesasapoorrelativeaskingforJoseph’shelpbutJosephwillneverdohimafavor.Thecomedyhasahappyending.Charleswinstheheartofhisbelovedandgetstheinheritanceofhisuncle.Josephispunishedforhismisdemeanor.LadyTeazle,repentantandpromisingtoturnoveranewleaf,isreconciledtoherhusband.•TheplayisSheridan'smasterpiece.Ithasbeenknownasagreatcomedyofmanners.Init,theauthorcontraststwobrothers,JosephSurfaceandCharlesSurface.Intheplay,SheridancriticizesEnglishhighsocietyforitsvanity,greedandhypocrisy.ThisplayhasbeenagreatsuccessonthestageandregardedasthebestEnglishcomedysinceShakespeare