1. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

2. Features of his plays In his plays, especially in The Importance of Being Earnest (1895),, there is a light, comic artifice in the very spirit of Congreve. But for Congreve’s gay amorality, he created a sense of irresponsible verbal charm, witty and wholly delightful.

3. Quotations from Wilde Men become old,but they never become good. Life is never fair…And perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that is is not. The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast. To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance. Young men want to be faithful and are not; old men want to be faithless and cannnot

4. Tradition of English comedies:comedy of manners Sir George Etherege (1635-91 ) William Wycherley (1640-1716) William Congreve (1670-1729), the most elegant of the trio, drew back from the depths which Wycherley had exposed, and turned to the surface gaiety of Etherege. At the same time, he conducted his comedies with a brilliance of dialogue.

5. Tradition of English comedies:Sheridan’s comedies With Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), something of the brilliance of Restoration dialogue (brilliant and witty) returned into comedy. His works (The Rivals 情敌, The School for Scandal 造谣学校 ) serve as the important links between Shakespeare and Shaw as true classics in English drama.