Plot Construction “The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

 

The Rival is a comedy in five acts by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and was published in 1775. It is widely considered a comedy of manners, which is a social satire. It focus on commenting on the state of the social classes of the state of the social classes of the day , particularly in high society.

The play is set in bath in the 18^th century, a town that was legendary for conspicuous consumption and fashion at the time. Wealthy and fashionable people went there to take a bath in the water , which were believed to have healing properties. Bath was much less exclusive then London , and hence it provide an ideal setting for the characters.

‘’The Rival’’ is a play about the mischievous , unexpected and power of love. The play concern the romantic difficulties of Lydia languish , who is determined to marry for love and poverty. For her ,the only lover worth considering is one whose position in life is in complete contract to her own. To this end she has fallen in love with a penniless  young boy named Beverly , whose her aunt Mrs. Malaprop objects. The situation is further  complicated by the fact that Beverly , in reality is jack absolute the son of sir Anthony absolute and as wealthy and aristocratic as Lydia herself.

The plot of rival centers on the two young lovers, Lydia and jack. Lydia who reads a lot of popular romantics novels of the time wants a purely romantics love affairs. To court her , jack pretend to be ‘’ensign Beverley", a poor navel officer. Lydia is enthralled with the idea of eloping with a poor soldier in spite of the objection of her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop. As the play opens, mr. Anthony absolute suddenly arrives in bath and announces that he has arranged a marriage for his son jack. They quarrel violently but jack soon discovers that the girl of his fathers choice is none other than Lydia, so he plans to discover him identity.

Unfortunately , when jack reveals his true identity , Lydia defiantly clings to her romantics notious and refuse to accept him. Simultaneously a close friend of jack , named Faulkland , has fallen in love with sir Anthony’s ward ,Julia . Julia is constant in her love , but Faulkland is driven by irrational doubts to submit her love to a ridiculous test. When this  test destroys Julia’s faith in him , she break off her engagement.

At the same time , Lydia’s two other suitors , Bob Aeres and luscious trigger are rejected by Lydia. Each to fight duals everything comes to a dual field. There Lydia, alarmed by jacks death halts and fight and admits her love for jack.

The plot that form the structure of the play , mirror each other and there by amplify this thematic idea. In other words, Sheridan skillfully tells two stories at once. In general each plot has the following structure : a potential suitor fabricates a false ideal of the nature of love –in one plot it is Lydia and in the other Faulkland. At this point , each person realizes the genuine love of his or her beloved. This self awareness leads to a new insight into the true nature of love and then to confession , forgiveness and   reconciliation between the two suitors. The point of action of both plots in that true love rests on a true foundation of genuine respect between the sexes and on this healing powers of honest communication between lovers.