George Etherege

Short Stats

• Character Name: George Etherege
• Title:
• Estate Name:
• Nationality: English
• Age: 45(b.1632)
• Gender: Male
• Eye Colour: Hazel
• Hair Colour: Light Brown curls

Physical Attributes & Initial Impression of Personality

His tastes were those of a fine gentleman, and he indulged freely in pleasure, especially the pleasures of the cup. His wealth and wit, the distinction and charm of his manners, won him the general worship of society. His nicks are "gentle George" and "easy Etherege."

Background

Sir George Etherege was an English dramatist. He wrote the plays The Comical Revenge or, Love in a Tub, in 1664, She Would if She Could, in 1668.

George Etherege was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, around 1635, to George Etherege and Mary Powney, being the eldest of six children. Rumor has it that he was educated at Cambridge; however, John Dennis assures that to his certain knowledge he understood neither Greek nor Latin, thus rising doubts that he could hardly have been there. He served as apprentice to a lawyer and later studied law at Clement's Inn, London, one of the Inns of Chancery. He probably travelled abroad to France with his father who stayed with the exiled queen Henrietta Maria. It is possible that he witnessed in Paris the performances of some of Molière's earliest comedies; and he is thought, from an allusion in one of his plays, to have been personally acquainted with Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy.

Soon after the Restoration, in 1660, he composed his comedy of The Comical Revenge or Love in a Tub, which introduced him to Lord Buckhurst, afterwards the Earl of Middlesex. This was performed at the Duke's theatre, in 1664, and a few copies were printed in the same year. It is partly in rhymed heroic verse, like the stilted tragedies of the Howards and Killigrew, but it contains comic scenes that are exceedingly bright and fresh. The sparring between Sir Frederick and the Widow introduced a style of wit hitherto unknown upon the English stage.

The success of this play was very great, but Etherege waited four years before he repeated his experiment. Meanwhile he gained the highest reputation as a poetical beau, moving into the circle of the Merry Gang, where he was friends with such people as Sir Charles Sedley, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Earl of Rochester.

Etherege's portraits of fops and beaux are considered the best of their kind. His wit is sparkling and frivolous, his style picturesque. Etherege is noted for his delicate touches of dress, furniture and scene; he vividly draws the fine airs of London gentlemen and ladies.

See Also

• Merry Gang
• Bibliography