The comedy of manners is a genre of play that satirizes the manners, behaviors, and social norms of a particular class, often focusing on themes like relationships, marriage, and societal hypocrisy.
It typically features witty dialogue, clever repartee, and sharply drawn characters.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play "The School for Scandal" (1777) is one of the most celebrated examples of this genre.
The play critiques the superficiality, gossip, and pretensions of the upper classes in 18th-century English society, combining humor with moral commentary.
Sheridan's work serves as a bridge between the Restoration comedy of the late 17th century and the works of later playwrights like Oscar Wilde.