Marriage a la Mode

by John Dryden, Mark S. Auburn (Editor)

Whether for love or ambition, for parental approval or reasons of state, marriage has complicated the lives of all who enter into it. First performed in 1671, Dryden’s Marriage à la Mode portrays the motives high and low that make marriage the pivotal institution of a nation. Like Dryden’s best tragicomedies, Marriage à la Mode has a double plot. The hopes that marriage excites and the regrets it suffers, the possibilities it opens and the opportunities it denies, its potential nobility and its vulnerability to decay provided Dryden with plentiful dramatic material. Comedy and pathos intersect in plots that entangle and surprise like marriage itself.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics, Theatre, School, Fiction, Literature

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1673

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made Poet Laureate in 1668. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. Walter Scott called him "Glorious John."

Reviews

[Matthew]

A comedy of concealed identities, attempted infidelities & untrustworthy friends, with a terribly improbable conclusion. I really enjoyed this lighthearted play that's somewhere between "A Comedy of Errors," William Congreve & Oscar Wilde. Here's a choice excerpt that demonstrates why:

Rhodophil: Prythee leave me to my own cogitation; I am thinking over all my sins to find for which of them it was I married thee.

Doralice: Whatever your sin was, mine's the punishment.

[إيم]

*يقول لي كلامًا غريب مثل: " أن عيناي جرحتا قلبه".

الحوارات والترجمة جميلة.

[Zoe]

The comedic plot line of this 17th century play made me appreciate libertine humor, and the tragedy plot line made me wish more men yearned for their women more. I didn’t think I was gonna like this play, but it was so much better than some of Shakespeares stuff tbh! Really glad I read it for class.

[Elizabeth]

This was a very funny play!

There was, of course, that 17th Century bawdy humor, but -- hey -- we still love Shakespeare. On the subject of whom, I did see some echoes of Twelfth Night and Much Ado... -- don't know if it's just common themes, or . . . . .
I was actually surprised at this play -- Dryden may yet amaze me! As I am reading him because of The Rehearsal, I was pleased at the whispering, etc., and, because of that (The Rehearsal) I do wonder if Dryden might perhaps have got some of his ideas from the Bard, as the old Second Duke of Buckingham did hint that it was the sort of thing he thought J.D. would do/did do. Who knows?
(Seriously, if there is anything you of Goodreads can tell me, please : be my guest!)
A surprisingly good and enjoyable comedy!

[Lauren]

It never ceases to amaze me how blatantly sexual the literature of the Restoration was. Marriage a la Mode lived up to the idea I have of that time period, with sexual innuendoes, double entendres, and no small amount of wit.

[Jenni]

You know when ur watching a tv show and its got multiple plots but one of them is your favourite and the other one ur thinking *yawn* get this off my screen - same experience as reading this. The Rhodophil/Palamede/Doralice/Melantha plot was hilarious and so damn well done - an easy 5* if that had been the whole play. The King plot? Boring and didn't feel like anything special. I'm tired of seeing the romeo and juliet trope - two lovers who can't be together. But this is worse because here they do get their happily ever after like what ??!? (im a pessimist)

[Rachel Herschbein]

the simultaneous heroic and comic plots mirror and refract one another in a way which calls into question political tensions still present today. setting is sicily, mirroring england’s island but separate from the european mainland. timing is ambiguous, which allows for the political and social problems to transcend a specific moment.

[Anup Joshi]

Very funny comic play...found interesting!

[Kshitij Chaurel]

Funny.

[وائل المنعم]

مسرحية كوميدية تاريخية تراجيدية بها كل شيء، لكنها تقليدية ومملة وبعض مقاطعها سخيفة، اعتقد انها باتت قديمة للغاية بحيث يصعب أن يستمتع بها قارئ اليوم.

[↬Noor ❂↫]

Kinda farce humor in my opinion which I do not like that much

[Lisa of Troy]

Restoration Recommended Reading List as per Benjamin McEvoy in How to Get an Oxford English Education for Free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Q2J...

[Sasi]

Überraschend witzig und clever auch nach so langer Zeit

[Veronica Rosemary]

He tells you, “You look so killingly that I should be mute with wonder”, but then he goes and speaks French with other girls ☹️

[Rose]

‘‘Twas silly

[Kae]

they just needed to start a polycule tbh

[Sara Shemes]

أفضل المقاطع كانت الخاصة بمشاجرة الزوجين
وعلاقة الصديقين ببعضهم
P.s
يبدو أن جون كان سابق عصره فى طرحه لمفهوم
Open relationships

[christine.]

Read it for Plays, Players, Playgoers: London, 1600-1700.

This one is a bit schizophrenic, as it couples heroic tragedy with sex comedy, but the two elements never completely entertwine properly. It's an okay play; the wit is fun and Doralice and Rhodophil are great as the bickering married couple, but there's just not enough here.

[Elisa]

For a 17th century play, this was hilariously bawdy and quite captivating. This play follows two plot lines: a royal tragedy concerning a lost and found heir, and a comedy about two couples who hate the one they're with. The writing is great, the characters touching and funny, and overall this is a wonderful piece.

[Surreysmum]

[These notes were made in 1983:]. Read for exams. A "noble" (tho' not tragic) plot and a "comic" (i.e. sexual mixups) plot, almost entirely unconnected. Very curious, and fun - 2 plays for the price of one!

[Amy C]

a bit tough to adjust to the 18th century mannerisms, but overall a great, saucy play, full of lewd humour and hilarious intentions.

[Niall Curran]

urgh

[Barbara Bradley]

The number of themes in this play is overwhelming… It will have you returning over and over.

[Ash Giri]

My introduction to Dryden. Excellent work.

[Rachel]

Easy to read, shot and funny in places, another fine example of Dryden's brilliance!

[Lulu]

1673

[Shady]

مسرحية الكاتب الشهير جون درايدن بعنوان "زواج عصري" تحكي قصص زواج متنوعة تختلف في طياتها بين الحب والكره، وبين السلطة والخضوع، وبين الولاء والخيانة؛ إذ أن الجميع فيها يرغب في التجديد ليعيش حياة عصرية مفعمة بالحيوية مع اولئك الفتايات اللاتي يبرزهن جمالهن وحديثهن وثقافتهن.. رائعة يا درايدن..