The School for Scandal

Explore the idea of appearances versus reality in the play. How do various characters—Oliver, Lady Teazle, Joseph—play certain roles or create certain illusions to advance their own ends?

Peter and Lady Teazle spend much of the play bickering with one another and clashing over one another’s expectations and values. How does Sheridan use their marriage to explore gender dynamics in the play?

Joseph is defined by his manipulation of formality to create a charming and moral persona. How does Joseph use some of the social and moral assumptions of upper-class society to his advantage? What does his characterization suggest about the role of an upper-class gentleman in 18th-century English society?

Charles is a complex character in that he is a libertine who maintains a strict sense of honesty. How does Charles’s characterization illuminate or complicate the play’s exploration of The Moral Conflicts of Human Nature?

Analyze the various forms of rumor and gossip in the play. What various forms does gossip take? What different purposes does gossip serve for the characters?

Like many comedies of manners, the topic of infidelity is dominant in The School for Scandal. How does the play explore ideas surrounding infidelity, sexual morality, and/or sexual expectations for men and women of the time?

Compare and contrast Lady Sneerwell and Lady Teazle. How are these two women characterized? In what ways are they similar to one another, and in what ways are they foils?

Analyze the role of money in the play. How do characters’ attitudes or experiences with money affect elements such as characterization, plot, and/or the exploration of the play’s key ideas?