Editing William Congreve

{{short description|English playwright, poet and politician (1670-1729)}}
{{Other uses|William Congreve (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox writer
| name          = William Congreve
| image         = William Congreve by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg
| caption       = 1709 portrait of Congreve by [[Godfrey Kneller]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1670|1|24}}
| birth_place   = [[Bardsey, West Yorkshire|Bardsey]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England 
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=yes|1729|1|19|1670|1|24}}
| alma_mater    = [[Trinity College, Dublin]] (MA)
| nationality  = British
| language     = English 
| period       = [[Stuart Restoration|Restoration]], [[Georgian era]]
| notableworks = {{plainlist|
* ''[[The Way of the World]]'' (1700) 
* ''[[The Old Bachelor]]'' (1693) 
* ''[[The Mourning Bride]]'' (1697) 
* ''[[Love for Love]]'' (1695)
* ''[[The Double Dealer]]'' (1693)
}}
| death_place   = [[London]], England
| resting_place = [[Westminster Abbey]]
| occupation    = Playwright, satirist, poet, politician
| movement      = [[Classicism]]
}}

'''William Congreve''' (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright, satirist, poet and [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] politician. Considered by critics to be one of the preeminent [[dramatist]]s of the [[Georgian era]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2872173|title=Poetical Justice, The Contrivances of Providence, and the Works of William Congreve|first1=Audrey|last1=Williams|year=1968|journal=ELH|volume=35|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press}}</ref> he is credited with developing and popularizing the satirical [[comedy of manners]] genre during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and his works, which formed an important part of [[Restoration literature]], were favorably viewed for their use of [[satire]] and [[comedy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/449722|title=Thematic Development in the Comedies of William Congreve: The Individual in Society|first1=Susan|last1=J. Rosowski|journal=Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900|year=1976|publisher=Rice University}}</ref> Congreve is best remembered for his play, ''[[The Way of the World]]'' (1700), which is widely regarded by literary commentators to be one of the finest works in [[Restoration comedy]] literature.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/apr/06/the-way-of-the-world-review-donmar-warehouse-london-congreve|title=The Way of the World review – sparkling restoration of Congreve's comic gem|publisher=The Guardian|year=2018|first1=Michael|last1=Billington|location=London}}</ref>

Congreve also wrote several other notable plays, including ''[[The Old Bachelor]]'' (1693), ''[[The Double Dealer]]'' (1693), ''[[Love for Love]]'' (1695), and ''[[The Mourning Bride]]'' (1697), which helped establish him as a great writer in the genre of comedy of manners.<ref>{{cite book |last=De Breffny |first=Brian |author-link= |date=1983 |title=Ireland: A Cultural Encyclopedia |url= |location=London |publisher=Thames and Hudson |page=66 |isbn=}}</ref> He died in [[London]] in 1729, and was honored with burial at the [[Poets' Corner]] in [[Westminster Abbey]].

==Early life==
William Congreve was born in Bardsey Grange, in Bardsey, a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire.<ref>{{NHLE |desc=Bardsey Grange & Congreve Cottage |num=1135656 |access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> Although [[Samuel Johnson]] disputed this, it has since been confirmed by a baptism entry for "William, sonne of Mr. William Congreve, of Bardsey grange, baptised 10 February 1669" [i.e. 1670 by the modern reckoning of the new year].<ref>{{Cite book | last=Johnson | first=Samuel | author-link=Samuel Johnson | editor-last=Cunningham | editor-first=Peter | editor-link=Peter Cunningham (writer, born 1816) | title=Lives of the most eminent English poets | place=New York | publisher=Derby and Jackson | year=1861 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3O4XAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA15 | page=15 }}</ref> His parents were Colonel William Congreve (1637–1708) and Mary Browning (1636?–1715), who moved to London in 1672, then to the Irish port of [[Youghal]].{{sfn| Scott |1983|p=96}}

Congreve was educated at [[Kilkenny College]], where he met [[Jonathan Swift]], and at [[Trinity College Dublin]].<ref>De Breffny, pg. 67.</ref> He moved to London to study law at the [[Middle Temple]], but preferred literature, drama, and the fashionable life. Congreve used the pseudonym Cleophil, under which he published ''Incognita: or, Love and Duty {{not a typo|reconcil'd}}'' in 1692. This early work, written when he was about 17 years of age, gained him recognition among [[Man of letters|men of letters]] and entry into the literary world. He became a disciple of [[John Dryden]] whom he met through gatherings of literary circles held at Will's Coffeehouse in the [[Covent Garden]] district of London. Dryden supported him throughout his life, often composing complimentary introductions for his publications.

Congreve was distantly related to [[Lady Elizabeth Hastings (1682–1739)|Lady Elizabeth Hastings]], whose family owned Ledston and was part of the London intelligentsia. He wrote a number of articles about her in the ''[[Tatler (1709 journal)|Tatler]]'' magazine.{{sfn|Scott|1983|p=97}}

==Literary career==
William Congreve shaped the English [[comedy of manners]] through his use of satire and well-written dialogue. Congreve achieved fame in 1693 when he wrote some of the most popular English plays of the [[English Restoration|Restoration]] period. This period was distinguished by the fact that female roles were beginning to be played predominantly by women, which was evident in Congreve's work. One of Congreve's favourite actresses was Mrs. [[Anne Bracegirdle]], who performed many of the female lead roles in his plays.

His first play ''[[The Old Bachelor]]'', written to amuse himself while convalescing, was produced at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] in 1693.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Rump|editor1-first=Edward|title=The comedies of William Congreve|date=1985|publisher=Penguin Books|location=Harmondsworth, England|isbn=9780140432312|page=[https://archive.org/details/comediesofwillia00cong/page/10 10]|edition=3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/comediesofwillia00cong/page/10}}</ref> It was recognized as a success, and ran for a two-week period when it opened. Congreve's mentor John Dryden gave the production rave reviews and proclaimed it to be a brilliant first piece. The second play to be produced was called ''[[The Double-Dealer]]'' which was not nearly as successful as the first production. By the age of 30, he had written four comedies, including ''[[Love for Love]]'' (premiered 30 April 1695) staged at the [[Lisle's Tennis Court|Lincoln's Inn Theatre]], which was nearly as well-received as his first major success, and ''[[The Way of the World]]'' (premiered March 1700). This play was a failure at the time of production but is seen as one of his masterpieces today, and is still revived. He wrote one tragedy, ''[[The Mourning Bride]]'' (1697) which was extremely popular at the time of creation but is now one of his least regarded dramas. After the production of ''Love for Love,'' Congreve became one of the managers for the Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1695. During that time, he wrote public occasional verse. As a result of his success and literary merit, he was awarded one of the five positions of commissioner for licensing hackney coaches.

Congreve's career as a playwright was successful but brief. He only wrote five plays, authored from 1693 to 1700, in total. This was partly in response to changes in taste, as the public turned away from the sort of high-brow sexual [[comedy of manners]] in which he specialized. Congreve may have been forced off the stage due to growing concerns about the morality of his theatrical comedies. He reportedly was particularly stung by a critique written by [[Jeremy Collier]] (''A [[Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage]]''), to the point that he wrote a long reply, "Amendments of Mr. Collier's False and Imperfect Citations." Although no longer on the stage, Congreve continued his literary art. He wrote the librettos for two operas that were being created at the time, and he translated the works of [[Molière]].

As a member of the [[British Whig Party|Whig]] [[Kit-Kat Club]], Congreve's career shifted to the political sector, and even a political appointment in Jamaica in 1714 by [[George I of Great Britain|George I]]. Congreve continued to write, although his style changed greatly. During his time in Jamaica, he wrote poetry instead of full-length dramatic productions and translated the works of Homer, Juvenal, Ovid, and Horace.

==Later life==
Congreve withdrew from the theatre and lived the rest of his life on residuals from his early work, the royalties received when his plays were produced, as well as his private income. His output from 1700 was restricted to the occasional poem and some translation (notably [[Molière]]'s ''[[Monsieur de Pourceaugnac]]''). He collaborated with Vanbrugh on a 1704 English version of the play called ''[[Squire Trelooby]]''. Congreve never married; in his own era and through subsequent generations, he was famous for his friendships with prominent actresses and noblewomen for whom he wrote major parts in all his plays. These women included [[Anne Bracegirdle]] and [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough]], daughter of the famous general, [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]]. Congreve and Henrietta most probably met some time before 1703 and the duchess subsequently had a daughter, [[Mary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds|Mary]] (1723–1764), who was believed to be his child. Upon his death, he left his entire fortune to the Duchess of Marlborough.

As early as 1710, Congreve suffered both from gout and from cataracts on his eyes. He was involved in a carriage accident in late September 1728 from which he never recovered (having probably received an internal injury); he died in London in January 1729, and was buried in [[Poets' Corner]] in [[Westminster Abbey]].

==Famous lines==
{{Wikiquote|William Congreve}}
Two of Congreve's phrases from ''[[The Mourning Bride]]'' (1697) have become famous, although they are frequently misquoted or misattributed to [[William Shakespeare]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = You are [mis]quoting Shakespeare|url = https://folgereducation.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/you-are-misquoting-shakespeare/|website = Folger SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY|date = 22 December 2011|access-date = 3 November 2015}}</ref>
*"Musick has charms to soothe a savage breast", which is the first line of the play, spoken by Almeria in Act I, Scene I. This is often rendered as: "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast" or even "savage beast". On 9 September 1956, the line was recited in front of the largest television audience at that time, some 60.7 million viewers, by [[Charles Laughton]], prior to bidding the audience good night on [[Elvis Presley]]'s first appearance on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', which Laughton was guest hosting. 
*"Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor hell a [[erinyes|fury]], like a woman scorned", spoken by Zara in Act III, Scene VIII,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Congreve|first1=William|title=The Mourning Bride: A Tragedy|date=1753|publisher=J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper in the Strand|location=Dublin|page=[https://archive.org/details/mourningbrideat01conggoog/page/n49 46]|url=https://archive.org/details/mourningbrideat01conggoog|access-date=17 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> but paraphrased as "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Merz|first1=Theo|title=Ten literary quotes we all get wrong|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10556095/Ten-literary-quotes-we-all-get-wrong.html|website=Telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=17 June 2017|language=en|date=21 January 2014}}</ref> In the South Korean [[Netflix]] drama [[Squid Game|''Squid Game'']], a character references the line after witnessing a female contestant take out a male contestant in a deadly variation of [[hopscotch]], mistakenly believing it to be a Shakespeare quote, before another character correctly attributes it to Congreve.

Congreve coined another famous phrase in ''Love for Love'' (1695):
*"O fie, Miss, you must not [[kiss and tell]]."

==Works==
{{wikisource author}}
* ''[[The Old Bachelor]]'' (1693)<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Old Bachelor: A Comedy by William Congreve|url = http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1192?msg=welcome_stranger}}</ref>
* ''[[The Double Dealer]]'' (1694)<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Double-Dealer: A Comedy by William Congreve|url = http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1191?msg=welcome_stranger}}</ref>
* ''[[Love for Love]]'' (1695)<ref>{{Cite book|title = Love for Love: A Comedy by William Congreve|url = http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1244?msg=welcome_stranger}}</ref>
* ''[[The Mourning Bride]]'' (1697)<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Mourning Bride: A Tragedy|url = https://archive.org/details/mourningbrideat01conggoog|publisher = J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper in the Strand|date = 1 January 1753|first = William|last = Congreve}}</ref>
* ''[[The Way of the World]]'' (1700)<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Way of the World by William Congreve|url = http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1292?msg=welcome_stranger}}</ref>


[[File:William Congreve Blue Plaque.jpg|thumb|175px|William Congreve blue plaque]]
==Commemoration==
[[Leeds Civic Trust]] unveiled a [[blue plaque]] to Congreve in 2000.

==See also==
* [[Restoration comedy]]

==Notes==

{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Congreve, William. The poetical works of William Congreve. With the life of the author. Cooke's edition. Embellished with superb engravings. London, [1796]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. California State Univ, Northridge. 3 November 2015 
* Klekar, Cynthia. "Obligation, Coercion, and Economy: The Gift of Deed in Congreve’s ''The Way of the World''." In ''The Culture of the Gift in Eighteenth-Century England'', ed. Linda Zionkowski and Cynthia Klekar. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.
* "Love for Love." ''Drama for Students''. Ed. Jennifer Smith. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2002. 175–205. ''Gale Virtual Reference Library''. Web. 3 November 2015.
* [[Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay|Macaulay, Thomas Babington]]. ''The Comic Dramatists of the Restoration.'' London, Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1853.
* The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "William Congreve." ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online''. Encyclopædia Britannica, n.d. Web. 7 April 2016. 
* Dobrée, Bonamy. ''William Congreve''. London: Published for the British Council and the National Book League by Longmans, Green, 1963. Print.
* {{cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=Beatrice |title=Lady Elizabeth Hastings |journal=The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal |date=1983 |volume=55 |url=https://archive.org/details/YAJ0551983}}
* Thomas, David. "Life and Work." ''William Congreve''. Ed. Bruce King. New York: St. Martin's, 1992. 1–14. Print.

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|William Congreve}}
* {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Congreve, William |volume= VI  |last=  Swinburne |first= Algernon Charles |author-link= Algernon Charles Swinburne| pages=271-272 |short=1 }}
*[http://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/authors/pers00339.shtml William Congreve] at the [http://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/ Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA)]
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/william-congreve}}
* {{Gutenberg author | id=Congreve,+William }}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=William Congreve}}
* {{Librivox author |id=2711}}
* [http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/congreve001.html Biography]
* [https://www.delphiclassics.com/shop/william-congreve/ Complete Works of William Congreve]
* {{ibdb name}}
* {{imdb name}}

{{William Congreve}}
{{Restoration comedy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Congreve, William}}
[[Category:English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:1670 births]]
[[Category:1729 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Westminster Abbey]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:People educated at Kilkenny College]]
[[Category:Writers from Leeds]]
[[Category:English male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Last of the Romans]]
[[Category:Leeds Blue Plaques]]