Question

In a four to six page paper respond to the following:
How does the play, She Stoops to Conquer, by Oliver Goldsmith deal with changes in society? What character impresses you the most and why?

Materials:
Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture (Brief Fourth Edition) (Vol.2) 4th Edition, Joshua Cole and Carol Symes (W. M. North & Company; 4 edition [2015]) ISBN-10:039326534X

She Stoops to Conquer Play Analysis on Changes in Society

Changes in society often result from mechanisms in the social structure that shape social organizations, value systems, rules of behavior, and cultural symbols. Various factors and varied movements lead to these changes. The play, She Stoops to Conquer, incorporates a broadly humorous aspect portraying societal changes taking place at the time. In particular, a closer look in the play highlights the contrasting themes such as freedom to do what one wants, city and country, emergence of social classes, and growing awareness of the difference between reality and appearance. This essay explores how the play deals with societal changes. It also identifies the most compelling character in the play from a personal perspective. Even though the play fails to specify the time of the covered societal changes, its circumstances are reminiscent of the developments characterizing the Enlightenment Era in the 18^th century.

Changes in the Society

The initial conversation at the start of the play promptly informs the reader about the ongoing urbanization during the era. The admiration for the town life that Mrs. Hardcastle reveals signifies the societal changes that were ongoing in the 18^th century as cities and towns started to grow. In portraying that she preferred urban life to countryside, she laments that their family remained in the countryside for too long. She wished they would move to town. She states, “I hate such old-fashioned trumpery” (Goldsmith 1). However, not all people share her sentiments. Some, including her husband, were reluctant to embrace urbanity. In his response about town life, her husband thinks that urban life made people foolish and emphasized his fondness for the countryside. He states, “I love everything that’s old: old friends, old manners, old books. old wine” (1). Considering the context of their conversation, the play portrays the broader societal changes that were taking place in the 18^th century as towns started growing.
The play also illustrates social change occurring as it highlights the evolving customs about marriage…

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