The Development of English Drama during the Romantic Age (1800-180

The Development of English Drama during the Romantic Age (1800-1850) The Romantic era was not fertile for the production of stage drama. Why? That is a matter of conjecture .Some critics believe that drama was neglected during this period due to the dearth of ideas among the contemporary dramatists. A new genre of Drama evolved mainly from the trend of romantic poetry which was popularly known as the Closet Drama .A Closet Drama is written in a dramatic form, with dialogue indicating stage direction and settings. The author writes it with the intention that people should read it rather than seeing the performance. Lord Byron’s Manfred (1817), Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound (1820) are some honourable mentions in this context. It will be surprising to know that Shelley, Byron and Keats also wrote for stage but were later discouraged by the lukewarm response of the audience. Among all the works done during the age, perhaps Shelley’s The Cenci is the best produced work. Apart from Closet Drama, another genre of drama started to thrive simultaneously which was known as Sentimental comedy. These plays had a propensity to highlight middle class ethics, moral values and to celebrate their sentimental journey towards the final reward of virtue. The plots were more or less always the same. The protagonists, the faithful lovers triumphantly overcome all the trials and tribulations in the path of their love. Mentionable works of this genre are Richard Steele’s The Conscious Lover (1722), Colley Cibber’s Love’s Last Shaft(19), Edward Moore’s The Foundling(1748).

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