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Excerpt
User Reviews
The Good-Natured Man is a comedy play written by Oliver Goldsmith, an Irish playwright and novelist. It was first performed in 1768. The play revolves around the character of Mr. Honeywood, a kind-hearted and generous man, who often finds himself entangled in humorous and chaotic situations.
The plot of this unique play The Good-Natured Man centres around Honeywood’s interactions with various eccentric characters, including his scheming nephew, Leontine and his landlady, Mrs. Croaker. There is also her daughter, Olivia, and a group of social climbers, Sir William and Lady Honeywood. These characters represent the different facets of the eighteenth-century society, highlighting themes such as greed, deception and social pretensions.
Despite his good intentions, Honeywood often becomes a victim of manipulation and trickery. His nephew, Leontine, is in love with Olivia but faces financial difficulties and resorts to desperate measures to secure his future. Honeywood’s attempts to assist him and navigate the complex relationships around him form the central plot of the play.
Goldsmith keeps his readers thoroughly engaged through witty dialogue, situational comedy and farcical elements to satirize the social conventions and moral dilemmas of the time. He uses humour to satirise the hypocrisy and personal egos prevalent in the society and often highlights the contrast between appearances and reality.
The Good-Natured Man is known for its dynamic and colourful characters, witty dialogues, and comic timing. It explores the major themes of trust, loyalty and the challenges of maintaining one’s integrity in a society that gives a lot of importance to material wealth and social status.
Although the play faced mixed reviews initially, it eventually gained popularity and is considered one of Goldsmith’s notable works. It showcases his skill as a playwright and his ability to entertain while also offering a social commentary. Overall, The Good-Natured Man is a comedic play that dives into the complexities of human nature, relationships and societal expectations, all while keeping its audience and readers amused and entertained.
The Good-Natured Man is a comedy play written by Oliver Goldsmith, an Irish playwright and novelist. It was first performed in 1768. The play revolves around the character of Mr. Honeywood, a kind-hearted and generous man, who often finds himself entangled in humorous and chaotic situations.
The plot of this unique play The Good-Natured Man centres around Honeywood’s interactions with various eccentric characters, including his scheming nephew, Leontine and his landlady, Mrs. Croaker. There is also her daughter, Olivia, and a group of social climbers, Sir William and Lady Honeywood. These characters represent the different facets of the eighteenth-century society, highlighting themes such as greed, deception and social pretensions.
Despite his good intentions, Honeywood often becomes a victim of manipulation and trickery. His nephew, Leontine, is in love with Olivia but faces financial difficulties and resorts to desperate measures to secure his future. Honeywood’s attempts to assist him and navigate the complex relationships around him form the central plot of the play.
Goldsmith keeps his readers thoroughly engaged through witty dialogue, situational comedy and farcical elements to satirize the social conventions and moral dilemmas of the time. He uses humour to satirise the hypocrisy and personal egos prevalent in the society and often highlights the contrast between appearances and reality.
The Good-Natured Man is known for its dynamic and colourful characters, witty dialogues, and comic timing. It explores the major themes of trust, loyalty and the challenges of maintaining one’s integrity in a society that gives a lot of importance to material wealth and social status.
Although the play faced mixed reviews initially, it eventually gained popularity and is considered one of Goldsmith’s notable works. It showcases his skill as a playwright and his ability to entertain while also offering a social commentary. Overall, The Good-Natured Man is a comedic play that dives into the complexities of human nature, relationships and societal expectations, all while keeping its audience and readers amused and entertained.
Oliver Goldsmith was born on November 10, 1728, in County Longford, Ireland. He was a renowned Anglo-Irish writer and poet of the 18th century. Known for his versatility and wit, Goldsmith has proven his expertise in various literary forms, including plays, poetry, essays and novels.
Goldsmith had a childhood that was marked by financial struggles and a challenging education. However, he showed remarkable intellectual prowess and eventually studied at Trinity College, Dublin, where he displayed his talent for writing and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
In 1756, Goldsmith relocated to London, seeking literary success. There, he became part of a contemporary literary circle that included some notable figures such as Samuel Johnson, Joshua Reynolds and Edmund Burke. Goldsmith’s charm, humour and storytelling abilities made him a popular figure in social circles and earned him the admiration and respect of his peers.
Goldsmith’s most celebrated work is the play She Stoops to Conquer (1773). It is a comedy of manners that satirizes the foibles of the upper class. The play’s witty dialogue, humorous situations and endearing characters made it an instant hit and established Goldsmith’s credibility as a skilled playwright.
In addition to his plays, Goldsmith is also remembered for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766). The novel tells the story of the Primrose family and highlights the theme of morality, virtue and resilience in the face of adversity. It remains a popular work for its warmth, engaging narrative and carefully and meaningfully etched characters.
Goldsmith’s poetry, namely The Deserted Village (1770) and An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog (1766), reflects his keen observation of society and his compassion for the plight of the common man. His poetry is characterized by its lyrical quality, gentle satire and empathy for human struggles.
Goldsmith’s writing reveals his deep understanding of human nature, a sympathy for the underprivileged and a wit that both entertained and enlightened his readers. His works tackled social issues, celebrated the beauty of the natural world and showcased his skill in capturing the nuances of human emotions.
Oliver Goldsmith’s contributions to English literature have left a lasting impact. His ability to blend humour and sentiment with generous doses of social critique continues to resonate with modern readers. Goldsmith’s works stand as enduring classics, testament to his remarkable talent and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. A rich legacy left for progenies to tackle social upheavals.
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Also from Trove
1. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
2. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
3. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
4. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
9. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
10. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
11. Moby Dick or The Whale by Melville Herman
12. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
13. Animal Farm by George Orwell
14. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
15. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
16. She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith
17. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
18. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
19. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
20. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
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The Good-Natured Man
A Comedy
By
Oliver Goldsmith
Newgen Knowledge Works Offices
Chennai Pondicherry Pune Kottayam Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Leipzig (Germany) Amsterdam (Netherlands) Stroud (UK) Texas (USA)
First published in 1921 as part of the Cambridge Plain Texts series
This book has been inspired from the original version of The Good Natured Man first published in 1921, available in the public domain. Due care and diligence have been taken while bringing out this edition; neither the author nor the publishers of the book hold any responsibility for any mistake that may have inadvertently crept in. The publishers shall not be liable for any direct, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use of the book.
© Trove Books Edition, 2023
Paperback ISBN: 978-81-19303-64-9
eBook ISBN: 978-81-19303-54-0
WebPDF: 978-81-19303-63-2
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Author Bio
Oliver Goldsmith was born on November 10, 1728, in County Longford, Ireland. He was a renowned Anglo-Irish writer and poet of the 18th century. Known for his versatility and wit, Goldsmith has proven his expertise in various literary forms, including plays, poetry, essays and novels.
Goldsmith had a childhood that was marked by financial struggles and a challenging education. However, he showed remarkable intellectual prowess and eventually studied at Trinity College, Dublin, where he displayed his talent for writing and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
In 1756, Goldsmith relocated to London, seeking literary success. There, he became part of a contemporary literary circle that included some notable figures such as Samuel Johnson, Joshua Reynolds and Edmund Burke. Goldsmith’s charm, humour and storytelling abilities made him a popular figure in social circles and earned him the admiration and respect of his peers.
Goldsmith’s most celebrated work is the play She Stoops to Conquer (1773). It is a comedy of manners that satirizes the foibles of the upper class. The play’s witty dialogue, humorous situations and endearing characters made it an instant hit and established Goldsmith’s credibility as a skilled playwright.
In addition to his plays, Goldsmith is also remembered for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766). The novel tells the story of the Primrose family and highlights the theme of morality, virtue and resilience in the face of adversity. It remains a popular work for its warmth, engaging narrative and carefully and meaningfully etched characters.
Goldsmith’s poetry, namely The Deserted Village (1770) and An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog (1766), reflects his keen observation of society and his compassion for the plight of the common man. His poetry is characterized by its lyrical quality, gentle satire and empathy for human struggles.
Goldsmith’s writing reveals his deep understanding of human nature, a sympathy for the underprivileged and a wit that both entertained and enlightened his readers. His works tackled social issues, celebrated the beauty of the natural world and showcased his skill in capturing the nuances of human emotions.
Oliver Goldsmith’s contributions to English literature have left a lasting impact. His ability to blend humour and sentiment with generous doses of social critique continues to resonate with modern readers. Goldsmith’s works stand as enduring classics, testament to his remarkable talent and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. A rich legacy left for progenies to tackle social upheavals.
About the Book
The Good-Natured Man is a comedy play written by Oliver Goldsmith, an Irish playwright and novelist. It was first performed in 1768. The play revolves around the character of Mr. Honeywood, a kind-hearted and generous man, who often finds himself entangled in humorous and chaotic situations.
The plot of this unique play The Good-Natured Man centres around Honeywood’s interactions with various eccentric characters, including his scheming nephew, Leontine and his landlady, Mrs. Croaker. There is also her daughter, Olivia, and a group of social climbers, Sir William and Lady Honeywood. These characters represent the different facets of the eighteenth-century society, highlighting themes such as greed, deception and social pretensions.
Despite his good intentions, Honeywood often becomes a victim of manipulation and trickery. His nephew, Leontine, is in love with Olivia but faces financial difficulties and resorts to desperate measures to secure his future. Honeywood’s attempts to assist him and navigate the complex relationships around him form the central plot of the play.
Goldsmith keeps his readers thoroughly engaged through witty dialogue, situational comedy and farcical elements to satirize the social conventions and moral dilemmas of the time. He uses humour to satirise the hypocrisy and personal egos prevalent in the society and often highlights the contrast between appearances and reality.
The Good-Natured Man is known for its dynamic and colourful characters, witty dialogues, and comic timing. It explores the major themes of trust, loyalty and the challenges of maintaining one’s integrity in a society that gives a lot of importance to material wealth and social status.
Although the play faced mixed reviews initially, it eventually gained popularity and is considered one of Goldsmith’s notable works. It showcases his skill as a playwright and his ability to entertain while also offering a social commentary. Overall, The Good-Natured Man is a comedic play that dives into the complexities of human nature, relationships and societal expectations, all while keeping its audience and readers amused and entertained.
