The Contrast

The Contrast, written in 1787 by Royall Tyler, is an American play in the tradition of the English Restoration comedies of the seventeenth century; it takes its cue from Sheridan's The School for Scandal, a British comedy of manners that had revived that tradition a decade before. Royall uses the form to satirize Americans who follow British fashions and indulge in 'British vices'. Thus, the play is often concerned with portraying the contrast between European and American culture. The Contrast is the first comedy written by an American citizen that was professionally produced. The play begins with a prologue written in heroic couplets. The play itself, a comedy of manners, evaluates home-made versus foreign goods and ideas. Its leading character, Jonathan, introduces to the theatre the "Yankee" stock character with his rough-hewn and plain-spoken manners. Characters Charlotte: Colonel Manly's sister, lives with her uncle in New York, has friends and good social standing; a coquette Letitia: friend of Charlotte and ward of Charlotte's uncle; possesses monetary wealth, which makes her attractive to Dimple Mr. Billy Dimple: the villain, a dandy, attempts to manage relationships with Charlotte, Letitia, and Maria at once; in need of money, an Anglophile fop Maria Van Rough: daughter of Van Rough, sentimental and virtuous Colonel Henry Manly: contrasting character to Mr. Dimple, a persona of America; a gentleman, patriot, and hero Van Rough: Maria's father Jessamy: Dimple's waiter/servant, as snobbish as his master, a persona of Europe Jonathan: Manly's waiter/servant, represents the New England Yankee, an unsophisticated country bumpkin, honest and patriotic Jenny: Maria's waiter/servant, Jessamy's friend Servants Plot Setting: New York City, New York