Twentieth Century Drama & Important Facts

A Brief Introduction

The modern of the twentieth century drama was founded in the last decade or nineteenth century. He exercised the greatest influence on the modern English Drama. His influence on the English drama is clearly marked after 1890. Ibsen taught men that drama must deal with human emotions, with things near and dear to ordinary men and women. Among the English Dramatists, Arthur Pinero is considered to be the pionner of the modern drama. He holds the chief positions in the world of Pre modern drama. He is remembered most of his four problem plays-The second Mrs. Tan Queray, ‘the Notorious Mrs. Edgesmith’, ‘Iria’ and ‘mid channel’. H.A. Jones is another playwright worthy of mention.

Important Facts to Remember

1. The twentieth century or the modern drama is a drama of idea of social problems. It is mostly realistic and naturalistic. The comedy of manners has been revived, satire is employed plentifully. The modern drama is perfect mirror of the contemporary life. George Bernard Shaw introduced a new type of realistic plays.

2. The Revival of the comedy of manners is another remarkable feature of the Modern drama. A definite return is made the witty, satirical comedy of Congreve. Oscar Wilde and Henry Arthur Jones aided in the establishment of this drama of form. Shavian comedy is most remarkable in this respect. His plays are comedies of purpose.

3. The characters of the modern drama are drawn from the lowest strategy of life. They are common people. The Hero in modern tragedy is no more a king or a prince, or a man in high degree. He may be a clerk, a grocer, a driver or a soldier. The part of villain is played by some social institution and the conflicts between the individual and the society.

4. The playwrights have worked hard to make the language of the drama most suitable for the forceful and impressive dialogues. The dramatists have evolved a dramatic prose which is characterized by a subtle melody, imaginative quality and rhythm.

5. To Sum up all these facts we can say that development of modern drama that began in the last decade of the nineteenth century is characterized as the Renaissance of English Drama.