The Way of the World is a representative work of Restoration Comedy written by which author?

• A. William Congreve
• B. John Dryden
• C. George Etherege
• D. Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Answer: (A)

Restoration Comedy is known for sparkling wit, satire of social manners, and intricate plots about love and marriage among the upper classes. The Way of the World embodies this with its sharp dialogue and the clever maneuvering of lovers within a propriety-bound world. It was written by William Congreve, a leading playwright of the Restoration era whose comedies define the form. While other writers like John Dryden and George Etherege were important to the period in different ways, and Sheridan belongs to a later era, The Way of the World is Congreve’s signature work.