The Justification Of Title- The Rivals: C.U. English Honours Part-II Notes

A very befitting title

This comedy of intrigues has a very befitting title because almost all intrigues in it refer to the rivalry of different characters for winning their prize. The title thus refers to the central theme of the play. Although at its face it might seem a comical title but in essence it is deeply satirical. In other way, the title can also be taken as a satire on the husbands in general who were suspicious of unknown rivals and the foolishly romantic girls who found pleasure in surrounding themselves with contending rivals.

The main rivals in the play

Some critics opine that the title The Rivals does not carry a very precise relevance. It has however been suggested that by his title Sheridan was referring to the pseudo rivalry of Captain Absolute and Ensign Beverly. Captain Absolute has to assume the personality of a poor sub-lieutenant to tickle the humour of Lydia Lnguish, the romantic heroine, who according to Fag is a lady of a very singular taste, a lady who like him better as half-pay ensign than if she knew he was son and heir to Sir Anthony Absolute, a baronet of three thousand a year.” Lydia is dissuaded from marrying Beverly by her caperon Mrs. Malaprop, who intercepts his letters written to her. Later she herself brings with the help of Sir Anthony, his son Captain Absolute as a suitor to Lydia and so rival to Ensign Beverly is provided. He is therefore at the same time in Lydia’s eyes, the two rivals—the adored Beverly and the detested Captain Absolute.

However, there are two pretenders to Lydia’s hand, even if neither one plays an important part in the love plot. Bob Acres versus Ensign Beverly and Sir Lucius O’Trigger versus Captain Absolute are the avowed duels to be fought in the course of the play. Acres was encouraged by Mrs. Malaprop to become the suitor of Lydia and he thus hold the rivalry with Beverly. Acres is the type of the rich landlord of the countryside who tries to pose himself to be a city dandy by changing his country dress and style of hair and learning fashionable French dances. He is a coward at heart and does not like to fight a duel for the sake of his beloved Lydia though egged on by the fiery Lucius he sends a challenge to Ensign Beverly. 

A third rival is Sir Lucius O’Trigger, a poor Irish baronet who is duped by Lucy into believing that he has been corresponding with Lydia, and not Mrs. Malaprop though it was actually the reverse. He wishes to marry the rich heiress for the sake of improving his finances. The Irishman had been a permanent comic figure on the contemporary English stage and Sir Lucius is no exception. He is always eager to fight a duel and he also cites other to do same. Unlike Acres, he is not a coward and is ready to risk his life for the sake of making his fortune.

Problem of rivalry is finally solved

The tangle of the three rivals is finally cleared at King’s Mead Fields, where the three are about to be engaged in duels. The main problem of rivalry is solved when the identity of Captain Absolute is discovered by all. After that nothing much remains to be done than to bring Lydia round to accept Captain Absolute in his own person, and his rivalry with Beverly in the main plot ends. Bob Acres’s rivalry with Captain Absolute ends as soon as he comes to know his real identity. He takes the first opportunity to back out from the duel and promptly gives up all claims on Lydia. Sir Lucius also, when discovers his mistake of confusing Delia with Lydia, remains no more a rival of Captain Absolute.

Then there are imaginary rivalry is too in Faulkland’s mind. And, being foolishly jealous of them, he not only prepares his bitter cup for himself but also tortures Julia. He too is purged of his suspicious nature in the end. The complications of the play end on a happy note as was typical of all comedies of manners. Hence we can say that the title of the play is not only befitting but the theme it suggests, serves to interlink the three plots.

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