The School for Scandal is a comedy of manners written by Richard Sheridan. The play was initially performed at the Drury Lane Theater in 1777. Though the play premiered well into the 18th century, it is often included in collections of Restoration comedies (1660-1710), as it shares many common elements with the comedies of manners from that period and the period immediately following it. Like many comedies of manners, The School for Scandal relies on the common behaviors and social norms of the upper classes to make fun of them, such as pleasantries, their sources of wealth, and gossip.

The play follows a group of upper-class characters who all suffer or partake in the culture of gossip and scandal of the time. Characters like Lady Sneerwell, Snake, Mrs. Candour, and Joseph Surface attempt to use gossip to promote their own interests, including adopting Lady Teazle into their fold. Meanwhile, characters like Peter Teazle, Maria, and Charles Surface struggle to overcome the social consequences of Sneerwell’s group’s rumors. The dominant themes in the text are The Discrepancy Between Public Virtue and Private Vice, The Destructive Nature of Gossip and Scandal, and The Moral Conflicts of Human Nature.

This guide uses the text included in the second Norton Critical Editions’ Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy, selected and edited by Scott McMillin and published by W. W. Norton & Company in 1997.

Content Warning: As a product of its time, the play contains perspectives and social dynamics that reflect the gender and class biases of the early 18th century. This guide also describes the play’s depiction of antisemitism.

Plot Summary

The Prologue discusses the consequences of scandal, framing Sheridan as a hero fighting the hydra of gossip. In Act I, Joseph, Sneerwell, and Snake conspire to spread gossip. Joseph wants to marry Peter’s ward, Maria, for her money, and he fears that Charles will marry Maria. Sneerwell wants to marry Charles for love. Maria, Crabtree, Benjamin, and Candour arrive, and everyone except Maria engages in gossiping. Maria is disgusted by the rumors they spread about Charles and leaves. Meanwhile, Peter laments how Lady Teazle is spending too much money and hanging around Sneerwell. Rowley reports that Oliver Surface, Joseph and Charles’s uncle, is visiting. Peter wants to prevent Oliver from finding out how miserable Peter is in his marriage.

Peter and Lady Teazle argue about money and gossip, and Peter notes that Lady Teazle is from the country and much younger than him. Lady Teazle prefers life in town, and she leaves to see Sneerwell. Lady Teazle meets Maria, and they find Sneerwell, Joseph, Crabtree, Candour, and Benjamin at Sneerwell’s home. Joseph goes to play cards with Maria, and Peter arrives. Peter is disgusted by the group’s gossiping and leaves, prompting the others to gossip about him. Joseph tries to tell Maria to marry him, but Lady Teazle arrives. Lady Teazle believed that Joseph was romantically interested in her and is upset to find he is courting Maria. At home, Peter runs into Oliver, who is visiting to test his nephews’ morals.

Oliver’s plan is to pretend to be a destitute relation of the Surfaces, Stanley, to ask Joseph and Charles for money. Peter thinks Charles is extravagant, noting how Charles has spent or gambled away all his money. A money-lender, Moses, helps Oliver pretend to be Premium, another money-lender, to trick Charles. At Charles’s home, Oliver is disappointed by how many family heirlooms Charles has already sold. Oliver and Rowley find Charles drinking and gambling with his friends.

Charles tries to sell even more heirlooms to Oliver, whom he thinks is Premium. When Oliver offers to buy Charles’s portraits of his family members, Charles agrees. Oliver thinks he can never forgive Charles until Charles refuses to sell Oliver’s portrait. Oliver forgives Charles, giving him a large sum for the portraits, and Charles gives Rowley some money to send to Stanley before returning to his gambling.

Joseph tells Peter that Charles is beyond help, and Peter tells Maria she should marry Joseph. However, Maria insists that she wants to marry Charles. Lady Teazle asks Peter for money, and they argue, with Lady Teazle wishing for Peter’s death. Lady Teazle goes to Joseph’s home, complaining about how Peter thinks she is unfaithful. Joseph suggests that Lady Teazle has a real affair, and the two almost kiss.

Peter arrives, and Lady Teazle hides behind a curtain. Peter confesses his love for Lady Teazle to Joseph, saying he plans to give her a large allowance and leave all his money to her when he dies. Peter suspects Charles and Lady Teazle are having an affair, and Peter hides in the closet when Charles arrives. Joseph asks Charles about Lady Teazle, and Charles denies having an affair while implying that Joseph is having an affair with Lady Teazle. Peter emerges and apologizes to Charles, and then the screen falls, revealing Lady Teazle. Everyone is mad at Joseph.

Oliver, pretending to be Stanley, visits Joseph, who promises to help Stanley in the future while refusing to give him any money. Joseph blames Oliver and Charles, and Oliver leaves feeling disappointed in Joseph. At Peter’s home, Sneerwell, Crabtree, Candour, and Benjamin spread rumors about Joseph, Charles, and Peter fighting and wounding each other. Oliver arrives and summons Peter, who dispels these rumors. At Oliver and Rowley’s insistence, Peter reconciles with Lady Teazle.

Joseph and Charles arrive. Sneerwell is mad at Joseph for ruining their plan. Oliver reveals himself, forgiving Charles and condemning Joseph. Sneerwell and Joseph try to summon Snake to falsely accuse Charles of sleeping with Lady Teazle, but Peter reveals that he already paid Snake to tell the truth. Charles and Maria agree to marry, and Joseph and Sneerwell leave in disgrace. The Epilogue shows Lady Teazle lamenting her extravagance and participation in gossip.