The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 4, April 1810

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26954

Title

The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 4, April 1810

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1810 periodical explores the origins and psychology of drama, contrasting the sympathetic pleasure of tragedy with the corrective function of comedy. Through historical anecdotes of actors like Garrick and satirical essays, it examines the moral duties of the stage and the enduring power of wit.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in April 1810, *The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 4* serves as a comprehensive historical record and critical commentary on the English theater. The volume opens with a philosophical inquiry into the psychology of the audience, exploring why humans derive pleasure from tragedy and comedy. It posits that while tragedy evokes delight through sympathy for fictionalized distress, comedy functions as an imitation of the ridiculous designed to correct human vices. The text argues that ridicule is a powerful moral tool, noting that the stage must echo the public voice to survive. The narrative weaves together biographical sketches of prominent figures, including the actor David Garrick and Samuel Foote. Key anecdotes detail Garrick's defense of his property during riots over a Chinese Festival and his support for actor Moody during disturbances regarding latecomers. The volume also examines the history of theatrical licensing in England, tracing its origins to Henry Fielding's satirical play *Pasquin*, which provoked Robert Walpole into restricting unlicensed performances. The text highlights the fallacy of premature judgment in the theater, citing the surprising success of rejected works like Mrs. Centlivre's *The Busy Body* and John Gay's *The Beggar's Opera*, which became massive hits despite initial rejection by managers. A significant portion of the work is dedicated to the "Dramatic Censor," which critiques the dishonesty of audiences who applaud undeserving performers or hiss in malice. The volume includes an excerpt from the play *A Wine merchant*, which dramatizes the conflict between the greedy uncle, Sir Giles Overreach, and his nephew, Wellborn. In this excerpt, a fraudulent land deed used to oppress the nephew is magically erased, leading to a stolen marriage and a confrontation that ends with Sir Giles's madness. The work concludes by asserting that the drama's laws are dictated by its patrons and that the stage reflects the public's desires, whether for high art or popular entertainment.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26954.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg26954.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 06:29 UTC

Categories

• Drama
• Periodicals