Anti-sentimental comedy is a type of comedy which came into existence during the 18th century. It was a reaction against the Sentimental comedy. It is also known as an artificial form of drama. Oliver Goldsmith is considered as the pioneer of this anti-sentimental comedy. He criticized the trending elements of Sentimental comedy in his essay ‘Essay on Theatre’ He ridiculed the Sentimental Comedy and after that Richard Sheridan was the second writer who wrote against Sentimental comedy. Both Goldsmith and Sheridan believed that comedy was to provide laughter and humor not sadness and tears, while Sentimental comedy is full of tears in eyes. According to them true comedy is not only for spreading or weeping moral lessons. It is to provide fun and happiness. The principle features of anti-sentimental comedy are wit, laughter, farce, irony, satire, disguise, and representation of upper class people.
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