Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act by John Oxenford
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"Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act" by John Oxenford is a comedic play written in the mid-19th century, likely during the Victorian era. This work is a farce, a genre characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations, and focuses on the comedic entanglements in a social setting. The narrative revolves around themes of mistaken identity and the absurdity of social distinctions, showcasing how appearances can be deceiving. The plot unfolds
at an evening party hosted by Mr. De Windsor, who has just returned from watching a court case where a man named Pawkins was acquitted of theft, having been wrongfully accused. Eager to stand by the “innocent” Pawkins, De Windsor invites him to his party, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings. The character of Whitewash, a barrister who defended Pawkins, finds himself tangled in a web of deception and comedy as De Windsor insists on marrying his daughter to him, believing he’s a noble defender of virtue. As the story unfolds, Pawkins inadvertently becomes the center of attention, while various characters' true intentions are hilariously revealed, ultimately culminating in a farcical resolution that highlights the ridiculousness of the societal situation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Oxenford, John, 1812-1877 |
|---|---|
| Title | Retained for the Defence: A Farce, in One Act |
| Credits |
Produced by Paul Haxo from page images generously made available by the HathiTrust, the University of Illinois, and Google. |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.8 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Comedy plays |
| Subject | English drama -- 19th century |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 49296 |
| Release Date | Jun 27, 2015 |
| Last Update | Oct 24, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 277 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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