The School for Scandal is set in London, England during the 18th century, under the rule of George III (who ruled from 1760 to 1820). This was a period of great upheaval for the country, as technological advancements meant that the First Industrial Revolution was in full swing, while at the same time the British Empire was both expanding and shrinking. The American Revolution spelled the loss of Britain’s 13 colonies, and yet British participation in the slave trade and colonial projects in the East added immensely to the nation’s wealth.
On the home front, British social hierarchy was highly stratified, even with the increasing upward mobility of the lower classes due to industrial innovation. Rules regarding manners and codes of conduct were meant to be adhered to, especially in high society, although plays like this one speak to the fact that propriety did not always win the day. The influx of people to cities in search of jobs had a great impact on the familial and domestic sphere, and tensions began to rise between the rural country folk and urbanized city centers. Sheridan reflects these societal changes in his play most clearly through his depiction of the relationship between Sir Peter and Lady Teazle, who suffer in their struggle to reconcile their very different backgrounds before their ultimate reconciliation.
