Final answer:
Characters in comedies of manners, like Wycherley's 'The Country Wife,' are known for their satirical treatment of aristocratic behavior and emphasis on wit and reputation. This comedic style critiques social norms and values through clever dialogue and complex social situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characters found in comedies of manners, such as William Wycherley's The Country Wife, are noted for their satirical portrayal of the social mannerisms of the aristocracy. These plays, popular particularly in the 19th Century, often held a critical lens to the flaws and hypocrisies within high society.
Characters in these plays valued wit over morality and reputation over virtue, with the comedy arising from social intrigue, sexual reputation, and the tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Playwrights like William Wycherley and Oscar Wilde excelled in creating these types of characters, who deftly navigated the complicated social hierarchies of their time with sharp dialogue and clever schemes.
Comedies of manners are closely related to social satire, with prominent examples including Wycherley's The Country Wife and Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. These works offer insight into the values and absurdities of the era's upper class, deploying comedic devices such as misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and social lampooning to entertain and critique.