Love for Love

play by Congreve

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June 30, 2026

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Love for Love is a comedy of manners by William Congreve, first performed in 1695. The play is known for its witty dialogue and satirical portrayal of social conventions, particularly concerning love and marriage. It follows the romantic entanglements and schemes of its characters as they navigate societal expectations and personal desires. Congreve, a prominent figure in English drama, used his plays to offer an ironic critique of the affectations of his age, and Love for Love was a significant success in his literary career.12

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William Congreve
Literary career
Love for Love almost repeated the success of his first play. Performed in April 1695, it was the first production staged for the new theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which was opened after protracted crises in the old Theatre Royal, complicated by quarrels among the…
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Love for Love almost repeated the success of his first play. Performed in April 1695, it was the first production staged for the new theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which was opened after protracted crises in the old Theatre Royal, complicated by quarrels among the…
Read More