SOURCE: Kaufman, Anthony. “This Hard Condition of a Woman's Fate: Southerne's The Wives' Excuse.” Modern Language Quarterly 34, no. 1 (March 1973): 36-47.

In the following essay, Kaufman explores psychological elements in The Wives' Excuse.

Few would disagree that a real change of sensibility occurred in Restoration comedy after the Revolution of 1688. The reasons for the collapse into sense have been well explored, as has its rather distasteful by-product: sentimental comedy. But critics have not yet fully defined the achievement of the 1690s. Congreve is a master, of course, and Vanbrugh and Farquhar receive their due. Even Cibber has his defenders. But were there others? Thomas Southerne remains a largely unexplored dramatist, although we know he was highly valued in his time. Dryden's rather odd triplet in his generous tribute “To Mr. Congreve” comes to mind:

In Him all Beauties of this Age we see; Etherege his Courtship, Southern's Purity; The...