The Man of Mode

"The Man of Mode" is a comedy by 17th-century playwright George Etherege that satirizes the superficial and manipulative social behaviors of London's upper class. It depicts a young man who uses charm, wit, and strategic relationships to navigate love and society, often aiming to gain status or personal advantage. The play highlights themes of vanity, deception, and social pretense, illustrating how characters seek to appear fashionable and sophisticated while often acting self-interestedly. Essentially, it offers a humorous critique of the vanity and moral laxity of the social elite of that era.