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초록

Sheridan’s Pizarro is a translated version from Kotzebue’s Die Spanier in Peru in German, and this fact may have caused it to fail to draw as much critical attention as his major works such as The School for Scandal or The Rivals did. However, its political impact on the audience, the majority of whom were illiterate and had no access to books, would have been more powerful than any other works of his. Pizarro was praised as invoking English patriotism against upcoming French invasion, and for this reason the king George the third and his family came to watch the play. Although it apparently supported his kingship, Sheridan was criticizing his government’s oppression against political radicals and its colonies. As an Irish born, he was very sensitive against British colonial policy of India or Ireland. By using irony, he led some of the audience to believe that the play was criticizing French invasion, but in reality its target was on British government. His intent becomes clear when we see how he changed Kotzebue’s original text. He omitted and added numerous dialogues to express his radical views against William Pitt’s oppressive policy. For example, the part of Rolla’s dialogue against Spanish people was originated from Sheridan’s speech in Warren Hasting’s trial over his oppressive policy against Indian people. In short, Sheridan used an ironic tactic to avoid any possible censorship against his rebellious views; his attempt worked well and the play was very successful on the stage.

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