Abstract
Sheridan introduces the theme of money as a major theme of the play; he portrays his characters as coming from a wealthy and refined background, and therefore for whom money is important, as it allows them to differentiate themselves from the rest of the population and to maintain a certain standard of appearance in the society. The playwright shows money as being the driving force behind almost all his personages actions and reactions. The audience can feel that he moved in this privileged social class, as his account of it is very precise; also, this may have had a telling effect on his contemporaries, since Sheridan was known to suffer many setbacks with money and to be in debt most of the time. Therefore, this play can be seen as a fair portrayal of how people considered money in the 18th century, as well as a reflection of Sheridan's personal experiences.
