The Virtuoso Summary

Thomas Shadwell’s famous scientific satire The Virtuoso lampooned the frivolous and non-utilitarian scientific processes that were prevalent during the early years of Royal Society of science. Although Shadwell targeted his contemporary self-proclaimed virtuosos who practiced science only as a fun diversion, he simultaneously managed to predict some of the more dire consequences that would come about from the development of machine technology and the process of industrialization. It would be disingenuous to imply that Shadwell was writing a Marxist critique of technological development and its effect on the English workforce, or even that he was an anti-machine Luddite, as both of those ideologies would not come to be developed until well after two hundred years after the Restoration period. It can, however, be said that many scenes in The Virtuoso make accurate predictions as to what scientific advancement would bring and to what effect it would have, and that Shadwell’s play doubles as both a critique of the scientific process of the Royal Society and of the Industrial Revolution and the socio-economic chaos it would cause, even though it was still one hundred years away from beginning. Industrialization was still a long way in the making, but it’s effects could be seen long beforehand. Shadwell also satirized the attitudes held by those that championed these developments. This is best highlighted by the characterization of the titular virtuoso, Sir Nicholas Gimcrack, as somebody who does not care about the consequences of his actions, and by several scenes, such as where Gimcrack creates horrible sheep-men hybrids, or when Gimcrack and his colleagues are set upon by an angry mob of ribbon-weavers led by his Uncle Snarl, and th...

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... in Shadwell’s time created the same effect as the wealth-creating philosopher's stone. Of course, industrialization would have much nastier side effects like pollution and increased workplace-related deaths and injuries.

My intention here is not to portray Shadwell’s The Virtuoso as a politicized play with a specific agenda, nor is to imply that Shadwell’s play has a grotesque plot filled with sinister characters. What I hope to show is that while The Virtuoso was first and foremost a comedic performance that parodied the self-styled virtuosos of its age, it also provided a significant critique of technological development and its effects on society. Shadwell is mocking science and the Royal Society in his work, but without a doubt he recognizes it as powerful force in society, albeit not a force worthy of the reverential attitude that society treats it with.