The Contrast By Royall Tyler Essay

In The Contrast by Royall Tyler, Tyler uses stereotype to introduce the character’s personalities. The character’s actions and feelings throughout the story reflect his or her name. For example, Dimple, the main character, is involved romantically with multiple women. Dimple’s name reveals his charming characteristics seen throughout the play.
Dimple’s charming characteristics make it easier for him to awe people. He is involved in romantic relationships with three different women, Letitia, Maria, and Charlotte. Dimple uses his charming personality to impress the three women. In act five Dimple tells Charlotte, “Your good opinion, my angel, is the pride and pleasure of my heart; and if the most respectful tenderness for you and an utter indifference for all your sex besides, can make me worthy of your esteem, I shall richly merit it”
Throughout the play, he glorifies himself by talking down about others. In act three Dimple says, “I ought, according to every rule of Chesterfield, to wait on him [Col. Manly] and insinuate myself into his good graces...Some ignorant unpolished boor” (796). Dimple shows how he truly feels towards Manly; he believes Manly is inferior to himself because of social rankings. In act four Dimple tells Charlotte, “ Unfortunate! I have a horrid engagement of business at that hour.- Can’t you finish your visit earlier, and let six be the happy hour?” (808). Dimple puts himself before his mistress, Charlotte. Dimple proves through his actions that he views himself as superior to others.
Royall Tyler portrayed Dimple as a charming young man that used his characteristics negatively. His self-superiority drove him to use people and be deceptive. Dimple charmed multiple women and pursued relationships with them simultaneously. He often awed people, such as Manly, in order to impress them and seem like a better person. Dimple’s name foreshadowed his charming