Blad uit: Het zedelyk tooneel, bevattende eenige der beste zedelyke tooneelspelen, 1778 1778

This page from "Het zedelyk tooneel," or "The Moral Theater," was printed in 1778. This collection of plays was intended to set examples for behavior, and it speaks volumes about the cultural values of the time, particularly the emphasis on moral instruction through entertainment. This specific page is the title page for “The School of Morality, or the Consequences of a Licentious Life.” In five acts, this play clearly aimed to teach a lesson. The title itself lays bare the play's didactic purpose: to educate its audience in matters of morality. What does it mean for the moral compass of society when entertainment and licentiousness are pitted against one another? The play invites us to consider how individual choices reflect broader societal values and anxieties. It serves as a window into the past, revealing the complex interplay between morality, entertainment, and social control.