"Inner-conflicts of Characters"
             In The Rivals written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the author uses conflicts and debates in order to demonstrate situations in which conflicts between the characters of the play result in the characters also becoming rivals with themselves. The premise for the conflict between characters is the deception in their relationships, which not only causes hostility among one another, but also within themselves, forcing characters to become "subject more fit for ridicule than compassion." Captain Jack Absolute, because of his deep love, is the cause of his own problems, for he is unable to simultaneously accommodate his father, Sir Absolute, and his love, Lydia Languish. Lydia, in search of an ideal romance, causes her own troubles, as her skewed view of love perplexes the situation. Lucy, the servant, through her greed and feelings of opportunism, further complexes the situation in attempting to gain from the struggles of others. In The Rivals, Richard Brinsley Sheridan uses satirical conflicts between Captain Jack Absolute, Lydia Languish, and Lucy to demonstrate how each character is the source of his or her problems, resulting in situations where they become subjects "more fit for ridicule than compassion."
             Captain Jack Absolute causes conflict within himself, becoming a "subject more fit for ridicule than compassion," as his inability to make decisions results in further complexion both of the plot and in his relationships with Sir Absolute and Lydia Languish. In order to accommodate Lydia's romantic ideals, Captain Absolute creates the alias Ensign Beverly, confusing the plot for his father wishes to arrange a marriage for him and Lydia thinks he is of lower-class. As a result, Absolute becomes frustrated with the fact that he has left love make him into his own rival, and further states:
             A poor industrious devil like me, who have toiled, and dru...