Two 18th century drama's exemplify fictional politeness (reacting against 17th century Restoration drama's immorality and profanity), at the two communicative levels of the play itself (actor-audience) and the interactions within (between characters (Crs)). Crs are deployed to show good or bad conduct as examples to be pursued or evaded. The presented examples cover Richard Steele’s comedy “The Conscious Lovers” (1722) and George Lillo’s domestic tragedy “The London Merchant, or the History of George Barnwell” (1731).