Nalika’s Study Notes for William Wycherley’s The Country Wife

Act I, scene 1

a. The Quack and Horner Through the conversation between Horner and the Quack, the reader is told of a plan of Horner’s for

which he had

approached the Quack

for assistance.

He seems to have told

the Quack to spread

certain rumours about

him among the people of

the town.

“I have undone you

forever with the women,

and reported you

throughout the whole

town as bad as a

eunuch…”

The Quack does not understand how this is going to help Horner accomplish his plans, but Horner

seems confident that his ploy will work.

b. Horner, Sir Jaspar and Lady Fidget Jaspar’s coach has broken down just outside Horner’s lodging and so he has decided to pay him a visit.

He introduces his wife, Lady Fidget and sister, Lady Dainty Fidget, but Horner takes no notice of

them.

Jaspar deduces that this is because the rumours he has heard are true. All the same, Jaspar decides to

annoy Horner.

Horner plays along and pretends to be disgusted at the sight of Lady Fidget. He seems repulsed.

Lady Fidget too is disgusted as she is under the impression that Horner is a eunuch: “Let’s be gone. I

can’t endure the sight of him.” She also seems very concerned regarding the preservation of her

honour.

Jaspar has to hurry off to some

business and mocks Horner one last

time before he leaves. He also invites

him over to his lodgings to keep his

wife some innocent company: “Tis

as much a husband’s prudence to

provide innocent diversion for a wife

as to hinder her unlawful

pleasures…”

c. Horner, Harcourt and Dorilant The Quack is now convinced that

Horner has done his business with

the ladies, and Horner reassures him

that he knows what he is doing.

Harcourt and Dorilant, enter and

begin to talk to Horner.

They know of Horner’s plight, but

seem very supportive and

understanding. They talk about Horner’s bravery, what the women think of Horner, the uselessness of

women, love, friendship, and mistresses.

They also talk about women and their effect on friendship, through the metaphor of wine.

The boy announces the arrival of Sparkish

d. The Wits and Sparkish The wits talk about Sparkish before he enters the scene, and they don’t seem to like him very much.

His company is troublesome to them as he only pretends to be a wit and the theme of appearances

emerges. “Most men are contraries to that they would seem”….”your jealous man the greatest cuckold.

Sparkish enters and by his speech, the reader is made aware of his knowledge of Horner’s condition

too. His tone however is mocking. He tells the three about how he jestingly instructed some young

women (talking about the new signs in town) to go to Russell Street, where they would see Mr.

Horner, “A sign of a man”, since he returned from France.

The three do not find him in the least bit amusing.

Sparkish happens to mention that he has left an Earl at Whitehall in order to dine with his friends and

they, seeing this as an opportunity, tell him not to stay on their account. Sparkish Exeunts.

e. The Wits and Pinchwife

The next person to make an appearance is Mr. Pinchwife. Horner immideately comments on the fact

that he thinks Pinchwife has been married. Pinchwife, afraid of being cuckolded by Horner is

immediately defensive and makes the truth more obvious.

He says that his wife is only a simple country wife, with nothing to appreciate. This spurs the wits on

even more. They talk about the nature of marriage.

Then the wits ask if it was his wife sitting with him at the play the previous day. At this, Pinchwife

decides to leave the place immideately.

Act II, scene 1a. Mrs. Pinchwife and Alithea

The newly married, country wife Mrs. Pinchwife is conversing with her sister in law and asks which

are the best places to visit in London. She is sad because her husband will not let her out to explore as

she would like to do and instead keeps her at home the entire day.

The two talk of Mr. Pinchwife’s jealousy and the play actors whom Mrs. Pinchwife seems to have

taken a fancy for.

b. Mr. Pinchwife and the two women Mr. Pinchwife enters and scolds Alithea for poisoning the mind of his innocent country wife. He is in a

bad mood and Alithea confidently questions the accusations made by him.

Mrs. Pinchwife tells her husband not to be upset with Alithea, for she has done no wrong, and has even

corrected her when she did proclaim that she loved the actors.

Mr. Pinchwife is relieved that his wife is indeed simple for telling him the truth of her feelings.

But then, Mr. Pinchwife makes the mistake of telling his wife the manner of behavior of the town

women. In doing so, he once again makes her desire these ways of living.

Mrs. Pinchwife expresses her desire to go to another play, but her husband is strongly against this.

After much pressing, he reveals his fear that the playermen may fall in love with her and she might

reciprocate this love. He then reveals the cause of this fear, that Horner has already set his eyes on her.

Mrs. Pinchwife is overwhelmed.

c. Sparkish, Harcourt and Alithea Sparkish has brought Harcourt to see his wife so that he may pass a judgment and approve of his

choice, but in doing so, he seems to be encouraging Harcourt to enjoy Alithea.

Harcourt does approve of the choice and bestows high praises on Alithea.

They comment on the theme of Marriage.

Then, Sparkish gives Harcourt leave to take Alithea to a corner in order to test her wit.

Mr. Pichwife warns Sparkish against his actions, but the latter seems to have full faith in his wife.

Meanwhile, Harcourt has been swearing oaths of love to Alithea and trying to get her to marry him

instead of Sparkish.

Alithea however possesses a true sense of honour and is not taken in by Harcourt’s words.

Eventually she beckons Sparkish and complains of Harcourt’s intolerable rudeness. Sparkish however

stands up for his friend, sure that there must be some misunderstanding.

Finally, when he does realize that Harcourt has been insulting him, and he offers to draw, Alithea tells him that Harcourt was indeed only jesting and meant to test her loyalty to her fiancé.

The three decide to go to the play and Sparkish promises Alithea that he will leave Harcourt in the box with him to provide entertainment while he goes to the pit.

d. Lady Fidget, Mistress Dainty Fidget and Mistress Squeamish Lady Fidget and Mistress Dainty Fidget have come to take Mrs. Pinchwife to the play, but her husband

will not permit such mingling with the women of the town.

He tries to make them leave, but his efforts go in vain, and

he finally exits the scene altogether.

The women now have a conversation amongst themselves

about being neglected wives.

e. Jasper, Horner and Dorilant Lady Fidget demands to know why Horner has been

brought into her presence once again.

He tells her that he has some business to attend to and they

will have to go accompanied by Horner.

He faces opposition from both sides for a bit, as his wife

cannot stand the sight of Horner and he does not desire to

be in the company of women.

Horner is the privileged man among virtuous women, for

their husbands are trusting of him.

Jaspar manages to convince both Horner and his wife :

Woman = Spaniel.

Lady Fidget is contented because she is told that Horner is a good one for games and is rich as well.

Jasper gives Horner the permission to have all sorts of freedom with his wife.

f. Lady Fidget and Horner In the meanwhile, Lay Fidget and Horner talk secretly and Horner reveals the truth to her. She is awed

that a man would give up his reputation in order to preserve the honour of a woman. Now she is truly

happy.

Jasper is happy that his wife has finally warmed up to Horner.

He ushers the two of them away.

Act III, Scene 1

a. Alithea and Mrs. Pinchwife Once again, Alithea and Mrs. Pinchwife are discussing the plight of the latter, who feels caged and

confined by the lack of freedom given to her by her husband.

b. Mr. Pinchwife and the two Women Mr. Pinchwife enters, and once again reprimands his sister for corrupting his wife. He says that Mrs.

Pinchwife has been in town all week, but wants to do out only today.

He says that once Alithea is married, he will return with his wife to the country so that he will not be

cuckolded.

Mrs. Pinchwife is greatly disheartened and says she has been feeling ill ever since her husband told her

of Horner’s love for her.

Pinchwife declares that his wife makes him sick with jealousy… “ for cuckolds and bastards are

generally makers of their own fortunes”

Mrs. Pinchwife says that she would like to see some sights so that she will have something to tell of

when she goes back to the country.

Pinchwife while blaming Alithea for Mrs. Pinchwife’s desires happens to mention that Horner had

come to the house that day. Mrs. Pinchwife is very excited to hear this news. She insists on going out.

Finally, Pinchwife gives in and decides to take his wife to the exchange dressed as a man.

Act III, Scene 2

a. Horner, Harcourt and Dorilant Dorilant and Harcourt are a little confused that Horner should choose the company of women over

their own, since only earlier in the day had he expressed his aversion for women.

Horner tells them, that as he hates women, he only converses with them in order to mock them.

Harcourt asks Horner for some advice regarding Alithea.

Horner tells him that “a foolish rival and a jealous husband assist their rival’s designs”. Therefore,

Harcourt should approach Alithea using Sparkish

b. Sparkish and the Wits Sparkish enters and tells Harcourt that Alithea has said that he has been making “fierce love” to her

throughout the play. Harcourt dismisses this comment saying that women only say such things to

increase the price of coveting them.

Sparkish now turns his attentions towards Horner, who the wits have been mocking during the play.

Sparkish also gives the impression that he is even wittier than the poets at the plays.

They talk of poets and plays.

c. Mr. Pinchwife and his wife in Man’s clothes, Alithea and Lucy Sparkish begs to be hidden as he has to go to Whitehall and does not want to stop to meet his mistress.

Harcourt begs of Sparkish to take him to Alithea.

While the Pinchwife couples are talking, Horner sees them and wonders aloud who the fair youth

accompanying Pinchwife may be.

Horner and Dorilant follow the other three as they exeunt.

Meanwhile, Sparkish and Harcourt talk for a bit and then follow the rest.

d. The Pinchwife couple, Alithea, Horner , Harcourt, Dorilant Pinchwife wants to get rid of Alithea as he feels she will attract all the cuckold-makers of the town.

Mrs. Pinchwife seems to be enjoying the sights of the town and proclaiming aloud all the while.

The Pinchwife couple exeunt from one side of the stage and Sparkish, Harcourt, Alithea and Lucy re-

enter from the other end of the stage.

e. Sparkish Harcourt Alithea and Lucy Sparkish brings Harcourt to Alithea once more and she is now irritated and tells him off.

Sparkish tells her not to be upset, for it is only because she is handsome that Harcourt praises her. He

also says that he cannot be jealous of her.

Alithea tells him that he does not care for her at all and Sparkish points out that it is she who is jealous.

They argue, and Alithea tells Sparkish in simple terms that Harcourt wishes to marry her.

Sparkish does not believe her.

Harcourt continues with his bawdy comments and fools Sparkish entirely by seeming to talk ill of

himself, but really pointing at Sparkish.

Sparkish asks Harcourt how he loves Alithea and a conversation about the nature of matrimonial love

ensues.

The pointing game continues and Sparkish ends with binding friendship between Alithea and Harcourt.

f. The Pinchwife couple, Alithea and Sparkish Pinchwife comments on the freedom that Sparkish bestows upon his wife.

Sparkish says: “I love to be envied, and would not marry a wife that I alone could love.”

Sparkish leaves.

g. Alithea, Harcourt, Horner, Dorilant and the Pinchwife couple Pinchwife stands between Alithea and Harcourt as her brother whose care she is still under until she is

married.

Harcourt and Dorilant enter and greet Pinchwife, who replies by saying that he is busy and must carry

on with his work.

Horner catches hold of Mrs. Pinchwife and tells Pinchwife to carry on and asks who the fair youth is.

They marvel at his looks and then offer to take the lady away.

Pinchwife beckons his wife, calling him brother and Horner says he had guessed as much, since he

looks much like the lady he had seen with Horner at the play.

Pinchwife tells Horner that he would rather not have him spend time with the youth as he is innocent.

As the wits talk of her beauty, Pinchwife realizes that his wife has been discovered.

As he tries to usher her away,

Horner tells her to convey his

love to his supposed sister and he

kisses her thrice at which

Pinchwife is utterly vexed. The

three wits exeunt and Pinchwife

finally fetches the coach.

Meanwhile, the wits re-enter and

haul away Mrs. Pinchwife. There

is a struggle between the men

and the women and Pinchwife on

returning is infuriated. He exits, re-enters and then exits again.

Harcourt has tarried with Alithea and he asks her one last time why she will not marry him.

She says that her honour has been engaged to Sparkish and that is her final word on the subject.

Pinchwife re-enters and curses Horner and Alithea for not stopping him.

Horner enters with Mrs. Pinchwife, who has her hat full of oranges and dried fruit.

h. Jaspar and Horner Jaspar has come into the scene to call Horner as Lady Fidget is waiting for him.

Horner kisses Mrs. Pinchwife one last time and then leaves with Jaspar.

All of them exeunt.

Act IV, Scene 1

a. Lucy and Alithea Lucy is dressing Alithea up for her wedding the next morning and she asks her why she pays such little

attention to Harcourt and be so hard- hearted.

Lucy also raises the question of marrying one whom she is not n love with, but Alithea says she will

fall in love once she is already married. She immediately realizes that Lucy has been bribed by

Harcourt to change her mind.

Alithea admits that Sparkish wants some wit that Harcourt has, but he is also not jealous as other men

are, and she is obliged not to betray this trust.

b. Lucy Alithea, Sparkish and Harcourt (dressed as a parson) Alithea asks who the parson is and is told that Harcourt, in his service to her has arranged for his

brother Ned, (who is a chaplain) to pronounce the couple wedded.

Alithea does not believe him, but as much as she tries to convince Sparkish that he is being fooled, he

pays her no heed..

Sparkish manages to drag her away and they are to be married by Ned.

Act IV, Scene 2

a. Pinchwife and Mrs. Pinchwife Mr. Pinchwife tells his wife to recount the incidents as they unfolded once Horner had taken her away

to the next walk.

She tells him truthfully that she was alone with him and that he did kiss her and slipped his tongue into

her mouth, which she admits she quite enjoyed.

Pinchwife is certain that his wife is in love with Mr. Horner since she tells him that she was satisfied

and even liked Horner’s breath.

He tells her to fetch pen and paper and dictates a letter to her to write, which informs Horner that she

loathed his advances and will not tolerate such behavior in future as she is loyal to her husband.

Mrs. Pinchwife writes as she is told to, with some hesitation.

He then goes out to fetch wax in order to seal the letter.

In the meanwhile, Mrs. Pinchwife writes another letter telling Horner what her husband intended her to

do, and how she refused to do it for love of him. She promises to write longer letters soon.

Mr. Pinchwife returns and his wife seals the second letter and hands it over to him, after which she is

locked back in her room and warned not to go within three steps of the window.

Mr. Pinchwife talks of the nature of women and says that they must be cheated before they have the

chance to cheat. He tells the audience of his plans to go to go to Horner with the letter.

Act IV, Scene 3

a. Quack and Horner The Quack asks Horner if his plans have worked at all.

Horner tells him that he has gained much already, for the old matrons and husbands see him fit to

spend time with their daughters and wives and in their company, he enjoys complete freedom.

He talks of their appearances as women of hornour and their resemblances to people of religion who

fear society more than heaven. When Lady Fidget arrives, Horner tells the Quack to observe the

ensuing events as they unfold.

b. Lady Fidget and Horner Lady Fidget, on entering first talks of the preservation of her honour and makes Horner swear to

preserve it. She claims that it is a “wicked censorious world”.

Horner tells her that he has already done so by pronouncing himself a eunuch, but will take further

steps and pleasure more women of honour so that they will be bound to keep the secret.

Lady Fidget however, opines that secrets are best kept by one individual than by a multitude.

She hugs Horner.

c. Jaspar, his wife and Horner Jaspar enters and Lady Fidget is in a fix as to what to tell him with her arms around Horner.

She pretends to be tickling him and tells Jaspar to join her too.

He tells her he is not interested and asks if her plans to go and buy China have changed.

Horner plays along and seems very upset that Jaspar has left his wife with him.

Lady Fidget says that she meant to take Horner along as he has excellent taste in China, and in fact

keeps some himself. She speaks of her plans to take some of his china and goes into his lodgings,

locking the door behind her.

Once again, Horner seems upset, but then goes to her through the other door.

Jaspar seems highly amused. Presently, Mistress Squeamish arrives, calling for Horner and is told that

he is inside with Lady Fidget. She tries to unlock the door, but cannot, so she exits through the other

door.

Old Lady Squeamish comes looking for her granddaughter and when she is told that she is with

Horner, who is at this time with Lady Fidget. She is at peace, as she thinks that her granddaughter is

safe if a husband consents to leaving his wife with the same man.

Mistress Squeamish returns saying that she cannot get to the other two, and presently, they come out,

Lady Fidget with some china in hand. The two women talk about China and how Horner’s last China

has been taken, (huge sexual innuendo on “China”). Horner promises to make some more.

When Horner complains to Old Lady Squeamish regarding the fashion in which he is treated by the

ladies, she instructs him to kiss them as this, according to her is the only way to cure women. Horner

kisses Mistress Squeamish who appears thoroughly disgusted.

The Quack enters and the women, afraid of losing their honour disperse.

d. Horner and Pinchwife Horner is very friendly towards Pinchwife, though he seems to be curt and rude. He tells him it is

because of the way he has treated his wife and hands over the letter to him.

Horner reads the letter and is confused. But as the conversation proceeds, he comes to understand what

has happened and gives Pinchwife his word that he will abide by the requests of Lady Pinchwife as

written in the letter.

e. Sparkish and Horner

Sparkish enters pulling Pinchwife along with him. He is angry with Pinchwife because he was not

present at his own sister’s wedding.

All the same he has come to invite Horner to the celebrations of the wedding and to dinner.

Horner, refers to a “poor man” in his speech (indicating Harcourt for not having got Alithea) and

Sparkish wants to know who this other man is. But his distress soon fades away and he tells Horner to

join him. Pinchwife exits on some urgent errand.

Horner asks if Mrs. Pinchwife is at the wedding celebrations and is told that Pinchwife never lets his

wife out at all.

Horner tells Sparkish that he will not dine with him unless he can fetch Mrs. Pinchwife as well.

Sparkish sets off to try and convince Pinchwife to allow his wife to be part of the celebrations and

Horner says that the poor woman has asked for his help and that it will be delivered.

Act IV, Scene

a. Mrs. Pinchwife, her husband and Sparkish. Mrs. Pinchwife talks of her state of lovesickness and the physical conditions that come along with it…

inclinations to vomit and cold sweat.

She decides to write Horner another letter.

While she is writing it, her husband enters and snatches the letter from her and begins to read it.

The letter apologizes for her boldness in writing a letter and then goes on to speak of her loathing for

her husband. She asks to be freed from the unfortunate match and says that this will have to be done if

at all, before the next day.

However, the letter is incomplete

and Pinchwife, drawing his

sword, threatens his wife to

complete it.

Sparkish enters on this and tries

to persuade Pinchwife to let his

wife come to the celebrations,

but Pinchwife is firm on the

matter and Sparkish leaves disappointed.

Act V, Scene 1a. Mr. and Mrs. Pinchwife

Pinchwife tells his wife once more to complete the writing of the letter

She picks up the pen and ends the letter signing off as Alithea.

Pinchwife on reading this is astounded and wonders why his wife was writing a letter on behalf of his

sister.

When he questions her, she says that she was told to do so by Alithea so that if the letter were to be

discovered, she would not be in trouble for it would not be her handwriting.

Pinchwife thinks his wife is too simple to make up such tales and so believes her. He makes up his

mind that if Horner has made any promises to Alithea then he shall have her for it is better to give off

one’s sister than to lend one’s wife.

He tells Mrs. Pinchwife to fetch Alithea, and now, she is in a fix, for Mrs. Pinchwife is not at home.

After much reluctance, she goes in twice and tells her husband that Alithea has only agreed to come to

him on a number of conditions.

1. She wants to be led to Horner’s lodgings with whom she will first speak

2. She will come to him in a mask for she cannot look upon his face

3. She will not speak a word to him or respond to his questions

4. She will require the candle light to be put out before she comes

Pinchwife agrees to all this and puts out the candle.

Once more, Mrs. Pinchwife goes within and comes back dressed in Alithea’s clothes. Pinchwife takes

her hand thinking she is his wife and leads her to the room to be locked up once more, but when he

leaves her hand, she silently crosses over to his other side and is led away as Alithea.

Act V, Scene 2a. Quack and Horner

Horner talks of the nature of Cuckolds and their wives, and the Quack asks what has become of Mrs.

Pinchwife.

Horner confesses that he does not know what the situation with the lady is as he has been unable to

make sense her letter, but his opinion is that she is a simple naïve lady whom Pinchwife guards too

fiercely.

b. The Pinchwife couple and Horner Pinchwife comes in with the lady in the mask and tells Horner that he is kind to first bring him a letter

from a lady and now a lady itself. He says that she is some relation of hers.

Mrs. Pinchwife makes known her desire to converse with Horner and then whispers something in his

ear. He tells Pinchwife that the lady wants to speak with him in private. Pinchwife agrees to give the

two some privacy and asks if the lady (whom he believes to be Alithea) would have him call a parson

to annul the union created only the same morning. He then leaves.

c. Jaspar and Horner Sir Jaspar, enters and Horner asks impatiently what his wife wants now.

Jasper tells him that Lady Fidget and the other ladies of the virtuous gang will be coming to him at

night in a masquerade. He tells him not to decline their request as they will think it his fault.

After some persuasion, Horner agrees and Jaspar leaves.

Horner, in the concluding couplet, informs the audience that he is now going to a private feast ( with

Margery Pinchwife.

Act V, Scene 3

a. Sparkish and Pinchwife Sparkish is looking at the letter that Pinchwife has produced and is very hurt that Alithea should have

treated him so badly.

Pinchwife tells him that as he was free with her, she has been free with him as well. He tells him that

he has also called for a parson, at her request, and that his marriage in the morning was a mock one.

Sparkish has now come to realize that his marriage had been presided by none other than Harcourt in

the clothes of a parson. He decides to go and confront her at Horner’s lodging.

b. Alithea and Sparkish Before Sparkish can leave however, Alithea enters with Lucy.

Sparkish immediately accuses her of cheating him, and she is baffled. She cannot understand what it is

that he is alluding to. He tells her that her letter has been discovered and that Pinchwife is now on his

way to fetch a parson to marry her to Horner.

Alithea thinks that her brother must have some reason for his actions and her discovery of Sparkish’s

jealousy has made her wish she was indeed not married to him.

Sparkish leaves, saying that he does not care if she doesn’t wish to marry him. He is sure that Horner

had arranged for Harcourt to play the role of the parson. He also says that he will be present at

Alithea’s marriage to Horner if only to prove to her that he does not care for her anymore.

Alithea says that she will not marry Horner, or Sparkish but Harcourt. She decides to go and see him

(Harcourt).

Act V, Scene

a. Horner and the virtuous gang ( Lady Fidget, Mrs. Dainty Fidget and Mrs. Squeamish) The virtuous gang has come too soon

and Horner is not ready to welcome

them as his new mistress is still in his

lodging. He locks her in one of the

rooms and entertains them.

They enter and talk of a number of

things including their husband and

keepers and bawds. They talk of how

they are neglected and made to awaken

alone in dull beds.

They discuss with Horner the habits of

men and how they consume most

voraciously the meat of another man. They tell him that he is welcome to their houses at any time.

They prefer their men wild, not tame. They also talk of their reputations and honour, and the manner in

which they deceive the world in order to cheat those that trust them. They also talk of money and love.

While they are conversing thus, the women decide to name their gallants and Lady Fidget, first names

Horner as her gallant. The other women are surprised now and Horner fears his secret will be out.

The three women are indignant for a bit, but then, Lady Fidget tells the other two that they can all

share the man so that there will be no falling out and they may still preserve their honour.

Horner is at peace and says that “honour, like beauty, now, only depends upon the opinion of others”.

Lady Fidget tells Horner that she hopes he can be faithful to all three women of the virtuous gang.

b. Jaspar and Old Lady Fidget The two are happy that the women in their care are having a jolly and safe time with Mr. Horner.

The boy announces the arrival of Pinchwife and another lady and Horner ushers the rest of his

company out as he proceeds to meet with Pinchwife.

Horner retires to the room in which Margery is waiting and tells her to go home while he takes care of

the situation with her husband. But she refuses and says that she wants to marry Horner. He gives up

and latches the door once more.

c. Pinchwife, Alithea, Harcourt, Sparkish, Lucy, a Parson and Horner Pinchwife tells Horner to affirm that he had brought Alithea to him only a moment earlier. Horner says

that he has now to wrong one woman against another, for he always takes the side of the guilty as

against the innocent and besides, it is his duty to protect the hornour of his mistress.

Lucy is the only one who knows the truth.

Harcourt tell Horner that he must protect Alithea’s honour for she is innocent and Horner likewise tells

him that he too has a lady’s hornour to protect.

Horner tells Pinchwife that he has given Harcourt Alithea’s hand in marriage, and to this, Pinchwife is

furious and draws his sword.

Mrs. Pinchwife, on seeing this is scared for Horner and comes running out from within to make

amends and says that she will marry Horner.

Everybody is surprised to see her, Pinchwife most of all, and he draws his sword against Horner.

d. Entire cast save Dorilant and the Quack Everybody enters and Jaspar and Old Lady Squeamish are wild as they discover the truth of Horner’s

lies. They now realize what their wives have been doing spending so much time with him.

Lucy now steps in and tells Pinchwife that his wife is innocent and that everything was her fault as she

desired to break off the match between Sparkish and Alithea.

Sparkish too realizes that Alithea was innocent.

Mrs. Pinchwife however foils the entire plan by once again admitting her love for Horner ( who is

absolutely exasperated).

e. The Quack and Dorilant enter as well

The Quack enters and assures the rest that Horner is indeed an eunuch.

Only Pinchwife needs persuasion and it is readily provided by all the characters.

Once again, Mrs. Pinchwife tries to say something but is silenced by all the rest.

Harcourt wants to be a husband, Sparkish does not, Horner says he cannot and Pinchwife says he is

bound to be one. His wife too, sadly accepts her fate and learns that she cannot be a London wife as

she wishes to be.

The play ends.

Focus Areas in “The Country Wife”

1. Title of the play

The Play is a Restoration Comedy and the importance and centrality of the concept of “The Country

Wife”.

a. Theme of Marriage

b. Satire on the high classes of England at the time, and therefore a focus on the town dwellers and

not the simple country folk.

c. Centrality to the plot

Margery Pinchwife, the simple country wife

The relation of the Country wife to the plot and structure of the play, much of the action

unfolds due to her actions and those of her husband.

Growth of the Country wife, (The only character who grows through the play

The fact that she will always be the “Country Wife”

2. Characters as Types (wits, pseudo wits, polite, pretenders to politeness)

The play has characters that are representative of types which is in keeping with the characteristics of

the comedy of Manners. The stock characters, holding up a mirror to high class society and show the

interplay between these characters.

The types of Characters: The types in “The Country Wife” are the Virtuous Gang, The Rake, The Wits,

the Jealous Husbands, the frivolous, care free husbands and the honest wife.

(A detailed description of each type and the characteristics of each character along with the events

supporting these Characteristics)

3. Role of women in the play

Three types of Women in the Play, namely the members of the virtuous gang, the genuinely honest

woman, Alithea, and The innocent woman who grows through the play, namely Margery Pinchwife

There are several characteristics which typify each of the above categories and the women who fit

under them.

Overall, all the women characters do have something in common, and that is their effect upon men.

Depending upon the characters of the men, they are either a source of jealousy or are courted, or are

taken advantage of. Together, they help to highlight several themes in the play and are an important

part of the satire drawn on the upper classes of London. Also add to the effect of Comedy with t heir

sexual innuendo and their lewd comments and insights into their lives and their relationships with men.

Therefore, the women are strong characters and the play an important role in making the play what it

is.

4. Horner the Rake

Importance of the type of the Rake in Restoration Comedy

A rake, short for rakehell, is a historic term applied to a man who is habituated to immoral conduct, frequently a heartless womanizer.

The Restoration rake was a carefree, witty, sexually irresistible aristocrat whose heyday was during the English Restoration period (1660–1688), at the court of Charles II. They were typified by the "Merry gang" of courtiers, who included as prominent members the Earl of Rochester, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Dorset, who combined riotous living with intellectual pursuits and patronage of the arts. At this time the rake featured as a stock character in Restoration comedy.

Different kinds of Rakes, one is the penitent, the second is the persistent, the third is the philosophical rake,, the most attractive libertine figure, characterized by self-control and refined behaviour as well as by a capacity for manipulating others. His pronounced libertinistic leanings are not supposed to contribute anything to the comic development of the plot. Rather, his libertinism is serious, thus reflecting the philosophical principles of the pleasure-seeking, cynicalCourt Wits. It is this kind of libertinism that has secured the notoriety of, say, William Wycherley's The Country Wife, George Etherege's The Man of Mode, and Sir Charles Sedley's Bellamira: or, The Mistress (see Bellamira (play)).[12] Not only characters like Horner and Dorimant spring to mind but also Rodophil and Palamede in Dryden's Marriage-a-la-Mode, Longvil and Bruce in Shadwell's The Virtuoso and the eponymous heroine in Sedley's Bellamira.[13] These plays are not representative of the average Restoration comedy, however. The reform of the ordinary rakish gentleman is the common pattern for the ending of the play. Similarly, extravagant rakes enter into marriage. However, as soon as the persistence of the rakes remains almost unquestioned, it is difficult to decide whether libertines, no matter of what "colour," play a major part in their authors’ satiric strategies. Although Etherege's Dorimant is "tamed" by Harriet, his conversion at the end is rather doubtful. Similarly, Wycherley's Horner is not punished satirically.

Horner as a rake is an important part of the play and is an excellent example of the Restoration comedy rake.

5. Sparkish, a would be wit6. How every step that Pinchwife takes seems to bring him a step closer

to being cuckolded7. Alithea (10)8. Margery Pinchwife, a character who grows throughout the play9. Language used in the play (10)

Language is an important aspect of the play and several characteristic features of Wycherley’s writing

may be noted.

Bawdy language and comical conversations

Use of Imagery imagery

Sexually explicit and rich with innuendos

Language used effectively in order to typify the characters in the play

At the end of each sequence of action, there are a number of insightful comments which throw

light on the satirical comments intended by William Wycherley.

10.The play as a comedy of Manners (10)

The comedy of Manners originated in the New Comedy of the Greek Menander and was developed by

the Roman dramatists Plautus and Terence in the 3 rd and 2nd centuries B.C. Comedy of Manners was

given high polish in the Restoration period, with Etherege, Congreve and Wycherley.

Moliere – relations and intrigues of men and women living in the sophisticated upper classes, relies for

great comic effect on the on the wit and sparkle of the dialogue. Jealous husbands, would be wits,

foppish dandies, conniving rivals and jealous husbands.

a. The Nature of the play: Satirical, exposing the behavior and attitudes of the upper classes of

London and the veneer of appearances and pretences. Mirror to high society, reveals their

immorality.

b. The themes dealt with: Marriage, appearances, love, deceit, relationships

c. Stock Characters: The jealous husband, the fops and coxcombs

d. The form and language used: witty dialogue and comic effect created.

e. Introduction of actresses onto the stage.

In all the above mentioned ways: A fine example of the Comedy of Manners.