3. WILLIAM CONGREVE
• William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an
English playwright and poet of the Restoration period.
• He is known for his clever, satirical dialogue and influence on the
comedy of manners style of that period. He was also a minor political
figure in the British Whig Party.
• Congreve, English dramatist who wrote comedies such as Love for
Love (1695) and The Way of the World (1700).
• His elegant satire represents the peak of Restoration drama. He also
wrote a tragedy, The Mourning Bride (1697).
4. THE WAY OF THE WORLD
• TheWay of theWorld is a play written byWilliamCongreve. It premiered in early
March 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London.
• It is widely regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies and is still
occasionally performed. Initially, however, the play struck many audience members
as continuing the immorality of the previous decades, and was not well received.
• The main theme of the play is Marriage,Adultery, and Inheritance.
• Marriage and adultery are of course main themes in TheWay of theWorld, and it
seems that characters have much more of a problem with the potential for a tainted
reputation than with any moral or emotional imperative not to cheat on their
spouse.
• The Prologue was a conventional requirement for all plays.This one was delivered
by the sixty-five-year-old Betterton, the grand old man of the Restoration stage.
5. CHARACTERS :
• Mirabell: A young man-about-town, in love with Millamant.
• Millamant: A young, very charming lady, in love with, and loved by,
Mirabell. She is the ward of LadyWishfort because she is the niece
of Lady Wishfort's long-dead husband. She is a first cousin of Mrs.
Fainall.
• Fainall: A man-about-town. He and Mirabell know each other well,
as people do who move in the same circles. However, they do not
really like each other. Fainall married his wife for her money.
6. • Mrs. Fainall (ARABELLA): Wife of Fainall and daughter of Lady
Wishfort. She was a wealthy young widow when she married Fainall. She
is Millamant's cousin and was Mirabell's mistress, presumably after her
first husband died.
• Mrs. Marwood: Fainall's mistress. It does appear, however, that she was,
and perhaps still is, in love with Mirabell.This love is not returned.
• Young Witwoud: A fop. He came to London from the country to study
law but apparently found the life of the fashionable man-about-town
more pleasant. He has pretensions to being a wit. He courts Millamant,
but not seriously; she is merely the fashionable belle of the moment.
7. • Petulant: A young fop, a friend of Witwoud's. His name is indicative of
his character.
• Lady Wishfort: A vain woman, fifty-five years old, who still has
pretensions to beauty. She is the mother of Mrs. Fainall and the
guardian of Millamant. She is herself in love with Mirabell, although she
is now spiteful because he offended her vanity.
• Sir Wilfull Witwoud: The elder brother of Young Witwoud, he is forty
years old and is planning the grand tour of Europe that was usually
made by young men to complete their education. He is Lady Wishfort's
nephew, a distant, non-blood relative of Millamant's, and Lady
Wishfort's choice as a suitor for Millamant's hand.
8. • Waitwell: Mirabell's valet. At the beginning of the play, he has
just been married to Foible, Lady Wishfort's maid. He
masquerades as Sir Rowland, Mirabell's nonexistent uncle, and
encourages Lady Wishfort.
• Foible: Lady Wishfort's maid, married to Waitwell.
• Mincing: Millamant's maid.
9. THE PROLOGUE
• The Prologue was a predictable obligation for all plays. This one
was delivered by the sixty-five-year-old Betterton, the grand old
man of the Restoration stage. Congreve did not keep the
promises he made in this prologue:
• He swears he'll not resent one hissed-off scene,
Nor, like those peevish wits, his play maintain,
Who, to assert their sense, your taste arraign.
• The dedicatory letter indicates that he did arraign the taste of
his audience because it did not approve his play (although his
scenes were not hissed).
10. • The actor who plays Fainall delivers the prologue in which
Congreve complains about the high expectations of the
audience and the general inability of the poet to please
everyone. Congreve also promises that his play will be full of
jokes but won’t try to reform the audience.
11. The Plot Of The Way Of The World
ACT -1 : The first act is setup on Chocolate house; a men’s club where they tend to Hangout,
drink & gamble.
• Mirabell is loosing cards to Mr. Fainall , where he tells him Mrs.Millament has refused him in front of public the day before.
• Millamant is heir to a fortune where half of her fortune 6000 pounds is in control of her aunt and guardian Lady Wishfort , so
for impressing lady Wishfort Mirabell flatters her but Mrs.Marwood friend of Lady Wishfort reveals her of the flattery and not
depicting it out of love. Angry Lady Wishfort starts hating Mirabell and doesn’t approve of their marriage proposal, which was
a huge problem for them.
• Soon hearing Waitwell married Foible, which is all part of Mirabell’s scheme. Mirabell tells Fainall that Millamant puts up
with Witwound & Petulant two fools as described by him yet he loves her despite all her flaws.
• A letter arrives from Sir Witfull Witwoud to his half brother Witwoud who is at the bar with his friend Petulant, being made
fun by Mirabell and Fainall.
• As the plot advances Mirabell learns that Lady Wishfort plans to marry her niece to Mirabell’ Uncle who is coming to London
to disinherit him.
• The men went to a Mall where they might meet the ladies , Mirabell deserts Petulant & witwound for Petulant’s alleged
catcalling and his ignorance toward women.
12. ACT -2 :The Act is set in St James park amongst the Beau Monde where they meet the
ladies.
• Mrs.Fainall and Mrs. Marwood discuses how nasty men could be, while we see that they both were attracted towards Mirabell. Mirabell
and Fainall meets the Lady and they all splits up.
• In the Next Scene we see Fainall and Mrs.Marwood are lovers and they quarrel to which Marwood cries but hides her tear on arrival of
Mirabell & Mrs.Fainall. We also know her that Mirabell and Mrs.Fainall once had an affair ,Mrs.Fainall reveals that she despises her
husband and only married him because Mirabell told her too. Mirabell tells her the details of the intrigue that was undergone:
• Mirabell’s servant Waitwell has married Foible maid to Lady Wishfort. Waitwell will pretend to be Mirable’s uncle Sir Rowland and woo
Lady Wishfort. When she will discover his identity she will be so embarrassed she will allow Millamant to marry Mirabell, to save her
reputation.
• Millamant arrives their with full sail, here we see the would be lover’s together for the first time. As usual Witwoud followed her , on
talking to Millamant alone Mirable asked why does she hangout with this fool she replies that he finds Mirabell Tiresome and lefts.
• Following the end of the act we see newly wed servants Waitwell and Foible. Foible knowing all the plans actively participating in it, tells
him that she showed Sir Rowland Lady Wishfort’s picture to incite the flames of desire for her and report this impatience to lady Wishfort.
While Mirable was giving money to foible Mrs. Marwood happens to see them both together. She runs home to prepare to transform
Waitwell to Sir Rowland.
The Act closes with Waitwell Singing a Couplet
13. • ACT -3 :This Act takes place in Lady Wishfort’s House
• The Scene starts with Lady wishfort anxiously bidding her servant peg to do her makeup before Sir Rowland arrives. Mrs.Marwood arrives and tells Lady Wishfort
her servant Foible meeting with Mirabell. She tells her to hide in the closet while questions foible.
• Foible does a masterful job lying saying Mirabell insulted her by calling her old and tells Sir Rowland will be here soon. Lady Wishfort nervous and in need of
makeup so that she looks catchy in his eyes rather than show her desperation for having a Husband and ‘break Decorum’. Her fears are calmed as Foible tells that
lusty Sir Rowland will take her by Storm and leaves.
• Mrs.Fainall enters and tells Foible that she knows about the plot against Lady Wishfort. Foible tells her that Mrs.Marwood has kept and eye on her expressing her
worry and also revealing the fact that Mrs.Marwood likes Mirabell who cant stand her , to her surprise Mrs.Marwood who was hiding in the closet heard all of it
and when they leave goes to report about the plot to Lady Wishfort suggesting Millamant to be married off to Sir Wilfull. Lady Wishfort likes the idea.
• Milamant enters with her maid Mincing. Mrs.Marwood cruelly tells her love pretence was found out and they fought over it and they both say of hating Mirabell.
• After Milamant and Mincing exited from there, enters Sir Wilfull Witwound who gets to know that his half brother Witwound and Peulance makes fun of his
countryside manners to which he tackles them and decides to stay in London for a while and learning their lingo.
• After everyone leaves for dinner .Marwood tells Fainall of Mirable’s Plot. He is upset over his wife’s secret love choice. Marwood wants to prevent Mirabell of
getting any fortune from Milamant’s suggesting a plan blackmailing Lady Wishfort of her daughter’s doing to which she will so enraged to save her daughter’s
reputation. However worried Marwood Milamant says that marrying Sir Wilfull Witwoud as it would mean they will lose the fortune. She writes a Letter of her
daughter revealing it to Lady Wishfort.
The Act ends with a couplet by the nefarious Fainall ,telling the husband’s they must endure and not be too wise or too foolish or else they would suffer.
14. ACT - 4 : Still Inside the house of Lady Wishfort
• In a very funny scene foible tells Lady Wisfort that Sir Wilfull Witwoud is drunk and she tells her to bring Millamant so that she wont be
left along with Sir Rowland.
• A very intoxicated and reluctant Wilfull accompanied by Mrs.Fainall urges him to pursue Milamant but in his drunk condition could not
match her wits gets seen away by Milamant as Mirabell enters.
• The next scene the famous Proviso Scene, in which Milamant and Mirabell set conditions for their marriage where Milamant wants
freedom and doesn’t only stick to a life abiding only as a wife and whereas Mirabell wants that Milamant will not be slave to silly fashion
and wont be involved in any scandal before their marriage. With the two agreeing it Mrs.Fainall is happy for them both but rushes them
out as Lady Wishfort comes .Milamant says she loves Mirabell
• A fight broke out between Drunk Petulant and Wilfull where intoxicated petulant rudely proposes to Milamant ,he and witwound insults
each other and Petulant who once used to defend Milamant’s Beauty tells her “Fight for yourself Next time Yourself” and leaves.
Witwound says its all because of Fainall.
• Waitwell enters as Sir Rowland. He pretends to be madly in love with Lady Wishfort and she quickly agrees to marry him
• Foible tells her a letter has come for her and she goes to get it
• She returns with the letter , Waitwell reads the letter with her and to Lady Wishforts horror the plot uncovers. Waitwell thinking fast hurls
all the blame towards Mirabell and he promises to prove his veracity by bringing her the balckbox which contains all the dealings of his
estate.
Lady Wishfort agrees ,the scene ends with a couplet by Waitwell finished by Foible.
15. ACT – 5: Still in Lady Wishfort’s house the final Part Unfolds
• As the Act begins Lady Wishfort is raging at Foible threatening her with jail, where her husband is at and leaves.
Mrs.Fainall tells her Mirabell freed Waitwell. Foible tells Mrs.Fainall about Mrs. Marwood and Mr.Fainall illicit relationship
where she and mincing where sworn secrecy by Marwood. eventually shocked but seeks to use this information as an
advantage.
• Fainall has demanded her fortune threatening divorce. Milamant agrees to marry Sir Wilfull to save her own fortune.
• Lady Wishfort and Mrs.Marwood enters next, she thanks Marwood for uncovering the plots and starts attacking her
daughter. Mrs.Fainall tells her that Mrs.Marwood is like a leech sucking on the blood of his mother for her benefit.
• Fainall now enters as the absolute villan depicted and dictating terms to Lady Wishfort that she can’t marry on her own
without her consent , Mrs.Fainall whole fortune to be transferred to his name and Milamant must give her 6000 pounds
which she has forfeited by disobedience. He gives him time to draw up all the necessary papers and we see Lady
Wishfort turning to Mrs.Marwood for Comfort and comparing Mr.Fainall as a barbarian compared to Arabella’s previous
husband Languish.
16. • Milamant and Wilfull enters, saying they will marry while Mirabell was standing outside. Happy to hear it Lady Wishfort sends for Mirabell
and tells him he will forgive him if he gives up the agreement with Milamant to which he already did.
• The Evil Duo Marwood and Fainall enters with Papers for Lady Wishfort to sign disbelieving the sham Milamant marrying Wilfull .He now
threatens to publicly disgrace the name of Mrs.Fainall if she doesn’t transfer her fortune under his name. Lady Wishfort scared by it askes
for Mirabell ‘s help to which he agreed on a condition that he can marry her , lady Wishfort agrees and Mirabell calls Mincing and foible to
uncover the secret affair between Fainall and Marwood.
• Fainall still tries to expose her wife shame in loving Mirabell
• Waitwell brings the Black Box as promised which contains all the deed of Arabella Languish’s property Before marrying Fainall, Mirabell
and Arabella suspected that Fainall might try to cheat her, so Arabella agreed to sign over her fortune to Mirabell as a
precaution. As her trustee, Mirabell still controls her fortune and the legally binding document thus pre-empts Fainall’s claim on
his wife’s fortune. Both Fainall and Marwood vowing revenge leaves.
• Sir Wilfull moves from Milamant’s way and both the lovers comes together, Mirabell tells Lady Wishfort not to worry about
Fainall as he would need his wife’s money to survive and returns Mrs.Fainall deed of trust suggesting she can use it to “live
Easily Together” i.e. have some power in their marriage.
The act ends with a quatrain against the evils of Adultery
17. CENTRAL THEME
a. Jealousy, Deceit, and Intrigue: In Congreve’s play, jealousy, deceit, and
intrigue are important and interrelated plot devices that drive the action of the play by
creating conflict between characters.
b. Men vs. Women : With its several references to sex taking place inside and
outside the marriage, Congreve’s play would have riveted the attention of a Restoration
audience very much interested to know the gossip of who’s sleeping with whom and what
really goes on between married and unmarried men and women behind closed doors.
c. Wits and Fools: This type of instruction is exactly what he proceeds to give
through the repartee, or witty dialogue, of the fools of the play,
mainly Witwoud, Petulant, and Sir Wilfull. These comedic minor characters
often don’t fully grasp the significance of the drama going on
between Mirabell and Fainall but provide comedic relief with their well-timed
puns and “raillery,” or good-humored teasing, of other characters.
18. d. Female (in)dependence: The Way of the World is notable for its
positive portrayal of independent, intelligent women.
e. Love and Money: Money is a distinct concern for several of the
characters in Congreve’s play. Though greed does exist in the play. Fainall wants
all of Wishfort’s fortune or as much as he can swindle. Congreve draws a more
important connection between familial and romantic love and the desire for
money as a means of financial security.
This is an interesting coupling because it suggests that the sentiment of love
itself is not enough to build a romantic relationship on or to protect family
bonds. Money is actually an essential ingredient of love as money provides for a
comfortable life, which then allows one to enjoy one’s love.
19. QUOTES ANALYSIS
1. Mrs. Marwood (Act II, Scene I) :
“But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have
been loved. To pass our youth in dull indifference, to refuse the
sweets of life because they once must leave us, is as preposterous
as to wish to have been born old, because we one day must be old.”
..
20. 2. Millament (Act II, Scene II) :
“One no more owes one's beauty to a lover than
one's wit to an echo”
..
21. 3. Witwoud (Act I, Scene II)
"Friendship without freedom is as dull as love without
enjoyment, or wine without toasting.“
..
22. 4. Mirabell (Act II, Scene II)
"A fellow that lives in a windmill, has not a more
whimsical dwelling than the heart of a man that is
lodged in a woman.“
..
23. THE WAY OF THE WORLD
AS
A COMEDY OF MANNER
• A comedy of manners, also called a Restoration comedy, was a theatrical form
that satirized the social manners of the time, primarily those of the upper class.
Horace's Satires, published around 35 BCE, and Shakespeare's Much Ado About
Nothing, published in 1598, are considered early versions of the comedy of
manners genre. The most famous examples of comedy of manners plays from that
era are William Wycherley's The Country Wife, William Congreve's The Way of the
World, and Molière's The School for Wives etc.
• Comedy of manners are usually set in locations exclusive to upper classes, like
fashionable homes and private clubs. They include stock characters, especially the
fop (a foolish man overly concerned with fashion), elegant young ladies, and older
people attempting to live like or reclaim their youths. These plays are often
centered around love and adultery and include gossip, eavesdropping, and
scheming. Conversation is often witty and ironic.
