Marriage, Adultery, and Inheritance Marriage and adultery are of course main themes in The Way of the World, 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.
What are the major themes of The Way of the World?
- 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. ...
- Wits and Fools. ...
- Men vs. ...
- Female (In)dependence. ...
- Love and Money.
What is the purpose of The Way of the World?
The play, which is considered Congreve's masterpiece, ridicules the assumptions that governed the society of his time, especially those concerning love and marriage . The plot concerns the efforts of the lovers Millamant and Mirabell to obtain the permission of Millamant's aunt for their marriage.
What is The Way of the World about?
The Way of the World is a comedy about deception, greed, and love . The play opens with a scene of two fashionable young men, Mirabell and Fainall, playing cards at a chocolate house. Mirabell is distracted, waiting for a particular bride and groom to return.
What does the title The Way of the World mean?
“The way of the world” is a flippant expression meaning the way people behave . However, in the Restoration times, the expression “the way of the world” connoted adultery, which was a common behavior in society and especially in theatrical Restoration Comedies.
What is the conclusion of The Way of the World?
Representing both the pinnacle and the conclusion of Restoration drama, The Way of the World epitomizes the psychology of manner – the way people behave (hence the title.) Motive is assumed to be the same for all: to get sex, to get money, and to remain young .
Who is the central character of The Way of the World?
Characters. The play is centred on the two lovers Mirabell and Millamant (originally played by John Verbruggen and Anne Bracegirdle). In order for them to marry and receive Millamant's full dowry, Mirabell must receive the blessing of Millamant's aunt, Lady Wishfort.
Who is the hero of The Way of the World?
The protagonist of the play, Edward Mirabell is a fashionable, intellectual, and clever man-about-town, popular with the ladies.
What type of satire is The Way of the World?
The social satire depicted in the play The Way of the World is related to the institution of marriage among the upper classes. Far from marriage being in any way concerned with love, it is presented in the play as a vehicle for devious double-dealing by society's alleged superiors.
What is the role of Lady Wishfort in The Way of the World?
A wealthy, old widow, mother to Arabella Fainall, and aunt to Millamant, Witwoud, and Sir Wilfull, Lady Wishfort is a vain and silly woman who tries to act younger than she actually is . ... This role, of course, is threatened by Fainall, who she later claims is not the man she wanted her daughter to remarry.
What is the climax in the way of the world?
The climax occurs when Mirabell, with the support of Mrs. Fainall, thwarts the villainous Fainall's scheme to extort assets belonging to Millamant, Lady Wishfort, and his own wife , Mrs. Fainall. This action not only saves everyone's money, but it also earns Mirabell Lady Wishfort's approval to marry Millamant.
In which period was the way of the world written?
The Way of the World was written around 1700, during the Restoration Period , a time in English history when the monarchy, which had been in exile, was briefly restored to rule.
What is the exposition of the way of the world?
In this play, the prologue and first act are the exposition. They work to set up the characters and explain the conflict, as the men do in the opening of act 1. ... The men we met in act I, Fainall and Marwood, create their comedic plan to trick Lady Wishfort into giving her blessing to the marriage of Marwood and Mrs.
Why the play is called The Way of the World?
The very title of the play, The Way of the World points to the ‘way' the hero and heroine (and by implication the spectators) should adopt in order to come out of the grip of the fashionable society . ... Congreve constructed the plot of the play accordingly with this aim in mind.
Who is Millamant?
Millamant A young, very charming lady, in love with, and loved by, Mirabell. She is the ward of Lady Wishfort because she is the niece of Lady Wishfort's long-dead husband. She is a first cousin of Mrs. Fainall.
What is the definition of wit applied in The Way of the World?
Expert Answers
It is important to recognise the way in which this play is a satire of society, and in particular we can see this through the use of the term “wit” as applied to the characters that Congreve presents as being fools and rather risible individuals .
