The Country Wife by William Wycherley

Overview

• Written around 1671-1672 by William Wycherley
• First performed by the King's Company between early spring 1672 and 1674
• Published in 1675
• A Restoration comedy noted for its brilliance but criticized for immorality
• Plot partly based on Molière's plays: "L'École des Femmes" and "L'École des Maris"
• Key themes: infidelity, jealousy, deception, and the follies of marriage

Characters

• Mr. Horner: The main character, a notorious rake who pretends to be impotent to seduce women
• Mr. Pinchwife: A jealous husband who tries to keep his wife away from other men
• Mrs. Margery Pinchwife: Pinchwife's naive country wife
• Mr. Harcourt: In love with Alithea, desires to marry her
• Alithea: Pinchwife's sister, engaged to Sparkish
• Sparkish: A foolish man betrothed to Alithea, unaware of her affection for Harcourt
• Sir Jasper Fidget: Another character whose wife becomes involved with Horner

Plot Summary

Act 1

• The play begins with Mr. Horner spreading a rumor of his impotence to gain close access to women
• Pinchwife fears being cuckolded and keeps his wife Margery isolated from society

Act 2

• Pinchwife's jealousy is evident as he tries to hide his wife from Horner and other men
• Margery is eager to experience city life and questions why her husband restricts her

Act 3

• Horner continues to seduce women under the pretense of impotence
• Alithea is torn between her engagement to Sparkish and her love for Harcourt
• Sparkish is oblivious to Alithea's true feelings and the schemes around him

Act 4

• Mrs. Pinchwife writes a love letter to Horner, revealing her affection for him
• Pinchwife discovers the letter and becomes enraged
• Horner manipulates the situation to avoid suspicion and maintain his facade

Act 5

• The play concludes with misunderstandings being unravelled
• Pinchwife's attempts to control his wife backfire, leading to more deception
• Harcourt and Alithea's love triumphs over the absurdities and obstacles presented by other characters

Themes

• Deception and Disguise: Horner's feigned impotence allows him to engage freely with women
• Jealousy: Pinchwife's paranoia drives much of the plot and highlights the absurdity of extreme jealousy
• Marriage: The play is a satire on the institution of marriage, exposing its hypocrisies
• Social Commentary: Critiques the superficiality and moral corruption of Restoration society

Critical Reception

• Criticized for immorality but praised for wit and clever construction
• Steele's 1709 criticism noted the play's satirical content on societal norms and vices
• The character of Horner serves as a representation of the libertine lifestyle prevalent during the Restoration era

Key Quotes

• Horner on his strategy: "There are quacks in love as well as physic" - highlighting his deceitful tactics
• Steele's commentary: "The torment of a jealous coxcomb... makes a very pleasant and instructive satire" - emphasizing the play's humor and satire on jealousy

Conclusion

"The Country Wife" is a quintessential Restoration comedy that combines sharp wit with a critique of societal norms. Its enduring appeal lies in its exploration of human folly, especially in the context of love and marriage. The play remains a significant work for its comedic portrayal of serious themes and its reflection of the Restoration period's cultural dynamics.