Study Guide by Arpita Karwa
The Way of the World by William Congreve
Rowland and sends him to Lady Wishfort and woo her.
Foible tells Arabella (Mrs. Fainall) about Mirabell’s plan
to inherit Millamant’s fortune. Mrs. Fainall tells the
same to Fainall and then the couple makes a plan to
blackmail Mirabell.
Mirabell proposes to Millamant, who accepts the offer,
thereby rejecting Sir Wilfull’s offer. Fainall and Mrs.
m
Fainall reveal that Foible has betrayed Wishfort and that
Waitwell is disguised as Sir Rowland. Now, Fainall
blackmails Lady Wishfort to give up her fortune
otherwise he would inform the whole town about her
co
‘The Way of the World’ was first performed in London in affair with Mirabell.
1700. Written by English playwright William Congreve, it
is regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies of all Mirabell steps in to help Lady Wishfort on the condition
time. It revolves around the love story of Edward Mirabell that she would let him marry Millamant. Lady Wishfort
and Millamant whose aunt named Lady Wishfort agrees. Mirabell now calls Foible and Mincing to shed
disapproves of their marriage.
Arabella starts dating Edward Mirabell after Languish
a. light on Fainall and Mrs. Marwood’s affair.
Mirabell now shows a deed, which says he has control
w
(Arabella’s first husband) dies. However, their affair ends over all of Arabella property (which Languish had left
soon but they remain friends. Arabella marries Fainall. for her). Before marrying Fainall, Arabella was skeptical
of his loyalty and to be in safe hands, she had signed her
Mirabell now starts seeing Millamant (Arabella’s cousin). fortune to Mirabell. Mirabell returns the deed to
r
Millamant stays with Lady Wishfort, who is her aunt and Arabella and marries Millamant.
Arabella’s mother. Millamant has £6000 dowry for herself
ka
but it is controlled by Lady Wishfort. Mirabell gets to
know about this and tries to impress Lady Wishfort. Lady
Wishfort starts liking him until her friend Mrs. Marwood
reveals to her Mirabell’s true intention behind flattering
her. Now, Mirabell hatches a new plan with the help of
ta
Foible (Lady Wishfort’s servant).
© Copyright 2020 by Arpita Karwa Education Pvt Ltd
Meanwhile, Fainall starts having an affair with Mrs.
Marwood. Mirabell only suspects there is an affair between
pi
the two. Foible and Mincing (Millamant’s maid) know
about this affair but have promised Marwood to not utter
a word about it.
ar
The next morning, Mirabell is playing cards with Fainall
when she hears the news that his servant, Waitwell has
married Foible. Mirabell hints to Fainall that he knows
about his affair with Marwood. He also tells him how
much he loves Millamant, hearing which Fainall
encourages him to marry her. The two men now come to
know that Lady Wishfort is planning to get Millamant
married to Sir Wilfull (Lady Wishfort’s nephew) so she
doesn’t marry Mirabell.
As a part of Mirabell’s plan, he disguises Waitwell as Sir
To Join UGC NET Online Course Call/Whatsapp +91 7976603731
Study Guide by Arpita Karwa
Mind Map
Millamant
Independent, attractive
aristocrat
Aunt and
guardian
Lovers
Mrs. Marwood Piots
Lady Wishfort
against Wealthy older woman
Untrustworthy friend
Antagonists
Lovers Aunt
Mirabell
Desirable and foolish
young man
Former
Lovers Rivals
Fainall Sir Wilfull
Greedy villain Drunken country bumpkin
Spouses
Mother
Mrs. Fainall
Kind-hearted friend
and wife
Copyright & Legal Infringement Clause:
The en�re content and materials contained in this PDF including, but not limited to images, text, graphics and mind maps are owned by Arpita Karwa
Educa�on Pvt Ltd to the fullest extent under the copyright & other proprietary laws of India and other countries. You cannot upload, post, reproduce,
republish, recomplile, disassemble, modify, transmit, distribute, copy, publicly display or create deriva�ve works from, any Content of this PDF (in its en�rety
or in any part). Viola�on of this restric�on may result in infringement of intellectual property and contractual rights of Arpita Karwa Educa�on Pvt Ltd, which
is prohibited by law and could result in stringent legal ac�on under civil and criminal law in force.
