She Stoops to Conquer Plot Summary

Act 1
After Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle argue about the merits of the country versus the city, Mrs.
Hardcastle tries to prevent Tony from spending the evening drinking at a pub, but he drags her
offstage, protesting. Mr. Hardcastle tells his daughter, Kate, that Marlow will be visiting her that
evening as a potential marriage suitor. Kate and her cousin Constance gossip about Marlow, who
Constance says is shy in formal settings but has something of a reputation outside of them. She
complains about her aunt’s insistence on setting her up with Tony, who she has no romantic
interest in, for the sake of keeping her inheritance of precious stones in the family.

While Tony is drinking at an alehouse with his friends, Hastings and the young Marlow arrive,
having lost their way. Tony wants to have some fun at their and Mr. Hardcastle’s expense, so he
misdirects the two of them, telling them that the way to the Hardcastle estate is difficult and
complicated. He gives them directions to his house, which is close by, telling them that it is an
inn whose owner likes to be treated as a gentleman.

Act 2
Marlow and Hastings arrive at Mr. Hardcastle’s, thinking it's an inn. Mr. Hardcastle, who is
expecting them, greets them by name, which they assume he’s learned from the servants. They
are surprised that an innkeeper expects to chat and keep company with them, and Mr. Hardcastle
is in turn surprised by their demanding food and drink.

Marlow insists on seeing their lodgings with Mr. Hardcastle. While he is gone, Constance comes
in. She and Hastings are equally surprised to see each other. Once Constance realizes what has
happened, she tells Hastings. The two of them decide to have some more fun with Marlow.

Marlow and Kate return at the same time. Hastings tells him that the ladies have come to the
same inn for dinner by coincidence and suggests they dine together. Marlow is extremely
nervous, begging Hastings to help him, but Hastings immediately leaves for some alone time
with Constance. Marlow is awkward, fumbling, stuttering, and makes minimal eye contact with
Kate, who does her best to keep the conversation going.

Tony, Constance, Mrs. Hardcastle, and Hastings enter, with Hastings shamelessly flattering Mrs.
Hardcastle while Tony and Constance bicker like siblings. After Tony offends his mother by
saying he doesn’t want to marry Constance, she runs off crying. Constance follows. Hastings
approaches Tony and proposes a deal in which he will get Constance off his hands.

Act 3
Kate and her father discuss Marlow, and both of them are surprised by their completely contrary
impressions of him. Kate likes Marlow and asks her father for time in order to prove that he’s not
as bad as he seems.

Tony arrives having stolen Constance’s jewels from his mother’s cabinet. He gives them to
Hastings, who leaves. Shortly afterward, Constance and Mrs. Hardcastle enter. When Mrs.
Hardcastle discovers that the jewels are missing, she is extremely upset and runs off stage in a
panic. Tony lets Constance know that he’s given her jewels to Hastings.

Kate puts on a plain dress, and Marlow, not having looked at her face during their conversation,
mistakes her for the barmaid. She plays along, adopting the accent and vocabulary of a maid.
Marlow is extremely forward, forcibly trying to kiss her and carry her off to a bedroom. Mr.
Hardcastle witnesses some of this. Already deeply offended by what he thinks is Marlow’s
presumptuousness in treating him like a servant, this is the last straw for him. He plans to kick
Marlow out of the house within the hour.

Act 4
Constance and Hastings have received news that Marlow’s father plans to visit that night,
necessitating that they speed up their plan lest he be recognized. Tony has agreed to provide
them with horses, and they plan to elope with the basket of jewels, which Hastings has entrusted
to Marlow. Marlow, thinking it unsafe to leave the jewels in his room, entrusted them to Mrs.
Hardcastle, thinking she was the landlady. She, of course, was relieved to find the jewels
returned.
Mr. Hardcastle confronts Marlow about his servants’ behavior, as they have been getting drunk.
When Marlow insists that he ordered them to drink as much as possible, Mr. Hardcastle snaps,
ordering him to leave instantly. The two of them argue, Marlow eventually consenting to leave
and requesting a bill. Mr. Hardcastle mentions that he was led to expect a polite, well-bred
gentleman from his friend’s son, then storms off.

Marlow now realizes that he’s been deceived. Seeing Kate again, he asks where he is and if she’s
really a barmaid. She explains that this is Mr. Hardcastle’s house but claims to be a poor distant
relative. He now behaves much more civilly towards her. She proposes that they continue their
relationship. He insists that, were it not for the difference in wealth and social status, he certainly
would.

Mrs. Hardcastle intercepts a letter from Hastings to Tony detailing their plan to elope and
referring to her as a hag. Furious, she decides to send Constance to her aunt’s house, where she’ll
be kept in confinement. Marlow approaches Hastings and asks why he went along with the
deception that made him look so foolish. While everyone is distressed, Tony announces that he
has a plan as the act ends.

Act 5
Sir Charles Marlow arrives, laughing with Mr. Hardcastle about the mix-up. The younger
Marlow apologizes profusely, but they are completely understanding and think that the marriage
plans should proceed if Marlow and Kate like each other. Marlow, still unaware that he mistook
Kate for the barmaid, insists that they have only had a formal and dispassionate conversation. He
leaves. Kate arrives, claiming that he has, in fact, repeatedly professed his love for her. Kate
devises a plan to demonstrate Marlow’s passion to Sir Charles and Mr. Hardcastle.

Meanwhile, Tony has driven Constance and Mrs. Hardcastle in circles around the estate but tells
them they have traveled 40 miles in the direction of their aunt’s house. Mrs. Hardcastle, confused
and disoriented, sees a man in the dark and thinks he’s a thief, but it turns out to be Mr.
Hardcastle on a walk. He informs her that she has not left her own backyard.

With Mr. Hardcastle and Sir Charles hiding behind a screen, Kate talks to Marlow and manages
to elicit a profession of love for her. They emerge from their hiding place and accuse him of
being a liar, at which point he finally realizes that he’s been talking to Mr. Hardcastle’s daughter
and is mortified.

Tony, Constance, Mrs. Hardcastle, and Hastings have arrived. Sir Charles is excited to see
Hastings, exclaiming what a good character he has. Mr. Hardcastle informs Tony that, despite
what was thought earlier, he has been a legal adult for three months. Tony immediately declares
that he will never marry Constance.

Mrs. Hardcastle now accepts Constance’s marriage to Hastings. Marlow and Kate also decide to
marry each other, and the whole party vows to forgive, forget, and hold a big party the following
morning.