Themes

Gender

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Hellena's decision to disguise herself and pursue love (Act 1, Scene 1): This establishes her as a character who defies traditional female roles.
• Angelica's realization of her feelings for Willmore (Act 4, Scene 2): Highlights the struggle women face in navigating love and power.
• Hellena and Willmore's witty exchanges (throughout the play): Showcase a non-traditional female character who uses wit and intellect to match her male counterpart.
• Willmore's assault on Florinda (Act 3, Scene 3): This moment exposes the darker side of male dominance and female vulnerability.
• Florinda's near-rape by Blunt (Act 4, Scene 3): Demonstrates the dangers women face and the disregard for their autonomy.

Key Characters

• Hellena: A witty and bold woman who defies her brother's wishes and pursues her desires.
• Willmore**:** The charming but reckless Rover who embodies male privilege and entitlement.
• Florinda: Represents the traditional, virtuous woman who seeks love and marriage.
• Angelica: A courtesan who struggles with her desire for genuine love and her commodified existence.

Key Quotes

"I am resolv'd to provide myself this Carnival, if there be e'er a handsome Fellow of my Humour above Ground, tho I ask first." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Hellena's bold declaration of seeking love on her terms.

"I dare swear I have had a hundred as young, kind and handsome as this Florinda; and Dogs eat me, if they were not as troublesome to me i'th' Morning as they were welcome o'er night." (Act 1, Scene 2)

• Frederick's casual dismissal of women's worth beyond physical pleasure.

"Faith no, I considered her as mere a Woman as I could wish." (Act 3, Scene 4)

• Willmore's objectification of women, seeing them as interchangeable.

"Had I remain'd in innocent Security, I shou'd have thought all Men were born my Slaves;" (Act 5, Scene 1)

• Angelica's lament on her lost power and innocence.

"Cruel, yes, I will kiss and beat thee all over; kiss, and see thee all over; thou shalt lie with me too, not that I care for the Enjoyment, but to let you see I have ta'en deliberated Malice to thee, and will be revenged on one Whore for the Sins of another;" (Act 4, Scene 3)

• Blunt's misogynistic rage against women, reveals the potential for violence in gender dynamics.

Love

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Willmore's pursuit of Angelica (Act 2, Scene 2): Illustrates the conflation of love and lust, and the commodification of affection.
• Hellena and Willmore's flirtatious exchanges (Act 3, Scene 1): Show the potential for genuine connection based on mutual wit and attraction.
• Angelica's heartbreak over Willmore (Act 4, Scene 2): Highlights the pain and vulnerability associated with true love.
• Belvile's steadfast love for Florinda (throughout the play): Contrasts with the more volatile relationships and demonstrates a more traditional, romantic love.
• Florinda's tests of Belvile's loyalty (Act 2, Scene 1)****: Show the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding love and fidelity.

Key Characters

• Willmore: Embodies the tension between love and lust, often using charm to manipulate women.
• Angelica: Represents the conflict between love and economic independence.
• Hellena: Seeks true love but approaches it with a bold and unconventional attitude.
• Belvile: A romantic hero devoted to Florinda, embodying traditional ideals of love.

Key Quotes

"Love and Mirth are my Business in Naples; and if I mistake not the Place, here's an excellent Market for Chapmen of my Humour." (Act 1, Scene 2)

• Willmore equates love with commerce, highlighting the transactional nature of relationships.

"Hellena: If you should prevail with my tender Heart (as I begin to fear you will, for you have horrible loving Eyes) there will be difficulty in't that you'll hardly undergo for my sake." (Act 1, Scene 2)

• Hellena's recognition of the risks of falling in love with Willmore.

"Yes, I am poor—but I'm a Gentleman, And one that scorns this Baseness which you practise. Poor as I am, I would not sell my self, No, not to gain your charming high-priz'd Person." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's conflicted feelings about Angelica and the commodification of love.

"Oh! Fear me not, shall I not venture where a Beauty calls? A lovely charming Beauty? For fear of danger! When by Heaven there's none so great as to long for her, whilst I want Money to purchase her." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's determination to pursue Angelica despite the costs.

"O' my Conscience, that will be our Destiny, because we are both of one humour; I am as inconstant as you, for I have considered, Captain, that a handsome Woman has a great deal to do whilst her Face is good, for then is our Harvest-time to gather Friends; and should I in these days of my Youth, catch a fitch of foolish Constancy, I were undone;" (Act 3, Scene 1)

• Hellena's pragmatic approach to love recognizes the fleeting nature of beauty and opportunity.

Deception

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Hellena, Florinda, and Valeria's disguises (Act 1, Scene 2): Set the tone for the play's exploration of identity and deceit.
• Lucetta's trickery of Blunt (Act 2, Scene 2): Highlights the dangers and pitfalls of deception.
• Willmore's false promises to Angelica (Act 3, Scene 1): Illustrate the use of deceit in romantic pursuits.
• Florinda's multiple disguises to escape her brother (throughout the play): Emphasize the necessity of deception for women's autonomy.
• Hellena's disguise as a pageboy (Act 4, Scene 2): Demonstrates her clever use of deception to test Willmore's loyalty.

Key Characters

• Hellena: Master of disguise and manipulation, using deceit to navigate her romantic and familial challenges.
• Lucetta: A deceptive character who uses her wiles to exploit Blunt.
• Willmore: Uses deceit as a tool for seduction and self-preservation.
• Florinda: Uses deception as a means of survival and to achieve her romantic goals.

Key Quotes

"Love and Mirth are my Business in Naples; and if I mistake not the Place, here's an excellent Market for Chapmen of my Humour." (Act 1, Scene 2)

• Willmore's approach to love and life is a game of deceit and opportunity.

"I should have changed my Eternal Buff too: but no matter, my little Gypsy would not have found me out then: for if she should change hers, it is impossible I should know her, unless I should hear her prattle—A Pox on't, I cannot get her out of my Head: Pray Heaven, if ever I do see her again, she prove damnably ugly, that I may fortify myself against her Tongue." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Willmore's realization of the power of deception and his susceptibility to it.

"How wondrous fair she is—a Thousand Crowns a Month—by Heaven as many Kingdoms were too little. A plague of this Poverty—of which I ne'er complain, but when it hinders my Approach to Beauty, which Virtue ne'er could purchase." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's conflation of beauty and deceit, valuing appearance over virtue.

"Yes, I am poor—but I'm a Gentleman, And one that scorns this Baseness which you practise. Poor as I am, I would not sell myself, No, not to gain your charming high-priz'd Person." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's conflict between his values and his deceptive actions.

"Willmore: But why thus disguis'd and muzzl'd? Belvile: Because whatever Extravagances we commit in these Faces, our own may not be oblig'd to answer 'em." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• The characters' acknowledgement of the liberating power of disguise and deception.

Wit

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Hellena and Willmore's first meeting (Act 1, Scene 2): Establishes their intellectual compatibility and mutual attraction.
• Hellena's disguise and flirtation with Willmore (Act 3, Scene 1): Demonstrates her mastery of wit and disguise.
• The final resolution and marriages (Act 5, Scene 1): Highlight the ultimate triumph of wit and cleverness in achieving happiness and resolution.
• Willmore's banter with Angelica (Act 2, Scene 2): Showcases his skillful use of language to seduce and deceive.
• Belvile's attempts to woo Florinda (throughout the play): Contrast his earnestness with the more playful and deceptive wit of others.

Key Characters

• Hellena: A witty and intelligent woman who uses her sharp mind to navigate love and social constraints.
• Angelica: A courtesan who matches Willmore's wit but ultimately falls victim to her emotions.
• Willmore: The epitome of the witty rake, charming and manipulative.
• Belvile: Represents a more traditional, less witty approach to love and courtship.

Key Quotes

"Faith no, I considered her as mere a Woman as I could wish." (Act 3, Scene 4)

• Willmore's use of wit to justify his actions highlights his manipulative nature.

"O' my Conscience, that will be our Destiny, because we are both of one humour; I am as inconstant as you, for I have considered, Captain, that a handsome Woman has a great deal to do whilst her Face is good, for then is our Harvest-time to gather Friends; and should I in these days of my Youth, catch a fitch of foolish Constancy, I were undone;" (Act 3, Scene 1)

• Hellena's pragmatic and witty approach to love, mirroring Willmore's attitudes.

"Yes, I am poor—but I'm a Gentleman, And one that scorns this Baseness which you practise. Poor as I am, I would not sell myself, No, not to gain your charming high-priz'd Person." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's eloquent but deceptive speech to Angelica showcases his wit.

"Oh! Fear me not, shall I not venture where a Beauty calls? A lovely charming Beauty? For fear of danger! When by Heaven there's none so great as to long for her, whilst I want Money to purchase her." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's witty justification of his actions and desires.

"If it were possible I should ever be inclin'd to marry, it should be some kind young Sinner, one that has Generosity enough to give a favour handsomely to one that can ask it discreetly, one that has Wit enough to manage an Intrigue of Love—oh how civil such a Wench is, to a Man that does her the Honour to marry her." (Act 4, Scene 2)

• Willmore's description of his ideal woman highlights the importance of wit in his relationships.

Social Class

Overview

Key Moments in the Play

• Hellena and Florinda's disguises (Act 1, Scene 2): Allow them to move freely and challenge social expectations.
• Lucetta's deception of Blunt (Act 2, Scene 2): Exploits class assumptions for personal gain.
• The marriages at the play's conclusion (Act 5, Scene 1): Reinforce social hierarchies while also subverting them through the characters' choices.
• Willmore's pursuit of Angelica (Act 2, Scene 2): Highlights the intersection of wealth, status, and desire.
• Florinda's near-rape by Blunt (Act 4, Scene 3): Exposes the danger and vulnerability faced by women across social classes.

Key Characters

• Hellena: Uses her wit and disguises to navigate social constraints and pursue her desires.
• Angelica: A courtesan whose wealth and beauty complicate her social status.
• Florinda: A noblewoman whose virtue and status are both a protection and a vulnerability.
• Willmore: A cavalier whose charm allows him to transcend class boundaries.
• Blunt: Represents the gullibility and entitlement of the lower gentry.

Key Quotes

"I am resolv'd to provide myself this Carnival, if there be e'er a handsome Fellow of my Humour above Ground, tho I ask first." (Act 1, Scene 1)

• Hellena's bold declaration challenges social norms and class expectations.

"Yes, I am poor—but I'm a Gentleman, And one that scorns this Baseness which you practise. Poor as I am, I would not sell myself, No, not to gain your charming high-priz'd Person." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's assertion of his gentlemanly status despite his poverty.

"How wondrous fair she is—a Thousand Crowns a Month—by Heaven as many Kingdoms were too little. A plague of this Poverty—of which I ne'er complain, but when it hinders my Approach to Beauty, which Virtue ne'er could purchase." (Act 2, Scene 2)

• Willmore's conflation of wealth, beauty, and virtue.

"I begin to suspect something; and 'twou'd anger us vilely to be truss'd up for a Rape upon a Maid of Quality, when we only believe we ruffle a Harlot." (Act 4, Scene 3)

• Frederick's pragmatic concern about the consequences of social class in their actions.

"A fine Lady-like Whore to cheat me thus, without affording me a Kindness for my Money, a Pox light on her, I shall never be reconciled to the Sex more, she has made me as faithless as a Physician, as uncharitable as a Churchman, and as ill-natur'd as a Poet." (Act 4, Scene 3)

• Blunt's misogynistic rant reveals his class-based prejudices and sense of entitlement.