 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
Table of Contents Act III opens with Lady Wishfort’s frantic efforts to disguise her age as she prepares to receive Sir Rowland. Mrs. Marwood tells her that she saw Foible talking to Mirabell in the park. Foible avoids the early detection of Mirabell’s plot by inventing a story. She says that Mirabell stopped her in the park only to insult Lady Wishfort. This disclosure results in Lady Wishfort’s determination to accept Sir Rowland’s proposal, with the understanding that Sir Rowland will disinherit his unworthy nephew, Mirabell. The dramatic tension increases when Mrs. Marwood overhears the conversation between Mrs. Fainall and Foible, who discuss the details of Mirabell’s scheme. Foible expresses surprise that Mrs. Fainall should be privy to Mirabell’s plot since she was formerly his mistress. Foible also comments that although Mrs. Marwood loves Mirabell, he finds her unattractive. In the meanwhile, Sir Wilfull Witwoud, Witwoud’s half-brother and Millamant’s suitor, arrives. He literally does not recognize the foppish Witwoud, and Witwoud refuses to acknowledge his relative from the country. Mrs. Marwood vows revenge for her wounded vanity. She confirms Fainall’s suspicion that his wife is having an affair with Mirabell. As proof of her hatred of Mirabell, she reveals the details of his plot to Fainall. Both of them devise a counter plot to thwart Mirabell. Mrs. Marwood plans to send an anonymous letter revealing Sir Rowland’s true identity. Fainall says that he will get Sir Wilfull drunk so that he cannot woo Millamant. He resolves to threaten to divorce his wife on charges of adultery unless her entire fortune is handed over to him. Mrs. Marwood is certain that Lady Wishfort, who loves her daughter very much, will agree to Fainall’s conditions. Act IV opens as Lady Wishfort receives Sir Rowland. An inebriated Sir Wilfull meets Millamant but is unable to propose to her. Millamant and Mirabell discuss the conditions under which they will marry in the famous "proviso" scene. Millamant finally decides to accept Mirabell. In the meantime, Sir Rowland’s wooing of Lady Wishfort is rudely interrupted by the arrival of an anonymous letter revealing his true identity. Sir Rowland (Waitwell) convinces Lady Wishfort that the handwriting is that of Mirabell, who wants to prevent this marriage since he will be disinherited. Foible adds credibility to the story by saying that Mirabell had come to meet Millamant earlier that afternoon. Lady Wishfort agrees to marry Sir Rowland ostensibly on humanitarian grounds. Sir Rowland tells her that he will come back with a black box containing the documents of his estate to prove his identity. He says that he will also bring a marriage contract for them to sign that night.
The concluding act is highly eventful. Fainall has exposed Mirabell’s plot. He has Waitwell arrested when he goes out to get the papers. Furthermore, Fainall threatens to divorce his wife on the charge of adultery unless her entire fortune is transferred over to him. He also demands that Lady Wishfort never re-marry so that he may be the sole heir of her estate. Moreover, he demands the money that Millamant forfeited by refusing to marry Sir Wilfull Witwoud, Lady Wishfort’s choice for her. Millamant decides to accept Sir Wilfull as her husband to save her fortune. Mirabell is prepared to resign his contract with her; but Fainall still insists on the fulfillment of the rest of his conditions. He threatens to disgrace Mrs. Fainall’s reputation by dragging the matter through a public trial. Mirabell offers to help Lady Wishfort, and she promises him Millamant’s hand as a reward. He calls in Foible and Mincing, who attest to Fainall’s adulterous affair with Mrs. Marwood. Fainall still insists that he will blacken Mrs. Fainall’s reputation if they do not comply with his conditions. Mirabell then produces his ultimate trump card. He produces a deed by which Mrs. Fainall, as a young widow, had placed her property in trust with him since she did not trust Fainall. Witwoud and Petulant testify to the authenticity of the document. Thus, Fainall and Mrs. Marwood are defeated by Mirabell. Sir Wilfull gracefully relinquishes his claim over Millamant, and the two lovers are finally united. Table of Contents | |
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