The Way Of the World William Congreve

It is a comedy of manners in five acts performed and published in 1700. The play, which is considered its dramatist’s masterpiece, ridicules the assumptions that governed the society of his time, especially those concerning love and marriage. The plot concerns the efforts of the lovers “Millamant” and “Mirabell” to obtain the permission of the aunt of “Millamant” for their marriage. Despite a scheme that goes awry and after several misunderstandings and other complications are cleared up, the two finally obtain her consent.

The play has no plot but is a series of scintillating dialogues full of wit. Its wit combats between “Millamant” and “Mirabell” and “Petulant” and “Witwould” are its greatest charm. It has false loves, affectations, intrigues and conspiracies – these are the ways of the world. But the play goes beyond it to suggest the rational basis of love and marriage. The ‘proviso-scene’ between “Mirabell” and “Millamant” is important as much for its sparkling wit as for indicating the serious theme of the play, “Mirabell” who begins as a rake becomes a true lover. “Millamant” in spite of her affectations is a sincere loving woman. It provides the manners of the time and

at the same time suggests a deeper theme of love and marriage based on mutual understanding and acceptance of the norms of behavior between husband and wife. The “Way of the World is a comedy of humour and wit. It also exposes hypocrisy, affectation, and the removal of masks on certain characters’ faces. It is said that the play is a comedy of characters. Almost all the characters in the play have been carefully designed and superbly drawn. Episodes and events have a

small role and are of little importance, and they are the ones who bring life, charm,

and force to the play.