The Country Wife

The Country Wife is a Restoration comedy written by William Wycherley and first performed in 1675 . It is a sharp, witty, and often scandalous satire of lust, marriage, hypocrisy, and social pretensions in Restoration-era London. Known for its sexual innuendo and farcical plot , the play is one of the most famous examples of Restoration comedy of manners . The play follows three interwoven plots involving deception, seduction, and social satire. he play‘s main character, Harry Horner , is a notorious womanizer. To continue his affairs without suspicion, he spreads a false rumor that he has been rendered impotent ("a eunuch") due to a supposed venereal disease . As a result, trusting husbands allow their wives to visit him freely, thinking he is harmless-when in fact, he seduces them. Mr. Pinchwife , a jealous and possessive husband, has married Margery , a naïve young woman from the countryside. He keeps her locked away, fearing she will be corrupted by London‘s immoral society . However, Margery is curious and full of life , eager to experience the city. When she secretly meets Horner, she is immediately drawn to him, leading to comic misunderstandings and a series of disguises and deceptions . Alithea , Pinchwife‘s intelligent and virtuous sister, is engaged to Sparkish , a foolish fop who cares only about appearing fashionable. Harcourt , a witty and honorable man, falls in love with her and tries to prove he is a better match. Through clever wordplay and persistence, Harcourt exposes Sparkish‘s shallowness and wins Alithea‘s love. Margery, now infatuated with Horner, nearly exposes their affair , but Horner and his friends quickly cover up the scandal through a series of absurd lies. Pinchwife is tricked into believing Margery remains innocent , despite clear evidence to the contrary. Alithea abandons her engagement to Sparkish and chooses Harcourt. Horner, having successfully deceived society, remains unpunished , leaving the play‘s central joke intact: the most immoral man gets away with everything.