Study Guide

Summary: Horner has spread a rumor that a treatment for venereal disease has made him impotent. He thinks that as a eunuch he will be allowed to be around married women and partake in liaisons with such women who would otherwise be at a distance. Sir Jasper Fidget enters with his wife, Lady Fidget and thinking Horner’s rumor is true feels confident enough to have Horner to act as his wife’s new chaperone and companion. Jack Pinchwife, who has not heard the rumors, privately fears that Horner will cuckold him. Hi wife Marygery is confined in their home due to his fears and she complains about this to his sister Alethea. Harcourt falls in love with Alethea and tries to woo her infront of Sparkish, who is her fiancée. Alathea becomes upset because Sparkish doesn’t seem to get jealous. Pinchwife says he is excited to have Sparkish and Alethea marry and take his wife away from London. Margery doesn’t want to leave because she wants to see London. Pinchwife finally budges but decides to take Margery out disguised as a young man. When running into Horner he recognizes Margery and still tries to woo her. When Pinchwife’s back is to them, Horner takes off with her. When she returns with gifts from Horner, Pinchwife thinks she has had an affair.

Themes:Marriage, cuckoldry, love, lust, confinement, jealousy, disguise, class,

Quotes:

Lady Fidget: “You say true; I’faith, I think you are on the right on’t: ‘tis not an injury to a husband, ‘till it be an injury to our honours; so that a woman of honour loses no honour with a private person,”  (Act 2 Scene 1)

“I love to be envied, and would not marry a wife that I alone could love. … I love to have rivals in a wife; they make her seem to a man still but as a kept mistress.” (Act 3 Scene 2)

“But what a devil is this honour? ’Tis sure a disease in the head, like the megrim, or falling-sickness, that always hurries people away to do themselves mischief. Men lose their lives by it; women what’s dearer to ’em, their love, the life of life.” (act 4 scene 1)