GROUP_6

__** The Way Of The World by William Congreve **__

=Plot Overview =

//The Way Of The World // is a complicated play that brings in many characters, their love affairs and monetary desires. This play was written in the 1700’s by the British writer William Congreve. It premiered in a London theater for the first time but is still being performed even now. That is because this Restoration comedy deals with many different desires that people then and now can relate to. The play revolves around the characters Mirabell who is in love with Millamant, Mrs. Fainall and Mr. Fainall, Waitwell who pretends to be Sir Rowland, Mrs. Marwood, Lady Wishfort, Sir Witful and a few other characters that help to further the plot. Though Mirabell loves Millamant, her aunt Lady Wishfort hates him. And she controls whether Millamant will inherit her money. Mrs. Fainall, who was once a lover of Mirabell’s, promises to help him trick Lady Wishfort so that he can marry Millamant and she can inherit as well. This is partly because her husband, Mr. Fainall, is having an affair with Mrs. Marwood who is in fact in love with Mirabell. This complicated plot is thickened by angry husbands, jolted lovers, sly liars and aging women with money.

=About the Author =  Congreve was born in Bardsey, England on January 24th 1670 to his father William and his mother Mary. Congreve also had a sister but she died two years after he was born. He spent his childhood in Ireland where his father had settled during the reign of Charles II (Wikipedia). It was here that he ended up going to Trinity College in Dublin and meeting Johnathan Swift who would be his close friend throughout much of his life. Although he first tried his hand at law, he eventually was drawn to literature and the arts.  By the age of 30 Congreve had written four comedies and one tragedy and was very popular during this time period. However after writing these five plays during the period of 1693 to 1700, Congreve was apparently hurt by a critique made by Jeremy Collier who was a prominent literary critic at the time, who called his plays immoral and profane. His career eventually turned back to law and politics where he would spend the rest of his life, occasionally penning a poem or two without returning to writing full productions. A long sufferer of gout and cataracts on his eyes, Congreve was involved in a carriage wreck in September of 1728, and because of probable internal injuries he died in London in January 19, 1729 (Wikipedia). "William Congreve." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia // . Web. 08 May 2010. .

=Class Structure and Identity =

__Summary for Peer Reviewed Scholarly Article__: In the Victorian era both men and women were forced to closely watch their own conduct. If they wanted to retain all of the honor and dignity that they thought they possessed they had to maintain an almost politician like appearance, in that all their human instincts and emotions were buried away. Instead of earlier times when any question of honor or any insult was brought about it would be settled with fighting and other quarreling. In Gardner’s article he discusses how this repression of emotion and forced conduct affects each of the characters in The Way of the World. He discusses the fact that in such a comedy of manners as this, it is often the social customs and other things that are more of the conflict in the story than the conflict itself. Gardner discusses how people in the story struggle to regain some sense of control and authority over their lives and how in the end they are unable to do so. The characters try to assert some fraction of control by trying to micromanage the more minute details of their lives, but in the end this just seems to be a futile attempt, as they were still not facing the problem head on. Their own social identity still is only created by the genteel and refined way they present themselves even if that’s not who they are or what they are feeling Gardner, Kevin J. "Patrician Authority and Instability in The Way of the World." //South Central Review// 19.1 (2002): 53-75.

 __Individual Essay on Social Structure and Identity:__ The prevailing attitude during the period of Restoration in Great Britain was one of radical upheaval and free thinking. After the reinstatement of Charles II from England, people were eager to figure out for themselves what was proper and what was not proper, a luxury that was not afforded to them before. Much importance was placed unto all sorts of manners and conduct to be and look as sophisticated as possible. Gone were the days of barbarism and violence, and this was instead replaced by law and sophistication. In matters of dispute, people would lie and manipulate to get the situation the way they wanted instead of confronting the problem directly. It was within this social structure that The Way of the World was written.  In order for one to be part of this new landed elite, one must first acquire property. The only problem with this is that since the time of knights and kings, the nobility owned most of the land. This land was carefully monitored so that it passed from generation to generation without being lost which would be a horrible misfortune for the family to undergo. In 1660 new rules were adopted that had the effect of monopolizing land into fewer hands, thereby increasing the exclusiveness of the aristocracy (Beckett). Since it was very difficult to acquire enough land and enough wealth to be recognized by the elite the class structure was incredibly rigid. Even if one of the newly created merchant class acquired enough wealth it was incredibly difficult to penetrate this society. And even land was not enough, much consideration was placed upon pedigree, that the family had spent enough time soaking up the methods and manners of the lifestyle, therefore it was relatively common for the first generation to be barred from the society until the second generation (Beckett). Much of the comedy in this place is derived from people trying to blend in with this society from the servants acting as nobility and also with the arrival of Sir Willful who establishes himself as witty and intelligent but can also be seen as a bit out of his comfort zone having been newer money. The elite class took it on themselves to create their own social norms because they considered it as their birthright (Becket) and also a way to differentiate between the different classes of people.

An interesting contradiction at the time, is that although interaction with people was utterly formal and urbane the plays written during this time, known as Restoration Comedies, were known for being brash and sexual. Comprised of characters of the upper classes, these comedies of manners were often critiques of the way that people tried their best to conceal their emotions and often made fools of themselves in the process. A fitting example of this is Lady Wishfort's preperation for the arrival of Sir Rowland. While she is smothering her face with make-up she is arguing with herself over the best way to act when he arrives. Whether she runs to greet him, or waves or lies down, everything she does is pre-mediated in order to look as sophisticated as possible. It is within this rigid social structure that people were forced to identify themselves and act as someone who they were not. They had to force themselves to look and act as calm and collected as possible even though that is nearly impossible to do all the time.

Beckett, J. V. The Aristocracy in England, 1660-1914. Oxford, OX, UK: Blackwell, 1986. Print.

=<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Clothing and Identity =



<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 97.2%;">Clothing represents people just as much as what they say or how they act. In today’s society this is almost always true but with so much diversity it is not easy to be absolutely positive. In the eighteenth century England, with less diversity and more separation in upper and lower classes, clothes said much more.

William Congreve’s play, //The Way Of The World//, takes place in upper class society, circling around the problems and situations of a bizarre love triangle. Even for those in the eighteenth century that were middle class, there was still a high sense of fashion existent. In //The Way Of The World//, there is not much talk of fashion, or what they are wearing, but how they must portray themselves as respectable, and alluring. Just like other places around the world there was a large separation of lower class and upper class. For example, the Irish in many places wore tattered up and sometimes almost no clothes, which caused them to be known as barbaric, when really it was just because they did not have very much money.

Knowing the play takes place in eighteenth century England, and knowing that the main characters are upper class, one can come to the conclusion that they wore the typical fashion of that time that was concentrated on a tightly fitting upper body, with a large silhouette waste such as a ballroom dress. The large silhouette starting at the waste was due to a shell worn around the west by women. Most of Men’s clothes just as women’s were made with silk, as it was the norm in Europe throughout the 1700’s. The website “www.metmuseum.org” states that the men in the 1700’s wore a tailcoat, waste coat and breeches. The actors of the play most likely wore these outfits to represent their characters at this time. The time in which //The// //Way Of The World//, was written and performed was at a time when fashion was radiant. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Here is a summary of a peer-reviewed scholarly article by Elaine Bunn titled "Clothing and Identity in Cervantes.". The peer-reviewed essay is about treatment of clothing from the late 1600’s to the late 1800’s and its relationship to identity within the Irish. The essay speaks of different works that reinforced the stereotypical identity of being poor and barbaric that was the Irish during this time period, and when these texts did this they were actually trying to help the Irish. The plan backfired. The essay also speaks of how poor worn clothing represented the Irish for sometime, in a negative way as being barbaric and inhumane. Then later on as their reputation in society started to improve their clothing was influenced more and more by the upper class society that looked down on them.

Cullen, Oriole. "Eighteenth-Century European Dress". In // Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History //. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eudr/hd_eudr.htm (October 2003)

Congreve, William. "The Way Of The World." // The Norton Anthology of English Literature. // By Lawrence I. Lipking and James Noggle. 8th ed. Vol. C. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 2228-2284. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Bunn, Elaine, and Miguel S. Cervantes. "Clothing and Identity in Cervantes." //Cervantes: Bulletin of The Cervantes Society of America// (2004). Print.

=<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Women in the Eighteenth-Century =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Individual Essay on Women in the 18th Century:__ The role of an eighteenth-century woman was the keeper of the household. However, Ingrid H. Tague’s article, “Love, Honor and Obedience,” informs one that women did start to participate in consumption and fashion, appearing out more in public, writing literature, and felt that marriage was deteriorating into a business contract. Women’s fashion drew attention, and was perceived “as a sexual threat, since their growing visibility and display in public seemed to imply their sexual availability” (Tague 79). As for marriage, people started to see that it was not being “respected as an institution ordained by God and necessary to social stability”. Rather, it was “an object of mockery, used only as a cynical means of increasing wealth. Brides were being bought and sold with no regard for their future happiness or compatibility with their husbands” (Tague 76). The same period saw a boom in the production of conduct books for women. Earlier literature had been directed towards the males, but suddenly the focus was on the females. The conduct authors complained bitterly in regards to women in fashionable society, and urged women not to waster their time with reading novels, attending plays, masquerades, and assemblies and gossiping over tea tables (Tague 82). The women who could not enjoy such pleasures however, could at least read the book and think, “staying home made her a model of feminine virtue” (Tague 83). Finally, women at that time and in the conduct books, were being told that marriage was their destiny and stressed that it was wise to marry men they loved. The authors did this because they knew a wife that loved her husband would be willing to listen to him. Thus, the conducts books had hoped to encourage women to accept the order of marriage and thus reinforce traditional gender roles (Tague 85). Ariane Fennetaux’s work, “Women’s Pockets and the Construction of privacy in the Long Eighteenth- Century”, discusses how pockets enabled eighteenth-century women, regardless of rank or class, to venture outside of their domestic interiors, due to the privacy their pockets afforded them (Fennetaux 307). As keepers of the household, women usually filled their pockets with needles, thimbles, pencils, scissors, etc. The pockets were made by females, which only proved the needlework skills expected of eighteenth-century women. Mothers were expected to teach their young daughters how to sew, embroider, and quilt (Fennetaux 313). Order, industry, patience, thrift, and control were to be taught too, and were valued in women (Fennetaux 315). The practice of making pockets then would teach young females these values, and keep them at home. Although these pockets did allow women privacy, they also became associated with a woman’s private area because they were positioned in the woman’s pelvic area of her dress and were classified as linen/underwear. During that period women did not usually wear any “drawers” (Fennetaux 318). Therefore, pockets became associated with a woman’s sexuality as well as her sexual independence. For example, in accepting a man’s love letter, a woman was allowing him near her body because the letter was in her pocket. Pockets also provided secrecy and scrutiny for eighteenth-century women. Pockets gave women a chance to carry objects they did not want known to other people. Women then were able to use their pockets as accessories to commit adultery or have courtships that fathers or guardians had not permitted (Fennetaux 323). Pockets were one of the few places where the women could secure their personal things, considering that women did not have their own rooms or lockable furniture. Yet, women may have just wanted to keep journal writing private, because it held their emotional life. Fennetaux mentions in her essay how some women were losing their pockets and placing adds in the paper to find them (Fennetaux 316). The pockets were tied within a woman’s dressing so it was possible for them to come lose. The different places and circumstances in which those pockets were lost, presents a different idea of those women being confined to their homes. Contrarily, these eighteenth-century women were outside and shopping, which shows females involvement within the economic marketplace. This demonstrates their growing mobility and release from the domestic interiority (Fennetaux 316). Women during this time period may have wanted to keep mementos or special keepsakes from family, friends or lovers by their side (Fennetaux 333). This is how the women invested meaning into their pocket and its contents, thus providing a space of exploration of the owner’s interiority. Basically pockets, enabled a woman to experience her own uniqueness and to provide her with personal life space that is central to privacy (Fennetaux 333). In William Congreve’s, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of The World, // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> we see that women were in need of their privacy. Especially, since all the female characters, as well as the males too, had something to hide. Act two, in <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of The World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">, refers to a woman’s privacy when the character of Mrs. Marwood uses her mask to conceal her weeping face after she has an argument with her married lover, Fainfall. The footnote on that page reveals that fashionable women wore masks to preserve their complexion when they too could be used for protecting a woman’s reputation, when she was carrying on an illicit fair (Lipking 2243). However, the use of pockets and the privacy they allow can be seen in act four. In Act four, Fainfall mentions something about his wife being able to cheat in a game of cards by hiding a jack of clubs in her pocket (Lipking 2260). This basically shows how women could cheat or hold their secrets in private because their pockets were their own. Therefore, privacy was important for a woman to have in the eighteenth-century, and that is reflected in Congreve’s comical story. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">

Fennetaux, Ariane. "Women's Pockets and the Construction of Privacy in the Long Eighteenth Century." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Eighteenth Century Fiction //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">, 20.3 (2008): 307-334. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Academic Search Premier //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. EBSCO. Web. 6 Feb. 2010.

Lipking, Lawrence et al., eds. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Restoration and // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">the Eighteenth Century, Volume C //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">, Eighth Edition, New York: Norton, 2006.

Tague, Ingrid. "Love, Honor, and Obedience: Fashionable Women and the Discourse of Marriage in the Early Eighteenth Century." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Journal of British Studies //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">40.1 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> (2001): 76 106. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Humanities Module //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. Web. 30 Apr. 2010.

=<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Art and Identity = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10.8pt;"> __Individual Essay on Art and Identity__: “A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing” William Dobell, an Australian painter and sculptor, once said. His work is often surreal, including his portraits, but exudes a life of its own when you look at it. Dobell like many artists believe that a piece of art is on its own a creation of emotion or life. In “Taking the Pencil Out of God’s Hand: Art, Nature, and the Face-Painting Debate in Early Modern England”, Frances Dolan goes over the differences between art and nature examining the qualities that give art its life. His article also looks at feminine versus masculine traits that are equal to art and nature and how different artists view their art. Dolan explains that some artists believe nature to be more feminine because nature is thought of as constraining and a negative influence on art, the more masculine of the two. This can be seen where there is a certain amount of emphasis on masculine identities in poems and art, and nature is often exclusively perceived as feminine. Dolan explains that nature is like the face of a woman and art is paint used when doing her makeup. Some artists seek to overcome nature by using their artwork, poetry, and writing to improve or simply to outdo nature as well as the power of femininity. Others see art as a means of aiding nature instead of superseding it.

No matter their view we could see how feminine and masculine qualities are often thought of as submissive and dominant behaviors. In the artist vs. nature and feminine vs. masculine battle it is often the artist who believes their work is dominant over nature. In <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10.8pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way Of The World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10.8pt;"> we can see how Congreve might have thought about masculine, feminine, submissive and dominant characteristics while he was writing. The play focuses on the relationships between many characters and their fight for dominance with money, love and marriage. Mirabell is trying to marry a woman, Millamant, and be able to keep her money as well. If they were to succeed in marrying and keeping her estate they would gain power over Lady Wishfort. Lady Wishfort, who is the dominant one currently, controls how her niece marries with money and how her daughter had married as well. Throughout the play we see the struggle between different people in power but also between the sexes. Even in this battle art comes up. Millamant uses her wit and knowledge of poetry and writing to test the men she knows and to put them off as well. In this case she is the dominant character with not only her knowledge but her decisions on how to handle the different men in her life.

The use of outside writing in this play is very obvious, it come up frequently. Congreve chooses the poems and exerts he uses with care to give the audience a glimpse of what each character is thinking but he also uses it as a glimpse of who is in power at the time. As mentioned Millamant uses many quotes, and it is known she is schooled and intelligent unlike Sir Wilfull Witwoud. And Lady Wishfort quotes many different books showing that she has power through her knowledge as well. Another form of nature Congeve explores is the nature of marriage and the struggle for dominance in this as well. He also goes over sexual power and material power as dominant and submissive.

Alice Neel once wrote that “Whether I'm painting or not, I have this overweening interest in humanity. Even if I'm not working, I'm still analyzing people.” This seems to go along with Congeve’s sentiments as he writes. The exploration of such people and relationships in his play show that people and art are synonymous whether he believes that art is above, equal to or below nature. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Dolan, Frances. Taking The Pencil Out Of God's Hnad: Art, Natur and the Face-Painting Debate in Early Modern England. March 1993



=<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Food and Identity = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> __Summary of peer reviewed article:__ Food and Its Significance in the World and in Literature Has anyone ever considered food as a signifier for something that is gender significant, class significant or even nationalistic? Well, in the article, ““Wholesome Nutriment” for the Rising Generation: Food, Nationalism, and Didactic Fiction at the End of the Eighteenth Century,” it shows that in particular. Not only was food a source of living but it alone made a statement, both in the reality of the people’s worlds and in literary works. Lisa Wood, author of the article states, “The role of food in culture has become a fertile scholarly field during the past two decades. Building on the earlier structuralist works of Levi-Strauss, Mary Douglas and Roland Barthes, recent critics suggest that food, its production, and its consumption form a set of practices that can be read as signifying systems with meanings that are determined primarily by the cultural context in which they are practiced” In this article it shows that food makes an identity for a peoples, an organized structure for a system and its society, and a culture for something that has been available for the people by the people. There are many instances where food is used as a bonding point, a celebration, or a “way of life.”

Wood clearly writes how food can be “identified across a range of texts and genres, the ways in which literary consumption by young people is figured in terms of the consumption of food, and lastly, how the discourses around food construct and reinforce a form of patriotic nationalism in young leaders of the late eighteenth century.” Wood, Lisa. Eighteenth Century Fiction; summer 2009, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p615-630, 16p 2 bw. article.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;"> __Individual Essay:__ During the eighteenth century, William Congreve had a great comedic light on romance when he wrote “The Way of the World.” That however, is just the over view of this play. One thing that will be focused on is the setting in which the play takes place. For a good amount of the time, the characters are sitting in what is known as chocolate houses, what we call ‘cafes’ today. Here the characters develop a comfortable setting where they can share their emotions, make there statements, and have bonding moments. In the article written by Lisa Wood entitled, “Wholesome Nutriment” for the Rising Generation: Food, Nationalism, and Didactic Fiction at the End of the Eighteenth Century", it explains the importance of food in a society. It brings nationalism, it brings together commonality, and it gives people something to bond over. Throughout the play there are instances when food is the topic of discussion. The opening scene of this play is in a Chocolate House, where they serve hot drinks and great pieces of chocolate. As one of the main characters is speaking to a friend, he stops in the middle of the conversation to talk to the waitress and asks her to bring him a piece of chocolate in a very nonchalant manner (Congreve 2231). The point of having these chocolate houses is to bring people together in the public eye and have intimate conversations with the people who present.

For most reasons, these chocolate houses were used as a central location for members of society to meet and greet. It was a location that everyone was aware of, and if they needed to meet someone they did not need to do it in a personal setting such as a home, because they had the chocolate houses to turn to.

As the saying always goes, "let’s come together and break bread!”

Wood, Lisa. Eighteenth Century Fiction; summer 2009, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p615-630, 16p 2 bw. article.

= Religious Beliefs and Practices during the Restoration = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> __Summary for Peer Reviewed Scholarly Article__ (by Heidi Nessenson):

This journal article focuses on the religious culture of medieval Europe (specifically, Britain). The author contends that the religious culture of Britain during the Middle Ages was by no means one dimensional or solely made up of one or two social groups; rather, it was composed of various patterns and aspects. Watkins also argues that the religious culture of this period should be looked upon as a unified whole and not as divided, single fragments. He states, that in the last few decades, it has been argued that components of religion in medieval Britain can be best grasped when viewed from the perspective of “social categories,” such as rich or elite, poor or peasant, or as the masses, otherwise referred to as “folkloric” (Watkins 141).

One scholar’s views which Watkins uses in his piece are that from Jacques Le Goff. Le Goff asserts that religious cultures of both the elite and the folkloric masses, though separate and distinguishable from one another, also collaborated or communicated with each other (ibid.). Thus, groups of people from different social spheres were able to form their religious identity together as a unified whole, despite their different social backgrounds or other diversities. Additionally, Watkins uses the works and life of Gerald of Wales, a twelfth century archdeacon, to further explore the issues revolving around religious culture in Britain during the Middle Ages. Gerald’s purpose as a churchman, for example, was to censor and control the vastness and variation of religion by the people. However, when an incident occurred involving crowds of people taking part in an “unofficial ritual dance” at Saint Eluned’s church in Brecon, Geraldexpressed great compassion and even support toward the idea of diversifying religious culture (142-143). Overall, the author makes the significant point that religious culture during the medieval period was also brought together by the molding and unifying of different practices, traditions, and beliefs in order to assist the process of constructing a religious identity. To conclude, Watkins suggests that people need to think of medieval religious culture as an array of various beliefs and practices that involved people of different social standings or backgrounds, but also as something that was viewed as an innate whole.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 88%;">Watkins, Carl. ““Folklore” and “Popular Religion” in Britain during the Middle Ages.” <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 88%;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Folklore // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 88%;">. 115. (2004): 140-150. Print

. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__Individual Essay on Religious Beliefs and Identity:__ (By Heidi Nessenson)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;">The events that take place in //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of the World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;"> can be said to be directly reflective of the same time period during which the play was initially written and performed (“The Way of the World (Themes)”). In other words, William Congreve was writing //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of the World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;"> in the religious context of 1700 Britain—which is the same period and place that the play takes place in. At that time, England had been heavily populated with Christians; there were numerous Puritans that lived among both the lower and middle classes (“The Way of the World (Themes)”). Important to note is that a large amount of the literature written during this period either revolved around religion or had religious connotations or meanings attached to it (“The Way of the World (Themes)”).

The Puritans often imposed strict regulations on what could be written and performed on the English stage. Any kind of “natural and creative passions” or emotions that were being displayed on stage that didn’t conform to the ideals of Puritanism was highly discouraged and even denounced (“The Way of the World (Themes)”). According to “The Way of the World (Themes),” the character of Lady Wishfort can be seen as a symbol of the “tyranny and hypocrisy” which was associated with Puritanism. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of the World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;"> was thus initially received in an almost negative manner by the public. Some reasons why people living in England during 1700 may have viewed the play in a cold manner could be because it was viewed as too “wild” or raw. Also //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of the World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;"> didn’t exactly adhere to or profess what the religion of the time (Puritanism/Christianity) strived for and upheld in eighteenth century Britian.

The fact that //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Way of the World // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 105.6%;"> acknowledged, as well as displayed, the raw inner workings of human beings (including the emotions and/or internal conflicts they experienced) caused some audience members to feel a little uneasy or put off.Therefore, in the late seventeenth century, critics of the English stage who found the theater world to be “immoral” or too “loose” attempted to change it for the better sort of speak by placing certain restrictions on what could be seen by the public (“The Way of the World (Themes)”). Such a change to the theater was encouraged most likely due to the large population of Christians in England at the time and the regulations they enforced concerning what was considered moral and acceptable in terms of both literature and the theater.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 81%;">"The Way of the World (Themes)." Notes on Drama. Answers Corporation, 2006. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 81%;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Answers.com // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 81%;"> 117 March 2010. []

=Secret Passages=

// **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Scene I ** // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> (inserted towards the end of Act 2; after Millamant and Mincing exit) p.2247 of The Norton Anthology English Literature—Volume C

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> My Millamant: an angel and dove, but a furtive creature: Endearing as she is as I love her. I will woo her back. I must not tarry, but be persistent in making her aware of my <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> great and true affections, ever as they are. My unconditional love—this, and security—are what I will be worthy of offering her when we are married. My strategies, charm, and wit are what will enable me to obtain her. Then this lady shall at last be my bride…and mine forever! As my heart beats true, my plans for her heart and hand will succeed. It is not of her knowledge to understand at what lengths I will go for her heart. She can accuse me, torment me, reject me—yet, my heart will still thirst and hunger for hers! [<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Enter MRS. FAINALL // ] <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Still here, my friend? I need not ask why you tarry; the expression painted on your face reveals it all. Tis’ dear Millamant, is it not?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yes…I admit that am cursed with a passion which I cannot and will not let be cast among the wind.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">My dear Mirabell, you are a man not only of charm, but persistence and strong-will ( //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL grins). //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Do you still intend to give way for the events of your master plot for the lady’s heart?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">As the sun shines and the clouds rain: Yes. It is ever constant in my mind.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Then now why, I must ask, dost thou eyes meet thy earth below thy feet? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Can you not see that I am tormented with the fiery passion encapsulated and ever present within my heart? It is my Millamant that drives me mad, but mad with love… I only desire to be free from the tunnel which my love has enclosed me in. I long for daylight for my sake and for hers. My dove!—Tis’ a fine lady, but a lady of impossibility! Yet, it is her very follies that make me desire her evermore…
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Precisely my view of men… My husband—he has been honored with the crown of impossibility; yet, I still feel obligation toward him! A twisted world this is indeed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yet, just the same, I will hold fast to my strategic and triumph in it... for my love of Millamant overpowers my very mind. I will seek her out and it will be thus. Ay! See how she approaches now, returning to me once again! <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> [<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Enter MILLAMANT. Walks up to Mirabell and Mrs. Fainall, her face clothed in irritation for her fear that Mirabell and Mrs. Fainall are conversing over her is //  <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">confirmed //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]


 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Scene II //**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What tis the topic of this secretive converse? My own person perhaps?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Thou most paranoid and vain Mrs. Millamant. [ //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mrs. Fainfall smiles and giggles. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Yes! Yes our words do consist of your person, my love. What have you to say? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Oh Mirabell! Thou do not even have the decency to deceive me of your true discussion. Well then, I will leave you again to consider your actions-you love sick fool-ha, ha, ha. [ //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Exit Millamant //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Torturous creature! She will drive me mad and with such light tresses of beauty around her captivating face and about her delicate shoulders-how this love may be the end of me. Oh her follies have created more desire within me for her hand. I will woo her, yes, that tis the answer.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Tis the answer my Mirabell. [ //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mrs. Fainfall glances down. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Come again Mrs. Fainfall? Now, thou looks at thy feet, why the gloom? [ //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Looks at Mirabell. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">You know your hypnotic and charming ways will woo her back once more. I myself even confess it, for I too had once been the object of your affections, and I had succumbed to those very charms not so long. They had ruled my very being and soul my dear Mirabell. And now I see that you wish to never woo me again. But I must confess too, that my heart may always crave your love.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">But you may have my gratefulness if you were to aid me in my need, for I feel Foible and Waitwell think they were married for their own purposes, other than for my benefit. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> [<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell and Mrs. Fainfall hear footsteps. // ] <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Be quick in silence! I must depart-but yes, you will have my word of assistance.

// **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Scene III ** // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> [ ////<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">To himself] ////<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Tis’ the very reason that my love goes to Millamant that I fear I may have trouble in wooing her. She is so witty as to make a fox confused. She unlike the ever devoted Mrs. Fainall, will be impossible to woo let alone marry if she did not please it so. // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[Enter Millamant once again] // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Has Mrs. Fainall gone to powder herself for the moment? // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> No she hast gone on her way and only us remains to converse over the nights endeavors. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">Tis no endeavors that we have not discussed earlier in the night in the company of others that may peak my fancy. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Tis one that may find solace in your mind even if only for a short time. //// **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Then tell me and be done with this folly of yours. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> I pray tell, why dost though fault me and say my talk is only folly? // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MLLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> For the breaths of those in love seem only to be folly. // //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal;"> This may be true <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">with those of less wit and intelligence than I, but I promise you that in my case nothing but the most important and sweet words leave my mouth in the presence of such an angel. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Then pray tell me this intelligence and sweetness you have so ambitiously promised. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> I have set my mind to woo you and have you as my bride. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Have you? I hope that this folly tis not the only breath of your mind. For it is neither sweet nor intelligent. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> I disagree with you my dotty lady, my doting heart hath told me it be sweet and my quick witted mind hath promised it also be intelligent. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> I must depart to search for the honest Mrs. Fainal for I had a word for her when I came hither. // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> Though I wish for you to stay I hope more for a peak into your mind. What hast thou need to speak to Mrs. Fainall? // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;"> As I said I have a mind to speak with Mrs. Fainall and not you, sir. Now I must depart. Farewell. // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[ ////<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">exit MILLAMANT] // // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal;">. Farewell my sweet dove. [ //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">To himself] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">I will go to Mrs. Fainall and see if my love has words of me! // <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">[exit MIRABELL]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Scene IV** // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">[ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Enter Millamant and Mrs. Fainfall // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> My dear Mrs. Fainfall I have been searching for you ever so long as the day allows. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Millamant what ever is on your soul that one must search for dear Mrs. Fainfall with such passion? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I dare say my soul wishes to converse with you about something that is dear to me yet frightens me so. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Oh my sweet, please pray tell what ever is a toil on you so? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I saw that you and Mirabell were conversing ever so secretively earlier [looks up in the corner] please, what was the topic of the secret in which you both were so entangled? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I dare not say for tis not the beauty and strain in my heart that you must search, it is that of some one who looks at you with such passion and awe! [ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">with a look of great hopefulness // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> [ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Taking a minute to ponder // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">] I must say that the information you have bestowed upon me has been very limited and I can not help but further ask; why must you and Mirabell have a connection so great that you can not tell me what is so deeply on his mind and heart. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[Millamant and Mrs. Fainfall hear a knock at the door and a whisper softly says: Let me in my dear Dove I have but a confession to tell you] // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I did not but find myself at your sweet sweet door, My heart has lead me to yours once more. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Is what thou say to me the truth? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> My dear Millamant I have had a pull to your heart stronger than one has ever had. And that is not but the truth. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> And so the truth has been set but free and yet I feel that you hide something from me! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> What is it you speak of my dear Millamant? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: If I may interrupt this misunderstanding the two of you are inquiring about.... <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[both Mirabell and Millamant turn to her in astonishment] // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I can not but help myself no longer and tell you both the greatness of your ties! [turning to Mirabell].Mirabell, you speak to me with the highest confidence of how much you love this woman of such air and beauty. and yet you hesitate to show her your true colors! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[now turning to Millamant] // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Millamant, you come to me and ask of the truth only to want more! When what I tall you is nothing but the truth! The both of you must look into your hearts and ask what it is that burns the fire in your hearts! I leaved you now with the bit of understanding you both long for. I bid you good day! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[exit Mrs. Fainfall, Mirabell and Millamant turn to one another] //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> [opens door only to find Mirabell] what brings you to our presence dear sir?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> What say you that will make this more understood?

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Scene V //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">-John Cignarella <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I can understand why you are feeling the way you do…but remember that everything I tell is not but the truth being passed on to you. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I had rather be alone to discuss what is going on between us two, ‘tis good to be rid of the company of Mrs. Fainfall for us two to be alone as…[ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">pauses for a moment // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">] well I am still not sure if I shall call us what has been pondered but I have not said yet. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Oh just speak what happens to be on your mind, for am I not able to read it as I would a sign or a note. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Well of course you can not read it, but you should understand what it is that I mean, and you should be of the ability to recall what was recently spoke of by Mrs. Fainfall. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes, ‘tis true Millamant, your wit matches your beauty. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> So you do understand what it is I was trying to say after Mrs. Fainfall left? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Why of course, we are indeed lovers, I love you as much as any man could love a woman, and do you,[takes a brief pause and looks away]well, do you love me as much? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes, Yes I do! All of it ‘tis true. You have remembered correctly.[They then hug affectionately] Yet I still feel as if there has been hiding of a secret, through the efforts of you and Mrs. Fainfall. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> ‘Tis not correct time or place for there to be a discussion of such things. Then again, [Rethinks the situation to himself and whether or not he should tell her] do we not have many other things to hide?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Scene VI //**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Our previous trysts could be called salacious by any means, I just couldn't bear for the others to find out, you know how they talk
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mirabell: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Aye love I do, which is why I feel that we should keep this relationship hidden, if too many tongues wag it could get to the wrong people
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Namely my Aunt Wishfort?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mirabell: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">O that miserable wench
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Still your tongue sir, though she may be bitter, the woman is still my relative
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mirabell **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">: I cry your pardon, my lady. I am just frustrated that it is because of these rusty customs that I must get your aunt’s blessing
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> I know my love I know, but what are we to do?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mirabell: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Do not worry your sweet head my darling, I have a few aces up my sleeves. I could never stand to have someone as vivacious and full of life as you are. It is a soft breath of fresh air after I have spent my life inhaling only putrescence.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> (teasing) ‘Tis all the other ladies perfumes you breathe.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mirabell: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Aye perchance it is, but it is yours I cannot forget. Alas I see Waitwell and Foible approaching, I prithee take your leave and I will gaze upon you again soon.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Millamant: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Fare thee well. (Kisses Mirabell) (Exeunt Millamant)

(Enter Waitwell and Foible, pg. 2247)

=**<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Contemporary Secret Passage **=

//**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Scene I **// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> That sly woman, dear as she is. Yes, I will woo her. I must not waste any more time, but be aggressive. I must show her how much I love her and how much love I will continue to show her when we are married. My charm and cleverness will help me win her. She will then be my wife forever for I will ensure that my plan will succeed. Millamant does not realize how powerful and great my love for her is and what I will do for her; it doesn’t matter what she does to me, I will still long for her. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> You’re still here, Mirabell? Actually, I don’t really need to ask why you’re still sitting there…deep in contemplation. Your expression is quite evident; It’s Millamant, isn’t it <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes…I can’t help feeling tormented, but in love at the same time… <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes, I see. Mirabell, you are not only persistent, but charming as well. Do you still intend to go through with the plan you’ve made regarding Millamant? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes, of course. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I know that you are troubled, but why do you keep staring at the floor now? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> That is exactly the way I feel about men, especially that of my husband. However, even though he drives me insane, I still feel bound to him. A world in which men and women must live together is one that seems, at times, impossible to live in. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yet, my feelings still remain the same for Millamant. I will hold true for my love, proclaiming it in a victorious manner. Oh my goodness, here she comes now!
 * MIRABELL**: It is this, Mrs. Fainall: I love Millamant dearly and to a great extent, but she also drives me crazy! I want to be free from this complication; I long for peace and contentment over this situation that has me so tightly wrapped. My love—She is an angel and thus a woman that I greatly desire, but a woman that at times makes things utterly impossible. However, it is her very flaws that make me love her even more…

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Scene II// ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLIMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> What are the two of you secretly discussing? Is it about me perhaps? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Oh, Mrs. Millimant, how paranoid and vain you are to think so. [Mrs. Fainfall laughs at Mrs. Millimant.] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Actually, yes, we are talking about you. How do you fell about that? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLIMANT: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Oh Mirabell! You do not even have the decency to pretend that you are talking about something else. Well then, I will leave you to consider your actions. You are such a love sick fool, ha, ha, ha. [Mrs. Millimant leaves.] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> She tortures me so much. She will drive me mad, especially the way her hair flows about her face and shoulders when she does so. She will be the end of my life. Yet, her follies are what draw me to her, they have created that desire within me for her hand. I will make her love me though by wooing her, yes, that is the answer. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes, it is the answer Mirabell. [Mrs. Fainfall looks down.] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> What did you say Mrs. Fainfall? Now, why are you looking at your feet sadly when I had just done that? [She glances at Mirabell.] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> You know all your charms will win back her love again. I know because I had fallen for those charms not so long ago too. You had ruled my body and soul and now I know there will never be the chance of your love for me again. But, I may always crave your love. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> But you will always have my gratefulness if you were to help me with my secret plan, especially since Foible and Waitwell are acting as if they got married for their own reasons, instead for my own. [Mirabell and Mrs. Fainfall hear footsteps.] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MRS. FAINFALL: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Be quiet! I have to leave,but yes, I will help you then.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> (To himself) //The reason I love Millamant so much is exactly why it’ll be so hard to get her. She is to smart to just fall for me. She’s nothing like that cougar Mrs. Fainall. I’ll never be able to marry her if she doesn’t already want me.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[Enter Millamant once again] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Where is Mrs. Fainall? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> What is it, then! Hurry up I’m starting to get more interested in what you have to say. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Wow, that’s what you had to say? I hope that’s not the only thing you wanted to say, because that wasn’t so interesting or intelligent. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> I disagree! My heart and mind told me it was both. [exit MILLAMANT] [exit MIRABELL <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">]
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Scene III //**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> She left, so now it’s just us two to talk.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> There’s nothing I’m interested in that we haven’t already talked about.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Oh, I think I know something that you might be interested in, even if it’s only for a little bit.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> What is it already, I’m sure it’s not that important.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Hey! Why do have to be so rude! I talk about interesting and very important things.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MLLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> People in love only talk nonsense.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> That can be true for idiots that are in love but I promise that I’m not an idiot and whatever I want to tell you so badly is important and sweet. Because I wouldn’t say anything else in the presence of an angel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> I’ve decided to marry you.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> I’m going to find Mrs. Fainal. I was coming to talk to her any way.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Oh, to bad I was hoping to talk to you more. But what did you have to talk to her about any way?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MILLAMANT: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">None of your business! Bye.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MIRABELL: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Bye Millamant. [To himself] I’ll go talk to Mrs. Fainall and see if Millamant is talking about me!

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Scene IV //** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Mrs Fainfall I have been looking for you all day. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs. Fainfall ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: What is so important that you were looking for me all day? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: I want to talk to you about something that is important to me and it still scares me so much. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs Fainfall ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">:oh my goodness that does sound so important please tell me what it is that is bothering so much. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: I saw you and Mirabell were talking today pretty secretly, what was it that needed to be a secret? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs. Fainfall ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: It is not my secret to tell, you have to wait for the right time. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: you have given me very limited information and I still have so many questions. how is it that you and Mirabell have such a strong connection that you can't even tell me what is going on? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: (to Mirabell) What are you doing here! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: My love for you is so strong that It lead me to your door! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Is what you are telling me the truth? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: My lvoe for you is so strong that it is stronger than anyone has ever had or seen, and that is the truth! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: So the truth has been told and yet I feel like you are still keeping a secret from me. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: What are you talking about My love!!! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs Fainfall ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Let me interrupt you both to help you understand one another. Mirabell you love her, She loves you and only wants the truth. You both have to talk to one another and better understand what you both want. I will leave you now and you can have that much needed conversation.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Scene V// ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I would rather be alone right now to talk as…well I’m not sure yet whether we should be called that. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Just say what you’re thinking, because I can’t read your mind. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Well of course you can’t read it, but you should be able to take a hint. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes that’s true, you’re very smart and beautiful. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> So you do understand what I was trying to say? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes I do, we are lovers, I love you very much, and well do you love me? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yes I do! It is true. You have realized. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Yet I still feel you are keeping a secret from me, along with Mrs. Fainfall. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> This is not the time or place for secret telling, but then again do we not have many other things to hide that we should share <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> I can understand why you feel the way you do right now, but everything I tell you is the truth.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//Scene VI// ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Yes I know hun, we need to keep this situation on the down low, if too many people talk about it, it could reach the ears of someone who it shouldn't get to. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: My Aunt Wishfort? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Yes that woman of loose morals <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Be quiet, although she is a bit rough around the edges she is still my relative <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabel ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">l: I'm sorry, it just bothers me that I have to get her blessing <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millaman ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">t: I know I know so what do we do? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mirabell ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Don't worry about it, I've got a plan. I love you and could never let someone as full of life as you get away, you are a breath of fresh air after i have spent my life inhaling smells of garbage <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Other ladies' perfumes? Mirabell: Maybe it is, but I can't forget yours. Darn I see Waitwell and Foible coming, I'll see you later <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Goodbye (kisses) (Exit Millamant)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Millamant ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Our previous romantic encounters were pretty scandalous, I don't want anyone to find out about that, they gossip all the time.

=<span style="background-color: #0092ff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">Credits = Heid Nessenson: Religious Beliefs and Practices in 18th Century Britain, Secret Passage Scene 1 Gabrielle Amour-Acevedo: Women in the 18th Century, Secret Passage Scene II Rene Harris: Plot Overview, Art and Identity, Secret Passage III John Cignarella: Clothing and Identity, Secret Passage V Drew Scoggins: About the Author, Social Structure and Identity, Secret Passage Scene VI