The Provoked Wife

Sir John Vanbrugh, James L. Smith

From Shelf: Overheard on Marlon & Jake Read Dead People. Ep 19. "Dead Authors Through History"

Vanbrugh's treatment of the woman's role contributes to the current and continuing interest in such social issues. The book includes a commentary and critical introduction which sets the play in its historical, social and theatrical context.

In this late Restoration comedy Vanbrugh not only pushes the unhappily married couple, which had been good for no more than a raucous subplot in earlier comedies of manners, centre-stage - he also makes the audience sympathise with the wife: The only thing Sir John and Lady Brute agree on is that they ought not to have married each other; now he spends his time in drunken debauchery with his cronies, while she tries to withstand the advances of her admirer Constant. After a series of farcical accidents involving cross-dressing and the eternal lover-in-the-wardrobe, the couple end where they began. Since the scene in which Sir John disguises as a clergyman was deemed 'immoral and profane', an alternative scene (in its way equally profane) was written, in which he disguises as his own wife. This edition provides both versions and discusses the play's continuing popularity on the stage.

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