Dame Pliant Character Analysis in The Alchemist

Kestrel’s sister. Just as Dame Pliant’s name suggests, she easily bends to her abusive brother’s will and demands. She is a young and wealthy widow, and her brother has decided that she must marry again—this time to a rich aristocrat. Dame Pliant accompanies Kestrel to see Subtle and have her fortune read, and Subtle kisses her and tells her she will soon be the wife of an aristocrat. Dame Pliant is also wooed by Face, who, like Subtle, kisses her and promises to make her “a lady.” When Surly arrives disguised as a Spanish count, Kestrel forces Dame Plaint to kiss him and says he will kick and “maul” her if she doesn’t agree to marry him. Surly admits to Dame Pliant that he is really a poor Englishman, and she agrees to marry him anyway, until Kestrel chases him off with his new quarreling skills. At the end of the play, Dame Pliant is married to Lovewit, who she is tricked into believing is a Spanish aristocrat. Like Kestrel, Dame Pliant represents gullibility within Jonson’s play. While Dame Pliant obviously has little choice but to obey her brother, she easily believes Subtle and Face’s con, and she likewise believes that Lovewit is Spanish at the end of the play just because he wears a Spanish cloak.

Dame Pliant Quotes in The Alchemist

The The Alchemist quotes below are all either spoken by Dame Pliant or refer to Dame Pliant. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Sir, you were wont to affect mirth and wit—
But here’s no place to talk on’t i’ the street.
Give me but leave to make the best of my fortune,
And only pardon me th’ abuse of your house:
It’s all I beg. I’ll help you to a widow,
In recompense, that you shall gi’ me thanks for,
Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one.

Related Characters: Face / Jeremy the Butler (speaker), Dame Pliant, Lovewit

Page Number and Citation: 314

Explanation and Analysis:

Dame Pliant Character Timeline in The Alchemist

The timeline below shows where the character Dame Pliant appears in The Alchemist. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...him a pipe of tobacco, and he tells Subtle about a rich young widow named Dame Pliant . The Dame would like her fortune read, too, Drugger says. (full context)

Face tells Drugger to bring Dame Pliant to them at once, and Subtle will tell her fortune, but Drugger says she is... (full context)

...has a table of “mathematical demonstrations” concerning quarrels, and if Drugger brings both Kestrel and Dame Pliant , Subtle will teach Kestrel all about wit and quarreling. Drugger promises to try and... (full context)

...sum added to what he took from Drugger, plus whatever he manages to get from Dame Pliant and Kestrel—Face can’t image his share will be anything less than 40 pounds. Doll enters,... (full context)

...are gone, and he has added their money to the bank. Subtle says he hopes Dame Pliant comes soon, but Face says he hopes everyone stays away until he finishes his business... (full context)

...a second man. It must be Kestrel, Face says, the man who wants to quarrel. Dame Pliant , Subtle says, isn’t with them. (full context)

...come to see Subtle, and Drugger has more tobacco for Subtle, too. Face asks where Dame Pliant is, and Drugger promises she will be along soon. Kestrel asks where the doctor is;... (full context)

...to see a woman, and she cured it. Kestrel says he must send his sister, Dame Pliant , to meet the good doctor. (full context)

Kestrel tells Drugger to go and fetch Dame Pliant , but Face informs Kestrel that Subtle is busy right now. He suggests Kestrel go... (full context)

Subtle enters and, after a hearty laugh with Face, tells him that Dame Pliant and her brother, Kestrel, have arrived. Face says he must hurry into his captain’s disguise,... (full context)

Face opens the door, and Kestrel and Dame Pliant enter. Kestrel asks Face where the Captain is, and Face says he will be along... (full context)

Kestrel asks if Subtle can tell Dame Pliant ’s fortune, and Subtle confirms he can. He can tell her fortune by reading her... (full context)

Face greets Kestrel and asks about Dame Pliant . Kestrel introduces them and tells Face he must kiss her, so he does. Subtle... (full context)

Face enters and says he must have Dame Pliant at any cost. Subtle enters, too, and says he has distracted Dame Pliant and Kestrel.... (full context)

Face suggests Subtle tell Dame Pliant her fortune and tell her the Spaniard is her aristocrat, but Subtle resists. He doesn’t... (full context)

Face enters with Kestrel and Dame Pliant . Face is telling Kestrel all about Subtle’s fortune and says Dame Pliant will soon... (full context)

Subtle enters, holding Dame Pliant ’s horoscope, and begins to tell her fortune. Face interrupts. He has already told her,... (full context)

...and Face says it is Spanish. He tells Kestrel that the Count is fond of Dame Pliant , but it is custom in Spain for the woman to first advance and kiss... (full context)

Surly enters with Dame Pliant . He tells her, now speaking in English, that she has fallen into a “nest... (full context)

Subtle enters, thinking Surly is still a Spaniard, and asks how he is fairing with Dame Pliant . Subtle continues talking and begins picking Surly’s pockets as he does. Surly tells Subtle,... (full context)

...Surly has come to cheat Subtle, and Surly tries to explain himself. He even asks Dame Pliant to talk some sense into her brother, but Kestrel won’t listen. Kestrel tells Dame Pliant... (full context)

...is looking for the “bawdy Doctor, and the cozening Captain,” as well as his sister, Dame Pliant . Lovewit again looks to Face for an explanation, but Face swears he has been... (full context)

...worth his while. “I’ll help you to a widow,” Face says to Lovewit, thinking of Dame Pliant . “Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one.” Face asks for Lovewit’s... (full context)

...cloak. Face takes the cloak and exits, and Subtle asks Doll if she has “gulled” Lady Pliant out of her jewelry. Doll says she hasn’t yet, but she will. Subtle tells Doll... (full context)

...will break down the door. Face enters and asks Lovewit if he has successfully married Dame Pliant . Lovewit says he has, and Face tells him to take off the cloak. Lovewit... (full context)

...may go in and search, but they will find no criminals. Kestrel again asks where Dame Pliant is and threatens to “thump her” when he finds her. Lovewit tells Kestrel that his... (full context)

...were promised Mammon’s metal, but Lovewit threatens to beat them, so Ananias and Tribulation exit. Dame Pliant enters, and Kestrel says he will kill her for marrying without his permission. Lovewit draws... (full context)