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Abel Drugger
Face’s master. Lovewit escapes the plague sweeping London for the countryside, and when he returns weeks later, he finds his butler, Jeremy—known to his criminal associates as Face—running illegal cons out of his home with Subtle and Doll. Face convinces Lovewit not to punish him in exchange for Dame Pliant, a young and wealthy widow looking for a husband, whom Face has already promised a Spanish count. Face and Lovewit trick Dame Pliant into believing Lovewit is a wealthy Spanish aristocrat, and Lovewit and Dame Pliant are married in the play’s final act. When Face’s victims converge on Lovewit’s house with police looking for justice during the last scene, Lovewit convinces them that his house has been vacant for weeks and was taken over by criminal conmen, who have long since fled. As the play closes, Lovewit addresses the audience and claims he is very happy with his rich, young wife. The character of Lovewit is a small part of the play—his name is never even spoken by the other characters—but he nevertheless represents deception and vice in The Alchemist. Lovewit agrees not to discipline Face for a young, rich woman, and he deceives others to help Face get away with his crimes.
Lovewit Quotes in The Alchemist
The The Alchemist quotes below are all either spoken by Lovewit or refer to Lovewit. 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:
).
Act 4, Scene 7
Quotes
Be silent: not a word if he call or knock.
I’ll into mine old shape again, and meet him,
Of Jeremy the butler. I’ the meantime,
Do you two pack up all the goods and purchase
That we can carry i’ the two trunks. I’ll keep him
Off for today, if I cannot longer; and then
At night, I’ll ship you both away to Ratcliffe,
Where we’ll meet tomorrow, and there we’ll share.
Let Mammon’s brass and pewter keep the cellar;
We’ll have another time for that. But, Doll,
Pray thee, go heat a little water, quickly,
Subtle must shave me.
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Act 5, Scene 3
Quotes
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lovewit Quotes in The Alchemist
The The Alchemist quotes below are all either spoken by Lovewit or refer to Lovewit. 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:
).
Act 4, Scene 7
Quotes
Be silent: not a word if he call or knock.
I’ll into mine old shape again, and meet him,
Of Jeremy the butler. I’ the meantime,
Do you two pack up all the goods and purchase
That we can carry i’ the two trunks. I’ll keep him
Off for today, if I cannot longer; and then
At night, I’ll ship you both away to Ratcliffe,
Where we’ll meet tomorrow, and there we’ll share.
Let Mammon’s brass and pewter keep the cellar;
We’ll have another time for that. But, Doll,
Pray thee, go heat a little water, quickly,
Subtle must shave me.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 3
Quotes
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
