The Country Wife: Act 2 Summary & Analysis

Margery is unhappy with the way Pinchwife controls her and refuses to let her experience town life. Pinchwife is a parody of a middle-class Puritan from the period, who believes that the “gentry” are all promiscuous hedonists. The Restoration was a period of rebellion against these puritanical impulses, as the Puritans, under Oliver Cromwell, had ruled Britain for eighteen years prior to Charles II’s ascension. Margery does not understand the etiquette of the city and does not realize that, even though she is naturally attracted to other men, she must pretend that she is not for the sake of appearances and because she is married.

Pinchwife misogynistically blames his sister for leading Margery astray. This reflects puritanical, Christian beliefs that women were more corrupt than men and that women needed men’s guidance and protection to be kept pure. However, Alithea is adamant that, although she mingles in the city, she is not corrupted because she does not partake in corrupt activities. This suggests that Pinchwife’s theory, that people will be corrupted by their proximity to sin, is false.

By describing the pleasures of the town, which he has forbidden Margery from enjoying, he makes them even more appealing to her. If he had not told her about them, she is unlikely to have sought them out herself. This suggests that censoring things makes them more attractive. Alithea, who is wiser than Pinchwife, realizes this and predicts Margery’s reaction. Pinchwife, however, believes that if Margery goes into town, her innocence will be corrupted. He does not have any faith that she can observe town behavior without practicing it herself.

Again, Pinchwife increases Margery’s curiosity when he suggests that she has an admirer. This young man is Horner, as Pinchwife assumed from Horner’s teasing that he is in love with Margery.

Margery does not understand the social rules of the city. She does not realize that men view women as conquests and will ruin their reputations by bragging after they have seduced them. Neither does she realize that women are expected to be “virtuous” and dislike sex. Pinchwife is very abusive of Margery and keeps her locked up like a prisoner.

Sparkish does not care about Alithea’s feelings and shows her off to make himself look good. He views her as an extension of his own reputation, rather than a wife or companion. Pinchwife can see what Harcourt’s is doing but Sparkish is totally blind to it. Sparkish is the equivalent of Pinchwife as, while Pinchwife drives Margery to cheat by forcing her away from other men, Sparkish drives Alithea to cheat by forcing her together with Harcourt to boost his own ego.

Sparkish is not jealous because he doesn’t care about Alithea, not because he believes she is incapable of infidelity. He is so conceited that he assumes she must feel lucky to have him and, therefore, could not fall for another man. Although jealousy is portrayed as a destructive emotion, it is also portrayed as essential, in small amounts, to love, since it proves a person’s affection.

Sparkish does not listen to Alithea when she tells him that Harcourt has upset her. He only reacts when he thinks Harcourt has insulted his own reputation, which shows that he only cares about himself and how things make him look. He tries to impress Alithea by threatening to kill Harcourt and this makes Alithea realize that she has feelings for Harcourt and does not want him hurt.

Pinchwife will not associate with “honorable” ladies because, despite their noble reputations, he believes they are promiscuous and will corrupt Margery.

The women complain that noble men do not visit them; instead they spend their time with prostitutes or women without titles. It is ironic that the ladies look down on common women for being “dishonorable” as their own “honor” is only a façade. The “men of quality” are also only “men of quality” in title and reputation, and not in reality, as they, too, are promiscuous and behave dishonestly. The ladies prefer to sleep with “rakes,” or men with reputations as womanizers, because this is the most damaging to their reputations if they get caught, the most socially taboo and, therefore, the most exciting.

The ladies maintain their façade of “honor” and pretend that they do not want to be seen with known womanizers like Horner and Dorilant. At the same time, Dorilant objects to being seen with “virtuous” women, as this may damage his reputation as a ladies man. Sir Jasper correctly predicts that his wife will only spend time with an impotent man if she can get something from him; either money or sex. Gambling and card games were pursuits which were outlawed by the Puritans under Cromwell’s rule, but which returned during the court of Charles II.

Horner knows that Lady Fidget loves sex, because she is genuinely disgusted by and wants nothing to do with a man who is impotent.

Lady Fidget is flattered that Horner has put her reputation before his own. If people believe he is impotent, then she can visit him freely without compromising her “honor.” Of course, Horner also gets something out of this, as he can make her his mistress. Since Restoration society loves scandal, they will choose to believe the most shocking story (the story of Horner’s impotence) over the truth.

It is ironic that Sir Jasper thinks the ladies will be “innocently” entertained, when, really, they will be seduced by Horner.