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Act 4, Scene 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Country Wife, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire
Town vs. Country
Summary
Analysis
In her chamber, Margery longs to see Horner and realizes that she is in love with him. She has heard that town ladies fall in love with “gallants” and now knows this experience herself; the thought of Horner fills her with desire whereas the thought of Pinchwife makes her sick. She decides to write a letter to Horner, now that she knows how to, but Pinchwife interrupts her and steals the letter from her.
Pinchwife keeps Margery in the room while he reads the letter. She has written to Horner that she loves him, is disgusted by her husband, and that she wishes that Horner will free her from her marriage. The letter is unfinished, but it asks Horner to help her before something takes place and Pinchwife assumes that this thing is his and Margery’s return to the country. Pinchwife is horrified; he laments that women are so corrupt, deceitful, and affected and pulls his sword on Margery.
Pinchwife shows his misogynistic attitude towards women. He has married Margery because she is from the country and, therefore, he believes she is stupid and ignorant and will be easy to control. This is all Pinchwife really wants in a wife; someone who will make him look good, be totally faithful to him, and expect nothing in return.
Themes
Sparkish enters and is startled by the scene; he has come to collect Margery for the wedding dinner. Pinchwife refuses to let her go, as Sparkish anticipated, and locks her in her chamber instead. Sparkish asks where Alithea is and Pinchwife tells him that she is probably with another man, as all women do is cheat on their husbands. Sparkish ignores him and the two go for dinner.
