The Country Wife Characters

Harry Horner is a wealthy London socialite who has a reputation as a great “wit” and a notorious womanizer. He spreads a rumor that he has caught a venereal disease and that, after being treated… read analysis of Harry Horner

Margery is the young bride of Pinchwife and the titular “country wife.” She is seduced by Horner and eventually becomes his mistress when she outsmarts her husband and escapes from his jealous supervision. Margery is… read analysis of Margery Pinchwife

Pinchwife is Margery’s husband. He is obsessively jealous and is terrified of being made to look foolish and of gaining a reputation as a “cuckold.” He has chosen Margery for a wife because he… read analysis of Pinchwife

Sir Jasper Fidget is a wealthy businessman, the husband of Lady Fidget and the brother of Mrs. Dainty Fidget. It is implied that Sir Jasper has made his money through business and is not… read analysis of Sir Jasper Fidget

Mrs. Dainty Fidget is the sister of Sir Jasper Fidget and the companion of Lady Fidget and Mrs. Squeamish—known together, ironically, as the “virtuous gang.” Mrs. Dainty Fidget has a reputation as a “virtuous”… read analysis of Mrs. Dainty Fidget

Mrs. Squeamish is a fashionable town lady, the companion of Lady Fidget and Mrs. Dainty Fidget and a member of the “virtuous gang.” Mrs. Squeamish is unmarried and lives under the care of her grandmother… read analysis of Mrs. Squeamish

Sparkish is a vain, foolish socialite who is obsessed with his reputation and “honor,” has an extremely high opinion of himself, and is easily tricked by the clever characters in the play, such as Harcourt… read analysis of Sparkish

Alithea is Pinchwife’s sister and is engaged to Sparkish. She falls in love with Harcourt and, though she resists his advances at first (out of loyalty to her fiancé), she is paired with… read analysis of Alithea

Harcourt is the companion of Horner and Dorilant and the lover of Alithea, whom he tries to persuade to leave her fiancé, Sparkish. Harcourt begins the play as one of Horner’s “rakish” companions… read analysis of Harcourt

Dorilant is the companion of Horner and Harcourt and a well-known “rake.” Dorilant does not play a large role in the action of the play but is present in the background of many scenes. He… read analysis of Dorilant

Alithea’s maid. Like Margery, Lucy is from a lower social class and, therefore, is not educated and does not have a reputation to protect the way that upper class ladies do. However, like… read analysis of Lucy

The doctor who helps Horner spread the rumor of his impotence. A “quack” is an old-fashioned term for a doctor who peddles nonsense cures and who is not reliable. Therefore, it is fitting that an… read analysis of Quack