The Country Wife

by

William Wycherley

Sir Jasper Fidget Character Analysis

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 a member of the nobility. Sir Jasper is a resident of the city, the business center of London, rather than the Town, where members of Charles II’s court and the gentry live. His inferior social status is reflected in his obsession with business rather than sensuality; he prefers to work rather than spend time seducing women. As the Restoration was a period which celebrated aristocracy and the idle pursuits of the very rich, men like Sir Jasper were looked down upon and made to be “fools” on the stage, as they did not meet the ideals of the age and were associated with the common and vulgar practices of business and making money. Sir Jasper is a “cuckold” and represents a stock figure on the Restoration stage. He is totally oblivious to his wife’s infidelity, even inadvertently aiding her in cheating, and he is a figure of ridicule for the audience, who expect to see him outsmarted. Sir Jasper pushes his wife and sister to spend time with Horner and even, ironically, mocks Horner for his impotence. Sir Jasper never realizes that he is being tricked and feels that, instead, he is getting one over on Horner, as he leaves Horner in charge of his wife and sister, whom he views as an annoyance. Sir Jasper’s blindness to Horner’s true motives is most blatantly exploited for laughs in the famous “china scene,” in which Horner makes love to Lady Fidget, under the pretense of fighting with her over a piece of rare china, while Sir Jasper listens happily and makes jokes in an adjoining room.
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Sir Jasper Fidget Character Timeline in The Country Wife

The timeline below shows where the character Sir Jasper Fidget appears in The Country Wife. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
...someone who has heard and does not believe the rumors, but he is relieved when Sir Jasper Fidget (who Horner thinks is a “fool”) enters with his wife, Lady Fidget, and sister, Mrs.... (full context)
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Sir Jasper tries to introduce Horner to his wife and sister, but Horner will have nothing to... (full context)
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
Sir Jasper thinks this is hilarious, but the ladies are offended by Horner’s attitude. Lady Fidget remarks... (full context)
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Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
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Sir Jasper is highly amused and whispers to Lady Fidget and Mrs. Dainty Fidget that Horner cannot... (full context)
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Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
The ladies are distressed about being left with a man, but Sir Jasper reminds them that Horner is “innocent” and cannot interfere with them. He leaves feeling very... (full context)
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
...pleased with this turn of events. Horner explains that, because of the rumor, men like Sir Jasper will freely leave their wives with him and this arrangement will allow him to have... (full context)
Act 2
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
While the ladies are talking, Sir Jasper , Horner, and Dorilant approach. Sir Jasper tells them that he has an engagement that... (full context)
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
Sir Jasper teases Horner and invites him to take Lady Fidget aside to persuade her himself. Horner... (full context)
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
...Dainty Fidget and Mrs. Squeamish that Horner is an excellent companion for them all and Sir Jasper hurries off to attend to business, confident that he has provided his “honorable” wife and... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 2
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Town vs. Country Theme Icon
...her and Pinchwife struggles to control his temper while Margery shows off her new things. Sir Jasper Fidget arrives to summon Horner because Lady Fidget and her companions are waiting for him to... (full context)
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
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Horner leaves with Sir Jasper while Pinchwife still tries to lead Margery away. Harcourt and Dorilant take their leave of... (full context)
Act 4, Scene 3
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
Lady Fidget throws herself into Horner’s arms just as her husband, Sir Jasper Fidget , walks in. She quickly pretends she is tickling Horner and he pretends to be... (full context)
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
...into another room and locks the door. Horner pretends to be extremely frustrated and tells Sir Jasper that there is another way into the room by which he will follow her. He... (full context)
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Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
While Sir Jasper is listening at the door, Mrs. Squeamish bursts in looking for Horner. When she hears... (full context)
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
...women take hold of Horner and insist that he come for dinner with them while Sir Jasper and Old Lady Squeamish laugh at how they harass the poor, long-suffering man. The Quack,... (full context)
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Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Town vs. Country Theme Icon
...the scene. The ladies, seeing another man enter, immediately cover their faces and leave with Sir Jasper , wary of their “honor.” Pinchwife presents Horner with the letter from Margery. Horner is... (full context)
Act 5, Scene 2
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
Theatre, Puritanism, and Forbidden Desire  Theme Icon
...tell Sparkish that his marriage is off. As he leaves, the servant enters and announces Sir Jasper Fidget , who is on his way up. Horner tells Sir Jasper he is busy, but... (full context)
Act 5, Scene 4
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Sir Jasper and Old Lady Squeamish arrive to take the ladies home and Horner hurriedly removes Margery... (full context)
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Love, Marriage, and Misogyny  Theme Icon
...and tries to attack her and Horner with his sword. Harcourt stops him. Just then, Sir Jasper , Mrs. Squeamish, Mrs. Dainty Fidget and Old Lady Squeamish re-enter and are surprised by... (full context)
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...to restore his own and the lady’s reputation and the Quack, understanding immediately, whispers to Sir Jasper and gives his word “as a physician.”  (full context)
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Hearing this, Sir Jasper apologizes to his “virtuous” wife. The Quack informs Pinchwife that Horner is a eunuch. Pinchwife... (full context)