The Matchmaker (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Thornton Wilder
- First Published: 1956
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Comedy
- Time of Work: The early 1880’s
- Setting: Yonkers and New York City
- Genres: Drama, Farce, Comedy, Parody
- Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Love or romance, Nineteenth century, New York City, Marriage, Money, Dating
- Locales: New York, NY, Yonkers, NY
Characters Discussed
Dolly Gallagher Levi, a friend of Vandergelder’s late wife, living in a sort of impoverished elegance as a matchmaker. Of an uncertain age and possessing considerable charm, she also offers music lessons and physical therapy. A meddlesome busybody and fun-loving schemer, she would like New York to be more like Vienna, from which her late husband Ephraim had come. After skillfully pulling a number of strings, she finally gets her wish to become the second Mrs. Vandergelder, with the aim of using her husband’s money to spread joy in the world.
...[The entire page is 688 words long]
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