BONNIFACE
. . . My Lady Bountyful is one of the best of Women: Her last Husband Sir Charles Bountyful left her worth a Thousand Pounds a Year; and I believe she lays out one half on't in charitable Uses for the Good of her Neighbors; she cures Rheumatisms, Ruptures, and broken Shins in Men, Green Sickness, Obstructions, and Fits of the Mother in Women;–The King's-Evil, Chin-Cough, and Chilblains in Children; in short, she has cured more People in and about Litchfield within Ten Years than the Doctors have kill'd in Twenty; and that's a bold Word.

This passage from "The Beaux' Stratagem" spotlights Lady Bountiful's character as a paragon of benevolence and community service. Through Bonniface's description, Farquhar humorously extols Lady Bountiful's extensive, almost miraculous, healing abilities. Her charitable nature is underscored by her financial generosity and her commitment to healthcare, contrasting with the ineffectiveness of professional doctors, whom Bonniface claims have "kill'd" more people than she has saved. This exaggeration serves a dual purpose: it amplifies the theme of the play's gentle satire and endears Lady Bountiful to the audience as an archetype of virtue. Her character's altruism provides a backdrop to the comedic pursuit of Aimwell and Archer, enhancing the play’s exploration of societal roles and expectations.