Summary

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Production Period: 1613-1617

Publication Year: 1616

Literary Form: Drama

Plot Style: Comedy of manners

Time Setting: Early seventeenth century

Setting: London

Main Characters

  • Elder Loveless: A dedicated suitor of the Lady
  • Young Loveless: A hedonistic man about town
  • Savil: Steward to Elder Loveless
  • Welford: Another aspirant for the Lady's affection
  • Morecraft: A usurer
  • The Lady: The object of Elder Loveless' affection
  • Martha: The Lady's sister
  • Abigail (Mrs. Younglove): The Lady's attendant
  • The Widow: Morecraft's love interest

Critical Overview

The Scornful Lady by Beaumont and Fletcher emerged as a favorite during the Restoration era, primarily because it resonated well with the audiences of the late seventeenth century. The play is a deft fusion of popular theatrical elements of the time. The central narrative revolves around Elder Loveless' determined pursuit of the sophisticated and independent Lady, a storyline rich in the classic themes of the battle of the sexes. In a secondary narrative, Young Loveless outwits a usurer to reclaim his standing by marrying a wealthy widow—a motif that became a staple in English comedy of manners. The play skillfully balances characters across both plots: Elder Loveless and his reckless younger brother contrast each other as different faces of a Jacobean gentleman, while the Lady's aloofness is set against the eager affections of both Abigail and the Widow. The dialogue is sharp and provocative, and the plot is sufficiently intricate to captivate the Jacobean theater enthusiast. A distinct undercurrent of sexuality runs through the play, though it stops short of being vulgar, maintaining a playful artifice. Overall, The Scornful Lady offers a captivating glimpse into the emerging world of Restoration comedy.

Plot Summary

Having fallen from grace with his beloved Lady for publicly forcing a kiss, Elder Loveless is left pleading for forgiveness and proposing marriage yet again. The Lady remains unmoved, demanding he spend a year traveling abroad as penance. Disheartened, Elder Loveless reluctantly prepares for his journey, leaving his estate to the not-so-careful stewardship of his pleasure-seeking younger brother, Young Loveless, who has already frittered away his own fortune. As soon as Elder Loveless departs, Young Loveless and his four companions—a Captain, a Traveler, a Poet, and a Tobaccoman—embark on a spree of revelry, to the dismay of his brother's loyal steward, Savil, while he gleefully anticipates the indulgences his brother's estate will afford.

Simultaneously, Welford, a new suitor, arrives at the Lady's residence. His charm and generosity earn the approval of Sir Roger, the Lady's curate, and Abigail, her aged and amorous attendant, though he receives only a cold reception from the Lady herself, who, despite her sternness, has secretly given her heart to Elder Loveless.

Despite his pledges to the Lady, Elder Loveless does not embark on his voyage. Instead, he disguises himself to test the sincerity of both his brother and his beloved by spreading news of his own death. Upon returning home, Elder Loveless finds Young Loveless amidst another debauchery session. Young Loveless accepts the tragic news with remarkable composure, raising a toast to his brother's memory, and revels in the prospect of inheriting the estate. Once Elder Loveless leaves, Young Loveless eagerly anticipates squandering his newfound inheritance.

Elder Loveless then confronts the Lady with his false death, initially eliciting the response he desires as she breaks into tears. However, upon recognizing him, the Lady feigns affection for Welford, much to Welford's confusion and delight. Frustrated, Elder Loveless discards his disguise, but the Lady, having been aware all along, reminds him of his obligation to travel if he hopes to win her approval. Defeated, Elder Loveless withdraws. Welford, misinterpreting the situation, attempts to court the Lady,...

(This entire section contains 1227 words.)

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only to be firmly rebuffed. When Abigail offers herself as a fallback option, Welford, disenchanted, departs in haste.

In the meantime, Young Loveless is busy selling off his brother's estate. He secures £6,000 from Morecraft, the usurer, by promising to finalize the sale later. Elated with the deal, Morecraft anticipates gaining a knighthood and marrying a wealthy widow with earnings from the transaction.

Upon meeting Young Loveless and the Widow to finalize the estate deal, both are drawn to each other. But before the exchange is completed, Elder Loveless reappears, reclaiming his identity. Young Loveless, adept at navigating shifting fortunes, greets his brother's unexpected return with characteristic nonchalance. The usurer, realizing the sale's invalidation, protests in vain as Young Loveless refuses to return the money, suggesting Morecraft view it as poetic justice for past deceits. The Widow admires Young Loveless' cunning and, dismissing Morecraft, decides to marry the clever young scoundrel.

Determined to stay and win the Lady, Elder Loveless attempts a new tactic. He visits the Lady, adopting a cavalier attitude, belittling her former power over him, and claiming to no longer love her. The Lady, unfazed by his ruse, pretends to faint, only to mock his remorse when he rushes to her aid. Her mockery, however, pushes Elder Loveless too far, and he leaves, indifferent to her urgent calls for him to return.

Yet his love for the Lady prevails over his anger. In a final, daring strategy, Elder Loveless, with Welford's help, who is willing to marry Martha, the Lady's sister, devises a scheme to secure his love. Welford disguises himself as a woman, and Elder Loveless presents "her" as his future bride to the Lady. Thoroughly deceived, the Lady is desperate to salvage her situation and offers Elder Loveless immediate marriage. He accepts, and Martha, feeling pity for Welford's supposed plight, takes "her" to bed.

The following morning sees the men triumphant as Elder Loveless reveals the stratagem to the Lady. Welford and the flustered Martha hurry off to wed. Young Loveless arrives with his new bride, Sir Roger and Abigail are united, and Morecraft, transitioning from usurer to bon vivant, toasts the collective joy and distributes money generously among the servants.

Further Analysis

The works of Beaumont and Fletcher left a significant mark on the theatrical world, achieving a level of fame during their lifetime that even exceeded Shakespeare's. Historical records of court performances indicate that for every Shakespeare play, ten plays by Beaumont and Fletcher were staged. The Scornful Lady was part of this success story, not only captivating Elizabethan and twentieth-century audiences but also enjoying remarkable favor during the Restoration. As noted by John Dryden in his Essay of Dramatic Poesy in 1668, their plays dominated the stage, with two of theirs being performed for every play by Shakespeare or Jonson.

The influence of The Scornful Lady extended into the techniques of Restoration comedy. Elder Loveless' feigned death in the play paved the way for similar scenarios in which lovers would pretend to be ill to elicit sympathy, a common device in later comedic works. The play's exploration of themes like the irreverence towards morality, the perception of marriage as a dual-edged sword, and the use of sharp repartee and double entendres established a foundation for the Restoration comedy style. The vibrant wit of The Scornful Lady likely contributed to its enduring appeal.

Interestingly, the one feature of The Scornful Lady not adopted by Restoration comedies was its setting, which lacked the local color and realistic detail typical of later works. Nonetheless, the borrowing of its elements greatly benefits modern readers. Without The Scornful Lady, we might have missed out on the humorous nuances found in scenes such as the famous "china closet" scene in William Wycherley's The Country Wife.

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