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The Way of the World
William Congreve
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Table of Contents
Play Summary (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/play-summary)
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Subjects
About The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/about-the-way-of-the-world)
Character List (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-list)
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Summary and Analysis (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-
analysis/dedication)
Dedication (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/dedication)
Prologue (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/prologue)
Act I (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-i)
Act II (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-ii)
Act III (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-iii)
Act IV (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-iv)
Act V (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-v)
Epilogue (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/epilogue)
Character Analysis (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mirabell)
Mirabell (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mirabell)
Millamant (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/millamant)
Fainall (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall)
Mrs. Marwood (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mrs-marwood)
Lady Wishfort (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/lady-wishfort)
Sir Wilfull Witwoud (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/sir-wilfull-witwoud)
Young Witwoud (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/young-witwoud)
Petulant (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/petulant)
Waitwell (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/waitwell)
Foible (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/foible)
Mincing (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mincing)
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Mrs. Fainall (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mrs-fainall)
William Congreve Biography (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/william-congreve-biography)
Critical Essays (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/themes-in-the-way-of-the-
world)
Themes in The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/themes-in-
the-way-of-the-world)
Style, Wit, and Irony in The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-
essays/style-wit-and-irony-in-the-way-of-the-world)
Notes on Performance of The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-
essays/notes-on-performance-of-the-way-of-the-world)
The Reputation of Restoration Drama (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/the-
reputation-of-restoration-drama)
Study Help (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/study-help/quiz)
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Cite this Literature Note (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/play-summary%3Flcitation=true)
Character Analysis Mrs. Fainall
Mrs. Fainall has some important functions in the play. She is the mainspring in Fainall's
counterplot; when she is made aware of Mirabell's plot, she talks too freely with Foible and is
overheard. She helps fill out the gallery of portraits: How would one see the world properly without
a woman who was one of the conquests of the hero before he found his true love? The cast
mistress, now a sadder but wiser person, is, in fact, a common character in Restoration comedy.
(The curious may look at Etherege's famous play, The Man of Mode.) She is not as well drawn as
the other characters, and it is perhaps easier to see why Mirabell tired of her than why he ever
loved her in the first place.
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