The Way of the World

William Congreve

1. What type of drama is “The Way of the World”? [NU 2014, 2017]

Ans: “The Way of the World” is the comedy of manners.

2. What is comedy of manners?

Ans: The comedy of manners is a kind of comedy which satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class often represented by stock characters.

3. What are the major themes of ‘The Way of the World'?

Ans: The major themes of ‘The Way of the World' are legacy hunting, love and marriage, promiscuity and infidelity, deceit and sneaky schemes, hypocrisy etc.

4. What is a ‘Cabal night’? [NU 2013]

Ans: ‘Cabal night’ is an evening party attended by a group of women from higher class society to make and spread intrigues and scandals.

5. Who is the most ridiculous character in the play ‘The Way of the World’?

Ans: Lady Wishfort is the most ridiculous character in the play ‘The Way of the World’.

6. What is the marital status of Lady Wishfort? [NU 2015]

Ans: Lady Wishfort is a widow.

7. How old is Lady Wishfort?

Ans: Lady Wishfort is 55 years old.

8. Who is the hero of the play ‘The Way of the World’?

Ans: The hero of the play The Way of the World is Mirabell.

9. Who is the heroine of the play The Way of the World?

Ans: Millamant  is the heroine of the play The way of the World. 

10. Who is Millamant?

Ans: Millament is the young, attractive and intelligent lady whom Mr. Mirabell and many others love.

11. Who is Petulant?

Ans: Petulant is a fool who is a follower of Millamant and friend of Witwould.

12. Who is Sir Wilful?

Ans: Sir Wilfull is half-brother to Anthony Witwould and nephew to Lady Wishfort.

13. What is the relationship between Witwood and Sir Wilfull?

Ans: Sir Wilfull is the half-brother of Witwood.

14. What is the relationship between Sir Willful and lady Wishfort?

Ans: Sir Wilfull is Lady Wishfort’s nephew.

15. What is the relationship between Lady Wishfort and Millamant?

Ans: Millamant is the niece to Lady Wishfort.

16. Who is Mincing?

Ans: Mincing is the maid of Millamant.

17. Why is Lady Wishfort angry with Mirabell?

Ans: Lady Wishfort is angry with Mirabell because she learns from Mrs. Marwood that Mirabell is not in love with her but only flatters her to secure Millamant.

18. Who reveals Mirabell’s false love to Lady Wishfort? [NU 2012] 

Ans: Mrs. Marwood reveals Mirabell's false love to Lady Wishfort.

19. Who is the supposed uncle of Mirabell?

Ans: Sir Rowland is the supposed uncle of Mirabell. 

20. Who is Mrs. Fainall?

Ans: Mrs. Fainall is the daughter of Lady Wishfort and the wife of Mr. Fainall.

21. Whose daughter is Mrs. Fainall?

Ans: Mrs. Fainall is the daughter of Lady Wishfort. 

22. How does Mrs. Fainall get pregnant?

Ans: Mrs. Fainall gets pregnant by her physical relationship with Mirabell. 

24. Why did Mr. Fainall agree to marry Mrs. Fainall? [NU 2013, 2016]

Ans: Mr. Fainall agrees to marry Mrs. Fainall because of her property.

25. Who calls himself a 'cuckold' in “The Way of the World”?

Ans: Mr. Fainall calls himself a 'cuckold' in “The Way of the World”.

26. Why does Mr. Fainall call himself a 'cuckold'?

Ans: Mr. Fainall calls himself a ‘cuckold’ because his wife Mrs. Fainall has deceived him by her illicit relationship with Merabell.

27. How does Mr. Fainall attempt to blackmail Lady Wishfort?

Ans: Mr. Fainall attempts to blackmail Lady Wishfort by threatening to expose the illegal relationship of her daughter with Mirabell.

28. What does Lady Wishfort do to save her family honour?

Ans: Lady Wishfort consents to give Mr. Fainall a lot of money to save her family honour.

29. What does "Proviso-Scene" mean?

Ans: "Proviso–scence" means “conditioning scene”.

30. Who take part in Proviso-scene?

Ans: Mirabell and Millamant take part in Proviso-scene.

31. What was the last condition of Mirabell in the 'Proviso Scene'? [NU 2016]

Ans: The last condition of Mirabell in the ‘Proviso Scene’ was about drinking. According to Mirabell, Millamant’s drinks should not be stronger than tea, chocolate and coffee. She will not be allowed to drink any of the foreign drinks which are treated as additional items on tea-table.

32. Who are the ladies that first enter into St. James Park in 'The Way of the World'? [NU 2016]

Ans: In The Way of the World, the ladies who first enter into St. James Park are Mrs. Fainall and Mrs. Marwood.

33. Who is the collaborator in Mr. Fainall's scheme?

Ans: Mrs. Marwood is the collaborator in Mr. Fainall's scheme.

34. What does the name “Marwood” suggest? [NU 2015]

Ans: The name” Marwood” suggests that the bearer of the name would mar or destroy her lovers.  

35. Why does Mrs. Marwood inform Mr. Fainall that his wife is in love with Mirabell?

Ans: Mrs. Marwood informs Mr. Fainal that his wife is in love with Mirabell out of sheer jealousy.

37. Whom does Mrs. Marwood call “Mrs. Engine”?

Ans: Mrs. Marwood calls Foible “Mrs. Engine”.

38. Who wrote the anonymous letter to Lady Wishfort?

Ans: Mrs. Marwood wrote the anonymous letter to Lady Wishfort.

39. What is the plot of Waitwell?

Ans: The plot of Waitwell was to marry Foible, Lady Wishfort's maid.

40. Why does Waitwell disguise himself as Sir Rowland?

Ans: Waitwell disguises himself as Sir Rowland to deceive Lady Wishfort by wooing her.

41. Why was Lady Wishfort excited at her dressing table?

Ans: Lady Wishfort was excited at her dressing table because she was going to meet Sir Rowland soon.

42. Who are the two main conspirators in the play The Way of the World?

Ans: The two main conspirators in the play “The Way of the World” are Mirabell and Mr. Fainall.

43. Who is Witwould? [NU 2013]

Ans: Witwould is the half-brother to Sir Wilfull Witwoud and a suitor of Ms. Millamant in 'The Way of the World’.

44. Who is Foible? [NU 2014]

Ans: Foible is Lady Wishfort's maid.

47. What does the black box contain in the play 'The Way of the World'? [NU 2014]

Ans: In the play 'The Way of the World' the black box contains all the documents of the estate of Waitwell.  

48. Why did Congreve use the epilogue?

Ans: Congreve used the epilogue to provide a ready-made response to his critics.