The Way of the World

The plot centers on the romantic relationship between Mirabell a charming but financially strapped young man and Millamant a wealthy and independent woman with her own mind. To marry Millamant and secure her fortune Mirabell must navigate a web of schemes involving her controlling aunt Lady Wishfort who disapproves of him. Mirabell’s plan involves using his servant to seduce Lady Wishfort hoping to coerce her into blessing the marriage. However other characters including the deceitful Fainall and the comedic Sir Wilfull Witwoud become entangled in Mirabell’s plans leading to misunderstandings revelations and clever negotiations that test the characters’ trust and desires. In the end Mirabell and Millamant successfully overcome the obstacles posed by Lady Wishfort and the conniving Fainall reaching an agreement in their marriage that preserves Millamant’s independence. Their union symbolizes a modern egalitarian partnership built on mutual respect an unusual outcome in Restoration comedies where marriages were often portrayed as social contracts.