She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer is a play by British writer Oliver Goldsmith, first performed in 1773. The play is a comedy of manners and a romance set in 18th-century England. Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish poet and dramatist and this play is his most popular and well-known work, with performances still regularly occurring in the 21st century. In 1778, John O'Keeffe wrote a successful sequel to the play, entitled Tony Lumpkin in Town. She Stoops to Conquer is composed of five Acts, all of which take place over the course of a single night at the English country home of the Hardcastle family. Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle are expecting a visit from Charles Marlow, the son of an old friend, who they hope will marry their daughter Kate despite his reputation for being nervous around upper-class women. However, Marlow and his companion Hastings are tricked into thinking that the house is an inn. Marlow falls in love with Kate, believing her to be a maid, while Hastings conspires to elope with Constance Neville, a relative of the family. These mistaken identities and pranks enable Goldsmith to comment upon social class in the 18th century and the tension between the younger and older generations.

This guide uses the edition published by Macmillan and Co. in 1928.

Plot Summary

She Stoops to Conquer begins in the Hardcastle household with a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle about the new fashions of London. While Mr. Hardcastle prefers old-fashioned things, his wife is interested in the new customs of the city. They are anticipating the arrival of Charles Marlow, the son of an old family friend who they hope will wed their daughter, Kate. Kate is intrigued by Marlow, who is described as intelligent, genteel, and handsome, but she is distressed by his reputation as a shy and reserved man around women. She confides in her cousin, Constance Neville, a young lady who has been adopted into the family after the death of her parents until she is married. While Mrs. Hardcastle hopes that Constance will marry her son from her first marriage, Tony Lumpkin, and therefore keep her valuable inheritance of jewels in the Hardcastle family, Constance hopes to marry another man named George Hastings.

Meanwhile, Marlow and Hastings travel to the countryside from London, and the spoiled Tony Lumpkin decides to play a prank on them, convincing them that the Hardcastle's house is an inn. They arrive at the home and are surprised by the familiarity of Mr. Hardcastle, who they believe to be an innkeeper, while Mr. Hardcastle is shocked by his guests' rudeness and brazen demands. While Hastings encounters Constance and realizes that they have been tricked, they continue to conceal the truth from Marlow so that they will have time to arrange their elopement. Marlow is incredibly nervous around women of his own social class, but very flirtatious with lower-class women. He meets Kate first as herself, dressed in fine clothes, and is too timid to speak with her for long, but when he sees her again in simple, modest clothes, he mistakes her for a bar maid and is very affectionate and bold.

Meanwhile, Tony Lumpkin conspires with Constance and Hastings to steal the jewels from Mrs. Hardcastle, so that Constance and Hastings can elope to France and Tony will be spared from an unwanted marriage. They initially get ahold of the jewels, but then lose them again when Marlow gives them back to Mrs. Hardcastle, who he thinks is a landlady, for safekeeping. Mr. Hardcastle grows incensed by Marlow's insolent behavior and throws him out of the house.

However, Kate finally explains to Marlow that he has been deceived. Marlow is humiliated and angry at Hastings, but he still does not realize that Kate is the Hardcastle's daughter and not some poor relative employed by the family as a servant. When Marlow's father, Sir Charles, arrives, Marlow claims that he cannot marry Kate because he does not love her. However, Kate tells the fathers to hide behind a screen and listen to Marlow profess his love for her. When she returns in her modest clothing, he does swear his affection for her.

After his proclamation, Kate finally clarifies who she is, and the parents agree that they will make a good couple. Constance confesses to Mr. Hardcastle that she prefers to marry Hastings and Mr. Hardcastle reveals that Tony Lumpkin is already of age and thus can independently choose his own wife. Tony rejects Constance, freeing her to marry Hastings and allowing her to keep her family jewels. The play concludes with two couples ready to marry and all the deceptions ended.