The plot in six lines
Mirabell and Millamant love each other, but Lady Wishfort controls part of Millamant's fortune and hates Mirabell because he once pretended to court her.
Fainall, married to Lady Wishfort's daughter, pursues money while carrying on an affair with Mrs. Marwood, whose polite manners hide jealousy and spite.
Mirabell arranges for his servant Waitwell, secretly married to Foible, to court Lady Wishfort in disguise as Sir Rowland, hoping she will later accept Mirabell's help.
Foible prepares Lady Wishfort for the supposed suitor, while Sir Wilfull Witwoud arrives from the countryside and stands apart from the polished town speakers.
Mirabell and Millamant negotiate their conditions for marriage, seeking to protect their independence, while Fainall moves to force Lady Wishfort to surrender her fortune.
Mirabell produces a legal paper protecting Mrs. Fainall's property in his trust, defeating Fainall's threat and Mrs. Marwood's schemes, and a grateful Lady Wishfort consents to Mirabell and Millamant's marriage.
Themes
Marriage and money: Millamant's dependence on her aunt's consent shows how property and family power shape marriage, even when two people love each other.
Appearance and reality: Disguises, flattery and polite conversation conceal calculating intentions, making the difference between social appearance and private purpose central to the comedy.
Women's independence: Millamant uses wit and negotiation to protect her habits and friendships against the demands that marriage might place on her.
Reputation: Gossip threatens social standing, and characters guard their public image while exploiting what they know about other people's private lives.
Wit and power: Clever conversation helps characters judge, influence and deceive one another, while foolish speakers expose the gap between seeming witty and understanding events.
Characters
- MirabellA witty gentleman who loves Millamant and must win back the favor of her aunt, whom he once tricked, to marry her.
- MillamantA bright, independent young woman who loves Mirabell but guards her freedom and delights in teasing him.
- Lady WishfortMillamant's vain, widowed aunt, who controls part of her niece's fortune and bitterly dislikes Mirabell.
- FainallLady Wishfort's son-in-law, a cold husband with an affair and an eye on money.
- Mrs. MarwoodA friend of the family who hides spite and jealousy behind polite manners, and who loves Fainall.
- WaitwellMirabell's servant, who is asked to play a false role in the plan to win over Lady Wishfort.
For the A level coursework
- AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework).
From the boards' own documents (the specifications and coursework guidance listed under Sources), read on 24 October 2026. Your school chooses the coursework texts: ask your teacher before you start.
Questions
What is The Way of the World about?
The Way of the World is about two lovers whose hopes of marriage become entangled with money, family resentment and rival schemes. Its comedy contrasts the lovers' honest negotiation with a society that often treats marriage as a financial arrangement.
Who are the main characters in The Way of the World?
The main characters are the lovers Mirabell and Millamant, her aunt Lady Wishfort, and the scheming Fainall and Mrs. Marwood. The servants Waitwell and Foible help Mirabell, while Sir Wilfull Witwoud brings a blunt country manner into fashionable society.
What are the main themes of The Way of the World?
The main themes are marriage and money, women's independence, reputation, appearance and reality, and the power of wit. The lovers' negotiated terms offer a contrast to relationships governed by vanity, financial ambition and deception.
Which boards mention The Way of the World for A level English Literature?
AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework). Your school chooses the coursework texts, so ask your teacher before you start.
