She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith – Summary

She stoops to conquer

 Act 1

Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle who live in an old house that looks like an inn awaits the arrival of Marlow, son of Mr. Hardcastle’s old friend who is also going to be a husband to their daughter Kate. In the story, Kate is depicted to be so close to her father to the extent that she dresses plainly in the evening just to suit her father’s conservative test. Then, in the morning she will dress fancifully and beautifully for her friends. Her mother, Mrs. Hardcastle, has a niece called Constance who is under her care. Constance has jewels which her parents left for her as her inheritance and these jewels are under Mrs. Hardcastle care. She is maneuvering to see that Constance gets married to her spoilt son named Tony Lumpkin. However, neither Tony nor Constance has a feeling for each other and Constance already has a lover who is to visit the house alongside Marlow. Tony on the other hand is a drunk and a lover of low living. Tony displays his stupid character when Marlow and Hastings came to a nearby hotel after being lost on their way to Mr. Hardcastle house. He tells the two gentlemen jokingly that there are no more rooms in the hotel but rather they should walk down the road and they will find an old inn where they can lodge. Ironically the old inn in question is Mr. Hardcastle home.

 

 Act 2

In this act, there is some complications which are shown using dramatic irony in which Mr. Marlow and Hastings, on their arrival to the old inn as directed by Tony, were disrespectful to Mr. Hardcastle whom they think is the landlord of the inn not knowing that he is their host. Mr. Hardcastle is disappointed at this display of behaviour. As Miss Constance meets with Mr. Hastings, she tells him that Tony may have played a trick on them. Both of them kept mum to the event not revealing it to Mr. Marlow because it might provoke him if he finds out the truth and might ruin their trip. That notwithstanding, they both planned to get hold of Miss Constance jewels and elope with it.

The story depicts Mr. Marlow as a character who speaks to women of modesty with exaggeration but speaks loudly and hearty to women of low class. In his first meeting with Kate Hardcastle, he wasn’t able to speak well to her because she was dressed very well like a modest lady. But Miss Kate is attracted to Mr. Marlow so she decided to fake her identity so as to draw out his true character.

 

Mr. Hastings reveals his plan to Mr. Tony who promised to help them to get the jewel so that Hastings and Constance will run away with the jewel and he, Tony, will then get rid of his mother’s pressure to marry Constance who he doesn’t love.

 

Act 3

At the beginning of this act, Mr. Hardcastle and his daughter Kate are seen contemplating on the disparity between the character he, Mr. Hardcastle, witnessed of Mr. Marlow and the one his daughter saw of him. While Mr. Hardcastle sees a man of impertinence, his daughter Kate sees a man of modesty. Hence she pleads with her father to allow her to show him that Marlow is more than meets the eyes.

Just as promised, Tony has stolen the jewels but he didn’t tell Miss Constance and she went on to plead with Mrs. Hardcastle to release her jewels to her. Tony persuades her mother to tell Constance that the jewel has been stolen. She also accepted this but was also surprised to find out that the jewels were really stolen.

Kate is now dressed in a plain cloth making her appear as a bar attendant and Mr. Marlow was not able to recognize her because in their first encounter he wasn’t able to look her in the face. Both of them engaged in a lively and fun-filled conversation which lead Mr. Marlow to embrace her towards the end of their discussion and Mr. Hardcastle observes this. Kate still pleads for her father to give her an opportunity to prove to him that Mr. Marlow is a good man.

 

 Act 4

News come in that Sir Charles Marlow who happens to be Hardcastle’s friend and a father to the young Marlow who is meant to marry Kate, Mr. Hardcastle’s daughter is coming. The arrival of Sir Charles will reveal that Hastings is Constance’s lover and will bring up the question of if Marlow will marry Kate.

Mr. Hastings finally collects the jewels which were stolen by Tony and gave them to Marlow for safekeeping. But Marlow gives the box to Mrs. Hardcastle who he is still mistaking to be the landlady of the inn. When this mishap comes to the notice of Hastings, he becomes convinced that his plan to run away with wealth is over so he quickly alerts Constance to come and elope with Him immediately. As the story went on, young Marlow’s impertinence and rudeness to Mr. Hardcastle becomes worst and Mr. Hardcastle chases him out of his house and it is in this process that Marlow begins to realize what is actually happening.

Kate dresses lowly and claims that she is a poor relation to the Hardcastle. This technique she employs believing that it will make her a good match to Mr. Marlow, but in terms of marriage it may not work. Mr. Marlow is beginning to like Kate in her poor status but he cannot go on with her because his father may not approve of it. A letter from Hastings arives for Miss Constance but it is intercepted by Mrs. Hardcastle who reads the letter and learns that Mr. Hastings is waiting for Constance at the garden for them to elope. So she plans to take Constance far away from Hastings. Hastings, Marlow and Tony confront each other with anger over the deceptions that have been going around in the house and arguments ensues but was minimally resolved as Tony promises to solve the problems for them.

 

Act 5

In this act the truth of all event begins to unfold and virtually everyone is not happy. As Marlow’s father arrives, he and Hastings laughs over the confusion of Marlow. Marlow comes to apologize and while talking about Kate he claim that he hardly speaks to her, but Mr. Hardcastle interjects to say that he’s lying that he has seen him almost embracing Kate. Just as Marlow leaves the scene Kate arrives to convince the men that if they can watch her have an interview with Mr. Marlow that she we reveal the truth about the personality of Marlow. Tony comes to meet Hastings in the garden where he asked him to wait for him and Tony tells Hastings that he has drove his mother and Constance around the forest making them believe that they have gone far away from home meanwhile they are just nearby.

As a movement approaches, Mrs. Hardcastle distraught and in fear, is convinced that she must hide from a highway man who is approaching. But ironically, the highwayman in question is Mr. Hardcastle who after scaring his wife discovers what is happening. More so, Hastings and Constance who are close by have decided not to elope anymore but to go and appeal to Mr. Hardcastle for mercy. However back at the house as the interview between Kate, who is acting as a poor relation to Hardcastle, and Marlow went on, young Marlow reviews his true character which proves that both are compatible for marriage and everyone agrees to this. Mr. Hastings ask to marry Constance which everyone obliged since Tony has come of age to decide whom to marry. Everyone is happy except for Mrs. Hardcastle who is not quite comfortable as things went the way she never planned.

 

This is a story of love which mirrors some marital events that occur in the society. Events like match making in marriage, inheritance, right to marry for love and the right to choice one’s life partner. In the development and resolution of the conflicts in the story, one would learn a lot about family related relations and understanding of human behaviour, identifying when there is an act of deception or truth.

 

It is nice reading this piece.