Mirabell’s character
With the Restoration of monarchy and the crowning of Charles II emerged a new direction in drama : the Restoration comedy of manners. If Jonson’s comedy of humours deal with the medieval medical theory of four humours, the comedy of manners deal with the superficial mannerisms of the post Restoration aristocratic English society. Such comedies are famous for their remarkable wit and brilliant dialogues. They expose the inane lifestyle of fashionable folks. The most amazing instance of such comedy is William Congreve’s “The Way of the World”(1700) and Mirabell is certainly one of the most amusing and interesting heroes of English drama.
Mirabell is the incarnation of intelligence and presence of mind. He very cleverly plans the marriage of Lady Wishfort's daughter to his friend Fainall after getting her pregnant. Then he courts Lady Wishfort so that he receives no contradiction from her. Next he woos Lady Wishfort's rich niece, Millamant in hope of receiving a great dowry. He sends his servant Waitwell disguised as Sir Rowland to seduce Lady Wishfort. But before that he already arranged the wedding of Waitwell and Foible, so that Waitwell can never really marry Wishfort and upset his plan. All these prove his brilliance and readiness of mind.Mirabell can be accused of wooing ladies based on their riches but it is sure that he loves Millamant truly . That’s why he never betrays his beloved despite her insults and humiliations. Millamant confidently says to Mrs Marwood : ” His constancy to me has quite destroyed his complaisance for all the world beside”. In the proviso scene Mirabell agrees to follow all the instructions of his beloved. The conditions he presents are more concerned with the care and wellbeing of Millamant.
In spite of his initial mischiefs Mirabell finally turns out to be a transformed person. He saves Lady Wishfort both from monetary and honourary loss by hampering Fainall’s inhuman conspiracy. He first saves the money because he had already transferred Mrs Fainall’s property to himself before her marriage to Fainall. Therefore Fainall has no legal right over the money which officially belongs to Mirabell. He at once saves the honour of the Wishfort family and assures Mrs Fainall about her husband’s inability to harm her. He is truly ” the Restoration rake in the process of being transformed into a wit of the age of sense and sensibility”.
Mirabell is incomplete without his sparkling wit and brilliant dialogues. His wit is not an artificial excess but a natural part of his character. His thinks that the beloved’s beauty is the lover’s gift and wives should balance between their love for the paramour and hate for their husbands. He also finds “That marriage frauds too often are paid in kind”. His cunningly comments ” If there is a flaw in Mirabell, it is not his supposed cynicism,but his sobriety”.
It is Mirabell’s prominence which constantly engages our attention and amuses us. His character counterbalances the monopoly of Millamant’s strong personality and wit. If Millamant epitomizes beauty and wit, Mirabell is the icon of practical wisdom. The utmost honesty of Congreve in creating Mirabell strikes us. He hides no faults, nor he overestimates any virtue, rather he laminates his hero in a foil of brilliant wit and dialogue. Mirabell is not only ” coming in and out, saying witty things”( Leigh Hunt) but is the best example of Congreve’s ” intellectual fastidiousness”.
