The fact that, as it is written, the prologue is spoken by an actor, not a character, is important to the tone of the show. This metatheatrical move demonstrates how Congreve is pushing for the audience to really think about the show - to analyze...
"The way of the world" is a flippant expression meaning the way people behave. However, in the Restoration times, the expression "the way of the world" connoted adultery, which was a common behavior in society and especially in theatrical...
Conversation focuses throughout the act on women and especially on relationships between women and women, women and men, and men and men. For example, Mirabell makes fun of women's relationships, insinuating that they are insincere but pretend to...
The Way of the World study guide contains a biography of William Congreve, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
The Way of the World essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the play The Way of the World by William Congreve.
