Page 246 - DENG403_BRITISH_DRAMA

British Drama

Notes arrives, and rather breaks up the party with his comments. He departs, the others retire to the next
room, and Joseph seizes the opportunity to court Maria, who rejects him again. Lady Teazle returns
and dismisses Maria, and it is revealed that she is seriously flirting with Joseph—who doesn’t want
her, but cannot afford to alienate her.
Lady Teazle and Maria enter the gathering at Sneerwell’s. While everyone else sits down to a good
session of talking behind others’ backs, Joseph Surface and Maria move off to speak to each other
privately. When Sir Peter enters, he is shocked at the gossip and slander he hears. He dislikes everyone
there, especially their incessant gossiping, and he cannot abide the fact that they enjoy tearing other
people down. Thus, as he listens to the party assassinate the looks, qualities, and characters of
people they claim to be friends with, he grows more disgusted by the minute. After listening to
them, he finally walks out with the words, “I leave my character behind me.”
With Sir Peter gone, the rest of the party eavesdrops on Maria and Joseph Surface. Of course, Joseph
is pretending to be a kind friend who does not enjoy the others’ gossiping.

19.2.3 Scene III

Sir Oliver calls on his old friend Sir Peter. He is amused by Sir Peter’s marriage to a young wife.
Their talk turns to the Surface brothers. Sir Peter praises Joseph’s high morals but Sir Oliver suspects
that he may be a hypocrite.
Rowley and Sir Oliver enter as Sir Oliver is laughing at the news that Sir Peter has married a shrew.
However, Rowley admonishes him not to bring up the subject with Sir Peter, as it is a very sore
point with him. In addition, it will prevent Sir Peter from learning that Rowley has told Sir Oliver
all about his marital strife.
Eventually, the subject turns to Sir Peter’s estrangement from Charles Surface. It seems that Sir
Peter thinks Lady Teazle has her eyes on Charles. Rowley sees she is after Joseph, but Sir Peter does
not believe him. Of course, Sir Oliver knows the sort of gossiping and character destruction that
goes on in some circles and he wants nothing to do with it. Thus, rather than listen to the stories told
by others, Sir Oliver wishes to judge Charles for himself.

19.3 Act III

19.3.1 Scene I

Sir Oliver describes his plan to visit each of the brothers incognito in order to test their characters.
He will disguise himself as their needy relative Mr Stanley, and ask each for his help. Rowley also
brings in the “friendly Jew” Moses, a moneylender who has tried to help Charles, to explain Charles’
position. Moses mentions that he is to introduce Charles to yet another moneylender (“Mr Premium”)
that very evening. Sir Oliver decides that with Moses’ assistance, he will pose as Premium when
visiting Charles (still intending to visit Joseph as Stanley).
Sir Peter is left alone and when Maria enters, he tries to urge Joseph on her as a worthier match than
Charles, whom she favors. When she is not persuaded, he threatens her with “the authority of a
guardian.” She goes, and Lady Teazle enters asking her husband for two hundred pounds. Sir Peter
and Lady Teazle argue again, and conclude that they should separate.
Sir Oliver, Sir Peter, and Rowley hatch a plan that will allow Sir Oliver to judge Charles and Joseph
Surface on their relative merits. A man by the name of Stanley has appealed to both men for financial
help. However, neither man has ever seen either Stanley or Sir Oliver, so Sir Oliver can pretend to
be Stanley in order to see how his nephews will treat him. The plan changes slightly when Mr Moses,
a money-lender, informs Sir Oliver that Charles has asked to borrow money from a Mr Premium.
Sir Oliver can actually pretend to be a money-lender when he meets with Charles.

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