Publication Details | Synopsis | Secondary Commentary |Varieties & Dialects | Other
Publication details |
Author: Bickerstaff, Isaac
Author dates: 1733-1808 (?)
Title: The Plain Dealer
First played: 1765
First published: 1766
C18th availability: ECCO (1786)
http://main.library.utoronto.ca/eir/EIRdetail.cfm?Resources__ID=361150
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO?dd=0&locID=utoronto_main&d1=1049801000&srchtp=b&SU=All&c=2&d2=2&docNum=CW3306494174&b0=plain+dealer&h2=1&vrsn=1.0&l0=1786&b1=KE&d6=2&ste=10&dc=tiPG&d4=0.33&stp=Author&n=10&d5=d6
Modern availability: LION (1997)
http://lion.chadwyck.com/toc.do?action=new&divLevel=0&mapping=toc&area=Drama&id=Z000094178&forward=tocMarc&DurUrl=Yes
Genre / subgenre: Comedy
Trend(s): Gender
Character types: Professional Female; Legal; Nautical
Synopsis |
The sea-captain Manly gets revenge on his unfaithful lover Olivia with the help of the disguised Fidelia.
Introduction:
Adapted by Bickerstaff from Wycherly’s The Plain Dealer.
Act I.
At his lodgings, the sea captain Manly tells Lord Plausible that he does not intend to subscribe to standard etiquette: he feels it is too hypocritical. After a brief exchange, Manly rudely dismisses Plausible. Freeman visits; he is shocked at Manly’s behaviour to Plausible. Manly instructs his servant Oakham not to admit any man to his apartment; Oakham jokes that perhaps he would allow a woman to be admitted. Manly praises the virtues of his only friend to Freeman, and tells the latter that he is no friend to anyone because of his polished manners, and his belief that he must be friends with everyone. Freeman argues that a “cool friend is better than an enemy.” Fidelia enters, dressed as a man; pretending to be a boy, she has served Manly aboard ship, and pleads with him to take her on his next voyage. The Widow Blackacre arrives, to their consternation. Manly asks after Olivia, the Widow’s cousin, and the woman he loves. The Widow dismisses his interest, and proceeds to demonstrate her son Jerry’s adeptness at legal discourse. Jerry is reluctant to do so, however. Manly finally silences them, and exits. Freeman asks the Widow to marry him, but she is scandalized that he would propose in front of her “dear minor”. They leave. Fidelia tells Freeman that Manly has entrusted ten thousand pounds to Olivia, his poor and ugly intended wife, who is in the care of his greatest friend, Vernish. Fidelia laments her impulse to follow Manly, whom she loves, in the guise of a boy. Manly and Freeman set out for Olivia’s.
Act II.
Olivia tells her cousin Eliza and her servant Lettice that she has no interest in finery and diversions, but her actions seem to discredit her assertions. After Olivia swears never to let a lover enter her doors, a gentleman arrives: it is Mr. Novel, a gossip-monger. They proceed to defame the characters of most of the town’s residents. When they turn to Lord Plausible, the worthy gentleman enters, and they quickly change their tune to praise him. Novel and Olivia continue to describe the worst traits of their acquaintances; while Plausible recognizes some truths in their assertions, he continues to find the best in people. Manly arrives. Olivia has no interest in talking to him individually, to his “Confusion!” They tease him to the point at which Olivia has “talked [him] out of all respect [he] had for her”; Manly orders Plausible and Novel to leave. Manly tells Olivia that he now hates her. Olivia steps into the next room; Manly tells Fidelia that his reason has been restored along with his heart. Fidelia reminds him that Olivia still has his money and jewels. Fidelia and Freeman tell Olivia that they accidentally witnessed the disagreement, and that she must still return Manley’s jewels. Olivia admits that she has given the money and jewels to -- her husband! The latter gentleman is out of the country, and thus unable to return Manly’s possessions. The Widow Blackacre and Major Oldfox arrive to visit Olivia. Freeman argues with Oldfox about his right to ask the Widow to marry him. The Widow is shocked to hear of Oldfox’s amorous intentions, and tells him to marry his laundress. She then tells Freeman, who is twenty years younger than her, that she is aware of his lavish lifestyle, and that he only intends to court her to get her money.
Act III.
Manly confesses in a soliloquy that he still loves Olivia. Fidelia enters and tries to describe Olivia in unflattering terms, but Manly will hear none of it, saying that he is completely satisfied with her conduct. Fidelia, who has told Manly that Olivia has asked “him” to come into her house, is then ordered by Manly to do just that, in case Olivia has repented her bad behaviour of the morning. Mrs. Blackacre, Manly and Jerry meet in Westminster-Hall. Oldfox, Jerry and Mrs. Blackacre talk to a bookseller, who does not sell any law books. Mrs. Blackacre is furious to catch her son reading the Earl of Rochester. She wanders off, followed by Oldfox. Freeman wins Jerry’s confidence by agreeing to give him money at any time. The Widow is horrified to discover that her son has disappeared. Manly and Freeman try to leave the court, but are stopped by Novel. Freeman and Novel speak in an overly polite way, but Manly is more direct in his verbal abuse of Novel. Novel begins to tell a false story about Manly, but Freeman stops him by involving himself in the action of the narrative. Jerry approaches Freeman and begs to depart with him. Freeman agrees. Widow Blackacre continues to search for her missing son. Fidelia reports to Manly the proceedings of her meeting with Olivia: the latter lady has thrown herself at the young “man”! Manly is disbelieving, then appalled to learn that Olivia has given Fidelia a key to her back garden for a midnight tryst. Fidelia tells Manly that Olivia’s unfaithfulness to him has made “him” loath her. Manly takes the key as his “instrument of revenge.” Freeman arrives to report that Jerry has deserted his mother to become his ward.
Act IV.
Manly and Fidelia prepare for the evening’s action; Manly is surprised to note that Fidelia has been crying. Manly tells Fidelia that he has made love to Olivia, but under the guise of the younger man; Fidelia is to write a little love-note to arrange another meeting, which will be surprised by Manly, who will expose the duplicity to Olivia. When Fidelia hears that Manly abhors Olivia, she agrees to write the note. Oldfox visits with Manly and Freeman; Freeman gains Oldfox’s friendship by praising his latest literary attempt. Freeman tells Manly that Jerry has been disguised as a sailor. In the Piazza, Major Oldfox and the Widow Blackacre meet. They see Jerry and Freeman; the Widow is appalled to learn that her son has chosen Freeman as his guardian. Trying to make amends, Freeman proposes marriage again; the Widow refuses him, and tells Jerry that he legally cannot inherit anything, as he was born out of wedlock. Freeman is shocked by the Widow’s lack of concern for her own reputation. Vernish, Olivia’s husband, returns unexpectedly as she waits for Fidelia. They agree to hide the jewels from Manly. Vernish leaves, and Fidelia arrives. She insists that they stay in a darkened passage lest she have a fit. Vernish returns and finds Fidelia; he draws his sword, but she refuses to fight, and admits she is a woman in a man’s clothing. Olivia having departed, Vernish tries to make love to Fidelia, but she fends him off.
Act V.
A footboy enters to inform Vernish that a coach is at the door. Vernish meets with Olivia; the latter thinks she is about to be caught out, but Vernish tells her that he has discovered Fidelia to be a woman. Olivia is greatly offended at Vernish’s attempt to make love to Fidelia, which he unwittingly confesses. Eliza tells Olivia that she knows Olivia entertained a man the night before. Manly and Freeman drink together; Manly met the flustered Fidelia in the street before he could accost Olivia. Manly meets Vernish, and, not knowing that Vernish is Olivia’s husband, tells him that he made love to Olivia. Vernish is enraged, but keeps his emotions from Manly. They agree to meet that evening. The Widow Blackacre and Oldfox meet with a legal counsellor to change the deceased Blackacre’s will, denying Jerry the inheritance. The counsellor exposes the Widow’s ignorance of the law, and reports that the chief justice will create a law preventing the Widow from becoming involved at court. Freeman looses some bailiffs on the Widow, who imprison her for attempting to provide a forged will. Freeman and the Widow reach an financial agreement outside of court. Fidelia arrives at Olivia’s, still pretending to be her lover. Manly waits outside the door. Hearing a noise, Fidelia and Olivia fear Vernish’s return. They try to make an escape with a cabinet of money and jewels (formerly belonging to Manly). Vernish breaks down the door. Manly and Vernish are prepared to fight, while Freeman and Plausible enter with lights. Fidelia, fainting, goes into the next room; while trying to revive her, Manly discovers that she is a woman. Fidelia confesses her identity, and Manly gives his heart to her.
Secondary commentary |
Secondary commentary
A) Rudolph, Valerie C.‘Isaac John Bickerstaff: September 26, 1733-1808’. Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 89: Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Dramatists, Third Series. Edited by Paula R. Backscheider, University of Rochester. The Gale Group, 1989. LiteratureResourceCenter. 23 May 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC?vrsn=3&OP=contains&locID=utoronto_main&srchtp=athr&ca=3&c=1&ste=6&tab=1&tbst=arp&ai=U14382890&n=10&docNum=H1200002452&ST=bickerstaff+isaac&bConts=141>
An adaptation of Wycherley's 1676 play, The Plain Dealer (itself an adaptation of Molière's Le Misanthrope, 1666), Bickerstaff's version catered to an audience that objected to the immorality of Restoration comedy. Without really removing immoral action, Bickerstaff had his characters talk properly about improprieties. For example, men do not talk of "ravishing" women as in Wycherley's play but, instead of being "rude" to them, though, as Bickerstaff's context makes clear, with the same intention. In the printed version Bickerstaff used inverted commas before each line of dialogue that was his and not Wycherley's, but his acknowledgments are not always exact.
Captain Manly, who scorns all forms of dishonesty, especially the social lie, trusts only one other person, Olivia. Engaged to her, he leaves money with her before going to battle at sea. By the time he returns Olivia has secretly married his best friend, Vernish, and the two plot how to get rid of Manly and keep his money. Fidelia, in love with Manly, follows him disguised as a man. In the end Manly is sexually and financially revenged on Olivia and Vernish and gives his heart to the undisguised Fidelia. At the same time, he learns to moderate his extreme demands for "plain dealing."
Bickerstaff also condensed Wycherley's subplot about the litigious Widow Blackacre, her son Jerry, and Manly's friend Freeman, who is the true "plain dealer" in the play. Honest with Manly, yet able to tolerate the social lie for its utility, Freeman is the voice of reason and moderation. He rules his passions while the other characters' passions rule them. His reward is to get an estate without the encumbrance of a wife.
In The Plain Dealer Bickerstaff so well understood his audience that the play was a fixture in the repertory until the end of the century.
Varieties & Dialects |
Overview of varieties / dialects
Oakham (a servant) uses nautical language; the Widow Blackacre and her son Jerry use legal jargon.
Varieties / dialectsVariety: Oakham
a. Sample of dialect
[Page 4]
Avast tho'! He steers this way, in company of our merry lieutenant: 'tis foul weather, I doubt; I'll loof up, and get to windward of him
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar
b.3 Vocabulary: “Avast”, “steers”, “foul weather”, “loof up”, “windward” = Nautical
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: servant of Manly, a sailor
e. Consistency of representation: consistent
Variety: Widow Blackacre (legal language)
a. Sample of dialect
[Page 12]
I desire you may hear my son a little; let him put our case to you; for if the trial comes on to [25] day, it will not be amiss to have your memory refreshed, and your judgment informed, lest you should give your evidence improperly.---Jerry!
[Page 93]
Oh, Jerry! child, wilt thou vex the mother that bore thee?
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: switching between “thee” and “you”
b.3 Vocabulary: legal: “trial”, “case”, “judgment”, “evidence”
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: widowed, educated daughter of a great attorney
e. Consistency of representation: consistent
Variety: Jerry Blackacre
a. Sample of dialect
[Page 13]
Jer.
John a Stiles---no---there are first, Fitz, Pere, and Ayle; no, no, Ayle, Pere, and Fitz--- Ayle is seized in fee of Blackacre; John a Stiles disseizes the Ayle; Ayle makes claim, and the dissessors dies---Then the Ayle---no the Fitz---
Mrs. Black.
No, the Pere, sirrah!
Jer.
Oh, the Pere---ay, the Pere, Sir, and the Fitz---No the Ayle---No the Pere and the Fitz---
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar
b.3 Vocabulary: legal (French: pere and fils), but Jerry bungles it
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: Son of Widow Blackacre; brought up for a legal career
e. Consistency of representation: this instance only
None.
Other points of interest |
The Widow Blackacre is a would-be lawyer: “When she's in town she lodges in one of the inns of court, where she breeds her son, and is herself his tutoress in law-French” (11).
©2008 Arden Hegele