'The Parson's Wedding' Summary

Thomas Killigrew's The Parson's Wedding is a witty and satirical comedy of manners that skewers the hypocrisy of the English Restoration aristocracy.

The play follows the story of a group of young people who are trying to find love and happiness in a world that is full of deceit and hypocrisy. The central characters are Woodcock, a wealthy country gentleman; his two daughters, Wild and Pleasant; and his nephew, Wild.

Wild is a rake who is in love with Wild, but she is determined to marry a wealthy man. Pleasant is in love with Wild's friend, Wild, but he is in love with Wild.

The play also features a number of other characters, including Sir Nicholas Blunt, a wealthy but foolish knight; Lady Loveall, a widow who is looking for a new husband; and Lady Wanton, a promiscuous woman.

The play begins with Woodcock and his daughters arriving in London for the wedding of Wild and Sir Nicholas Blunt. However, Wild is in love with Wild, and she is determined to prevent the wedding from happening.

Wild and Pleasant devise a plan to trick Sir Nicholas into breaking off the engagement. They enlist the help of their friend, Wild, and they manage to convince Sir Nicholas that Wild is pregnant with his child.

Sir Nicholas breaks off the engagement, and Wild is free to marry Wild. However, Wild is still not happy. She is still in love with Wild, and she is not sure if he loves her back.

In the end, Wild and Wild are reconciled, and they get married. The play ends with a happy wedding for the two young lovers.

Essence and Spirit of the Book

The essence of The Parson's Wedding is the power of love. Killigrew shows how love can overcome all obstacles, even the hypocrisy and deceit of the Restoration aristocracy.

The spirit of the book is one of wit and satire. Killigrew uses his wit to expose the hypocrisy of the Restoration aristocracy. He shows how the aristocracy is obsessed with appearances and social status, and how they are willing to sacrifice love and happiness for the sake of convention.

Conclusion

The Parson's Wedding is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good comedy of manners or a sharp social commentary. Killigrew's wit and satire are timeless, and his characters are still relatable today.

In addition to being a witty and satirical comedy, The Parson's Wedding also offers a valuable social commentary on the Restoration aristocracy. Killigrew exposes the hypocrisy and deceit of the aristocracy, and he shows how their obsession with appearances and social status can lead to unhappiness and misery.