This Restoration-Era comedy of manners satirizes the hypocrisy, gamesmanship, and imbalance of power inherent in the institution of marriage as practiced by England’s upper class at the turn of the eighteenth century. Departing from the norm, this text was written by a woman, noted writer/performer Elizabeth Inchbald. The sharp-witted comedy takes aim at issues of independence versus security, honor versus pride, and loyalty versus respect. - Summary by Kelly Taylor