The Confederacy (or The City Wives' Confederacy) is a play written by John Vanbrugh. Released in 1705, it is based on Florent Carton Dancourt's play Les Bourgeoises à la Mode.
Characters[]
- Dick Amlet
- Clarissa
- Flippanta - maid of Flippanta
- Araminta
- Corinna - daughter of Clarissa and Mr. Gripe
- Brass
- Moneytrap - husband of Araminta
- Mr. Gripe - husband of Clarissa
- Mrs. Amlet - mother of Dick Amlet
- Mrs. Cloggit
rest to be added
Plot[]
Act I[]
Two women - Mrs. Amlet and Cloggit, the wives of merchants - talk while walking through the Covent Garden. During these talks, it is revealed that Mrs. Amlet's son Dick has a roguish streak.
Presumably as his mother walks through Covent Garden, Dick talks with his friend Brass and then delivers a letter to a maid named Flippanta destined for her mistress Clarissa.
After handing over the letter, Flippanta and Clarissa talk about it. While talking, they spot Mrs. Amlet and plot to take some of her money. Dick then arrives to find out if his letter has been delivered and finds his mother. As Dick believes that his mother crimps his roguish style, he pretends that he does not know her once Flippanta and Clarissa arrive. After Dick leaves, the two women ask Mrs. Amlet for money but she does not hand any over, instead promising to give them a valuable amulet.
Act II[]
At the house of a "Mr. Gripe", Clarissa and Dick (accompanied by Brass) talk. Their talks reveal that a girl named Araminta is in an affair with Clarissa's husband. After Dick and Brass leave, Flippanta and Araminta arrive. The three talk about their husbands and then the two visitors leave and Clarissa's daughter just approaching "marriage-age" named Corinna enters. Clarissa hands the teenaged girl a letter after talking about marriage. Once Corrina leaves, Araminta's husband Moneytrap arrives. Clarissa jests with him about marriage before the man of the house and Clarissa's husband arrives asking about his wife. The two get into an argument about Clarissa's honour.
Act III[]
Dick visits his mother and steals the diamond amulet she promised to Clarissa. After hiding it on his person, he is found by his mother and talks of the shame he has for her before leaving.
After Flippinta talks with her master's daughter, Mrs. Amlet arrives and reveals the theft of the amulet and that her son and Corrina are to be married. After Mrs. Amlet leaves, Brass arrives followed by Clarrisa and Araminta. Clarissa confronts Araminta about her affair with Mr. Gripe but, as the two are evenly matched, she is not angered by this. After Clarissa and Araminta leave, Flippanta and Moneytrap discuss how to give money to someone with a gambling problem (presumanly Araminta). Dick then arrives and talks about "Mr. Amlet" and Corrina. Flippanta then leaves, and Dick argues with Brass.
Act IV[]
Dick and Corrina talk briefly and are joined by Flippanta very briefly. After the two lovers leave, Flippanta talks with her mistress about the money they intend to give to Araminta before they are interrupted by Clarissa's husband. The two argue (with Flippanta joining in this argument). The argument ends with Clarissa organizing a ball. After Clarissa and her maid leave, Brass arrives and reveals to Mr. Gripe that his lover Araminta is completely broke and leaving for a monastery. The two plot to give Araminta a sizable amount of money in secret so as not to clue in his wife. After Brass leaves Mr. Gripe, he is handed the stolen amulet by Dick.
Act V[]
After briefly talking with Brass and her mistress' daughter, Flippanta meets with Moneytrap (Araminta's husband) and Clarissa. Flippanta reveals the bill that Mr. Gripe sent to Araminta, which angers her mistress. Clarissa then asks to summon Mrs. Amlet.
Presumably at tea-time, the wives and their husbands assemble. After some leering by the various parties, a goldsmith named Mr. Clip arrives and reveals the stolen amulet that was given to him by Brass. Believing that it belongs to him, Mr. Gripe fights with Brass. Mrs. Amlet then arrives and reveals that the amulent belonged to her. She also reveals that Dick is her son, which dissapoints the various people in the room (who believe that Dick is of more noble blood), though Mrs. Amlet claims that she can easily buy opulent land.
See also[]
- The Fair Example by Richard Estcourt