Book Review: She Stoops To Conquer By Oliver Goldsmith

Hello everyone in the hive bok club. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the weather wherever you are. Welcome to my blog. I've not been able to read a book (well, asides my school books) neither have I been able to make a book review for a long time now. Exams had me tied up. Lucky, I finished my exams yesterday and after my last paper, I read a book by Oliver Goldsmith (November 10, 1728- April 4, 1774)

I've been hearing about Oliver Goldsmith ever since my high school days. I finally read one of his books yesterday. She stoops to conquer (first published in London, 1773) by Oliver Goldsmith is no doubt a masterpiece. The play was first performed in London in 1773. Although Oliver Goldsmith had previously had an unsuccessful play, she stoops to conquer was a huge success. The play is arguably the best that London theatre has ever seen. It spread to the United States and most European countries within a decade.

She stoops to conquer by Oliver Goldsmith is a comedy. A laughing comedy. A laughing comedy is one filled with absurb events evoking laughter in audience. Goldsmith in his work she stoops to conquer loads the play with hilarious events, forcing the audience to simple, hearty laughter, "belly laughs". The play is also known as "The Mistake of the Night." The play was actually firstly named "The Mistake of the Night" by Oliver Goldsmith, but he had to change it to She Stoops to Conquer due to some certain reasons.

Plot Summary

According to Aristotle, plot is one of the six elements of drama. In his poetics, plot is the most important of the six elements. It is the sequencial arrangement of event in a literary work.

Act 1 opens in the Hardcastle's home. The first characters that the author revealed to the audience were the Hardcastle family: Mr Hardcastle, Mrs Hardcastle and Kate Hardcastle, their daughter. Kate is so close to her father and she does everything to please him. They are all seated, waiting for the arrival of Marlow, Mr Hardcastle Friend's son and a possible suitor to their daughter, Kate. Mr Hardcastle has heard so much good things about Marlow and he thinks he'll be a good suitor for Kate. Tony, Mrs Hardcastle's son to her first husband, he is an irresponsible child who loves to move and drink with people of low class. Mrs Hardcastle's wants Tony to get married to her neice, Constance Nevile (Hastings beloved). However, neither of them reciprocate feelings for each other. The author takes us to An Alehouse. A place where Tony Lumpkin dines,drinks and sings with his friends- low class people. Marlow and his friend, Hastings, arrive at the Alehouse, lost on their way to the Hardcastle's house. Tony, being the rascal that he is, decides to play a prank on them. He tells them that Mr Hardcastle's place is far away and that they should seek shelter in an inn (unknown to them as Mr Hardcastle's house).

Act 2 gets interesting when Marlow and Hasting arrive at Mr Hardcastle's house. Because of Tony's prank, they treat Hardcastle as a Landlord and speak rudely to him. Mr Hardcastle is surprised because he had heard so much good things about Marlow. Constance Nevile meets with Hastings and tells him the truth (she reveals that they are already in Mr Hardcastle's apartment). However, they both decided not to break the news to Marlow because they didn't want to upset him. Nevile and Hastings decides to steal Neville's jewelry (her inheritance which is in the hands of Mrs Hardcastle. Tony offers to help them with the plan.

One interesting thing about Marlow is that he isn't always comfortable around high-class ladies, but he talks to low-class ladies freely. Kate dresses nicely and walks up to Marlow. This made him feel uncomfortable and he begins to stutter.

In Act 3, Mr Hardcastle and Kate Hardcastle argue about Marlow's character. While Mr Hardcastle sees Marlow as a rude person, Kate tells him that he is a respectable and modest person. Kate asks for a night to prove to Mr Hardcastle that Marlow is indeed not what he thinks. Tony has stolen the Jewelry for Hastings who sends it to Marlow's casket. Unknown to Kate, she continues begging Mrs Hardcastle for the jewelry.

Later in the evening, Kate dresses up as a barmaid. Marlow is unable to recognize her because he didn't look at her face in their first meeting. Marlow is able to talk to Kate freely this time because she dresses poorly.

Act 4 tightens the plot when news reached that Sir Marlow, young Marlow's father and Mr Hardcastle's old friend is coming to visit. Marlow, thinking he is still in an inn, sends the jewelry (whuch Hasting had stolen from Mrs Hardcastle) back to Mrs Hardcastle. When Hastings realizes this, he sobs because his only chance of eloping with his beloved has been ruined.

Marlow's rudeness gets to it's peak which makes Mr Hardcastle kicks him out of his house.

Act 5 softens the mood. Sir Marlow arrives. He and Hardcastle laughs over Marlow's confusion. Marlow apologizes to Mr Hardcastle for treating him wrongly. When asked about Kate,Marlow says he has never spoken to her. Mr Hardcastle accuses Marlow of lying because he saw them hug. Kate, again, ask for a chance to make things right. Kate, again, shows the older men (Mr Hardcastle and Sir Marlow) that Marlow is indeed a reputable person. They get together and agree to marry. Constance Nevile and Hastings also agree to marry. Everyone is happy except Mrs Hardcastle who wanted Kate for her son.

It is important for literature students and lovers of the literary world to be able to point out themes in any literary work. One of the notable themes in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer is class. The theme of class is clearly portrayed by Marlow. Marlow can talk comfortably to women of lower class but he stutters and feels uncomfortable around women of high class.

Thanks for reading.