Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith

herself as a barmaid and Marlow starts flirting with her.

Both start liking each other, Marlow being unaware that
the barmaid is Kate.

Hastings sends Constance’s jewels to Marlow for safety

reasons. As Marlow is not told the purpose of receiving
those jewels, he gives them to one of the servants, who
he thinks is the landlady of the inn. The servant, in turn,

m
takes those jewels to Mrs. Hardcastle. When Hastings
asks about the jewels, Marlow says he has duly returned
them to the landlady. Hastings gets upset with Marlow
and decides to elope with Constance without her jewels.

co
‘She Stoops to Conquer is a five-act play written by Oliver Alongside, Marlow realises that Hardcastle’s house is not
Goldsmith. It has a prologue and an epilogue. Written by an inn.
David Garrick (an actor and producer in the 1770s), the
prologue begins with Mr. Woodward shedding tears Mrs. Hardcastle has Constance’s jewels and tries to
thinking that comedy is lost but hopes that Goldsmith’s persuade Tony to marry Constance. Tony, on the other
play will make him burst into laughter, thereby giving a
new life to the comic arts.
a. hand, has kept the horses ready for Constance and
Hastings to elope. Mrs. Hardcastle learns about the
elopement plans and asks Tony to take Constance and
w
Mr. Hardcastle has decided to get his daughter Kate herself to Aunt Pedigree’s home. Tony doesn’t take
married to Marlow (son of Hardcastle’s old friend, Sir them there but brings them back to Hardcastle’s house.
Charles Marlow). Meanwhile, Hardcastle’s stepson named
Tony Lumpkin is enjoying his time at a tavern where he Hardcastle and Sir Marlow are discussing Marlow and
r

bumps into Marlow and Hastings who ask him for Kate’s marriage. Constance hopes to get her inheritance
directions to Hardcastle’s home. Tony plays a prank on from the Hardcastle family so she could happily marry
ka

them. He tells the two men that Hardcastle’s house is an
inn and that it is controlled by a strange man who thinks
very highly of himself.
Hardcastle is expecting Marlow at his house. As he arrives,
ta
Hastings. Marlow learns that the barmaid is Kate. The
play ends on a happy note with both couples marrying
each other. The epilogue features Goldsmith who sheds
light on how Kate stooped from her position to conquer
the adversities created by society.

he thinks of Hardcastle as the inn-keeper and treats him

rudely. Hastings meets Miss Constance, Mrs. Hardcastle’s
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niece. She tells him that the house is not an inn. Both
Constance and Hastings decide to elope with Constance’s
pi

jewels. Hastings doesn’t inform Marlow about his plan,

nor does he tell him that he is at Hardcastle’s house, not at
an inn.
ar

Tony and Hastings are conversing. While talking to Tony,

Hastings learns that Tony’s mother is eyeing on getting
Tony married to Constance so that her inheritance stays in
the family. However, Tony says he dislikes the idea so he
promises Hastings to help him elope with Constance and
also get her inheritance.

Tony sends Constance’s jewels to Hastings and tells his

mother to inform Constance that her jewels are lost. Kate
discovers that Tony has been playing a prank on Marlow
by telling him that the house is an inn. Kate disguises

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 Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

Mind Map

Old
Mr. Hardcastle Friend
Conventional country squire;
dislikes city life
Spouses
Sir Charles Marlow
Father Older gentleman; visits the
country from London

Mrs. Hardcastle Son

Vain, pretentious, controlling Mother
woman; overprotective mother

Mother

Strp-
Kate Hardcastle Potential
Clever, honest,
Spouses
siblings
perceptive young woman
Charles Marlow
Quiet young man; shy with
Cousins gentlewomen, brash with servants

Tony Lumpkin
Rebellious young man; Friends
Fond of drinking and practical jokes

Cousins

Aunt and guardian Constance Neville George Hastings

Orphaned young woman with
valuable jewels; plans to elope Secretly Sophisticated young gentleman
in love; plans to elope
Betrothed

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