The Confidence-Lacking Rake in She Stoops to Conquer

Published in 1773 and first performed on a live stage in the same year, the comical play, She Stoops to Conquer, was composed by Oliver Goldsmith, an Irish dramatist and playwright. This play satirizes love relationships, the division of societal classes, as well as city life opposed to country life. This late eighteenth century piece, while seemingly the simple story of two couples in love, at the same time encompasses the freedoms and rights of those in different levels of society while displaying the acceptability and vulnerability to advances from the opposite sex.

The double plot of the comedy is based on Mr. Hardcastle's staunch desire to bequeath his beautiful daughter to his rich, high-society friend's son Marlow and his wife, who has high-hopes of marrying her first-marriage-son, Tony, to Miss Neville, her financially well-off niece.

Although the play was written during the late eighteenth century, the classic restoration rake characteristics can still be found within the character of Marlow, son of Hardcastle's wealthy friend. After studying the character of Marlow, he can be easily considered to have a quite dual personality. At times he is unable to make eye contact with a woman and is constantly found to be staring at his feet, while stuttering and mumbling over his words, but in other moments, he is able to be in complete control of his sexual destiny "Suppose I should call for a taste, just by way of trial, of the nectar of your lips…(Goldsmith 34)." While he initially seems shy when in the company of his upper-class love interest, Miss Hardcastle, he displays a more aggressive behavior towards those in a lower station in life, proving his opinion that those from a higher class in society deserve more rights than those who are less fortunate.

Marlow, who has traveled into the countryside in order to meet his bride-to-be, has brought a companion, Hastings, who perfectly describes his rakish friend as lacking confidence during his most opportune moments. "But in the company of women of reputation I never saw such an idiot, such a tremblor…(Goldsmith 13)." Hastings emphasizes his statement by giving the audience a glimpse of Marlow's not-so-innocent past with women. "If you could but say half the fine things to them that I have heard you lavish upon the barmaid of an inn, or even a college bedmaker - (Goldsmith 13)." Marlow's behavior with "staff" and the like exemplifies classic rake behavior that these sexually powerful men have dominance over the opposite sex and that personal gratification is above all other. However, in Marlow's case, he is only able to display his dominance over those in lower classes.

An example of the suitor's egotistical traits can be found in the beginning of the play where Marlow and Hastings have considered themselves lost and have finally inquired directions from a group of men gathered at a local bar establishment. Coincidently included with the group of drunks and at the same time equally unfortunate for the lost travelers, is the Hardcastle's son, Tony, who deceives them into believing that they are far from their destination. He first offers uncomfortable accommodations, which are immediately denied by the two "I hate sleeping by the fireside (Goldsmith 9)", again supporting their need for more luxurious "rights." In a spirit of deceitfulness, Tony then finally advises that they need to check into one of the finest inns in the area, which is in fact the sought after Hardcastle mansion. Upon entry to the "hotel," Marlow unknowingly treats his soon-to-be father-in-law as a simple servant. After requesting a special menu for the dinner and after many other presumptuous requests, Marlow faces Mr. Hardcastle to say aside, "Was ever such a request to a man in his own house!" and "Such a brazen dog sure never my eyes beheld. (Goldsmith 16)."

Deeming those beneath himself as only worthy of assisting him with self-serving desires, proves him worthy of the title of rake, however, compared to the infidelitous individuals of the restoration period, Marlow does seem to contain more respect for the female spirit as opposed to his totally licentious predecessors.

In conclusion, the role of the rake seems to be the perfect example of an individual who feels that they for some reason have been granted more personal freedoms than those around him or her. The immoral character does not take into consideration the possible repercussions to their behavior. It almost appears that these individuals believe that they are above the law or perhaps that social norms and rules do not apply to them.