The Double-Dealer: A Comedy

"The Double-Dealer: A Comedy" by William Congreve is a comedic play written in the late 17th century, during the Restoration period. The play explores themes of deception, love, and social folly, primarily through the character of Mellefont, who is entangled in romantic and familial complications, particularly with his aunt, Lady Touchwood, who harbors an inappropriate passion for him, and Maskwell, a duplicitous schemer who seeks to disrupt Mellefont's impending marriage to Cynthia. The opening of "The Double-Dealer" introduces us to a world of witty exchanges and social intrigues. Mellefont confides in his friend Careless about his concerns regarding Lady Touchwood's obsession and her attempts to manipulate those around her. The dialogue reveals Mellefont’s tension between his imminent marriage and the threats posed by his aunt's advances and his enemies' schemes. Meanwhile, Maskwell, who pretends to be Mellefont's ally, is shown to be secretly plotting against him, setting the stage for a complex interplay of trust and betrayal. The characters' interactions in these early scenes establish both the comedic tone and the intricate web of relationships that will drive the plot forward. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Congreve was an English playwright, poet and Whig politician. His works, which form an important component of Restoration literature, were known for their use of satire and the comedy of manners genre. Notable plays he wrote include The Old Bachelor (1693), The Double Dealer (1694), Love for Love (1695), The Mourning Bride (1697) and The Way of the World (1700). He died in London, and was buried at the Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.