Mistakes Of The Night Essay Research Paper

Mistakes Of The Night Essay, Research Paper

THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT Oliver Goldsmith, born the son of an Anglo-Irish clergyman, established himself during his brief career as an essayist, poet and dramatist with great comic insight into the social mores of Georgian England. His dramatic triumph She Stoops to Conquer (1773), is a dramatic irony, that is a play of manners. Rather than referring to the play as She Stoops to Conquer, one can make a case that The Mistakes of a Night may be a more fitting title. While not the central figure of the play, Tony s actions set into motion the chain of events that turn the Hardcastle household into an arena of confusion and disorder, and lead Young Marlow to believe he will be staying at an inn, rather than the household of his father s friend. The scene of the first mistake is at an alehouse where Tony is drinking with his friends. Suddenly Marlow and Hastings arrive inquiring about the residence of Mr. Hardcastle. The landlord informs Tony of this and Tony then realizes that one of them has come down to court his sister. Schemes of revenge now lay on the mind of Tony. Tony states, “Father-in-law has been calling me whelp, and hound, this half year. Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old grumbletonian” (I, 8). This is a good example of Tony contemplating revenge. After insisting to Marlow and Hastings that they will not be able to reach Mr. Hardcastle s in the night, Tony states, “If you go on a mile further, to the Buck s Head; the old Buck s Head on the hill, one of the best inns of the whole country” (I, 9). Tony s revenge is now in order. He has sent Marlow and Hastings to Mr. Hardcastle s, but they think that they are traveling to an inn. Tony s claim can be believed because the mansion of the Hardcastle s is old, and they have a Buck s Head above the front door. In the time of this play, each individual inn had a different theme. Tony uses this idea to his advantage when he refers to the inn as the old Buck s Head on the hill. This action now lays the grounds to all the mistakes that Marlow will make with the Hardcastle s. Because of Tony s trick, Marlow is going to stay at Mr. Hardcastle s believing it to be an inn, which in turn causes him to act rudely to Mr. Hardcastle himself, thus leading to several other mistakes that will later be developed in Oliver Goldsmith s play. As soon as Marlow and Hastings reach the mansion, Mr. Hardcastle realizes who they are, but Marlow and Hastings do not realize that the innkeeper is actually Mr. Hardcastle. Marlow and Hastings believe Mr. Hardcastle to be a common innkeeper, and they treat him accordingly. While Hardcastle is relating his story about the Duke of Marlborough, Marlow and Hastings carry on their own conversation about what to wear. After they discuss this, Marlow interrupts Hardcastle once again by requesting punch. Hardcastle comments upon Marlow s insolence by stating, “This is the most unaccountable kind of modesty I ever met with” (II, 15). Hardcastle is further infuriated after Marlow inquires about supper. Hardcastle proclaims, “Was ever such a request to a man in his own house!” (II, 16). In the quotes listed, Hardcastle is commenting upon the rude actions and comments of Marlow and Hastings. He simply cannot understand the actions of a man who is being considered for the courtship of his daughter. Hardcastle knew of Marlow s modesty, but he is confused by what he thinks is modern modesty. Throughout the rest of the play, Hardcastle will continue referring to the insolence that Marlow and Hastings display, while Marlow continually comments upon the insolence of the innkeeper. Once again Marlow does not realize that this is actually Mr. Hardcastle. Hasting s realizes his Mistake when Miss Neville states, “An inn! sure you mistake! my aunt, my guardian, lives here” (II, 18). Hasting s and Miss Neville come to the conclusion that Tony is up to His old tricks again. Hastings however convinces Miss Neville to keep this information a secret from Marlow when he states, “In the meantime, my friend Marlow must not be let into his mistake. I know the strange reserve of his temper is such, that if abruptly informed of it, he would instantly quit the house before our plan was ripe for execution”

(II, 19). Hastings convinces Miss Neville that if Marlow uncovers his mistake, he will instantly leave. This will ruin Hasting s plans of running away with Miss Neville. The third mistake of the night can be that Marlow fell for what he believed to be the barmaid, who was really Miss Hardcastle in disguise. She wants to reach Marlow on a different level. Miss. Hardcastle knows that Marlow is able to converse with only the wildest of the opposite sex. He becomes nervous and tongue-tied when conversing with women high in rank. Miss Hardcastle then believes she can reach him on a lower level. The maid says, “But what is more, madam, the young gentleman as you passed by in your present dress, asked me if you were the barmaid? He mistook you for the barmaid, madam!” (III, 32). After Miss Hardcastle heard what the maid had to say, she knew that her plan had a chance to work. Marlow had not looked up into Miss Hardcastle s face during their interview, so she could finally get Marlow to converse with her by pretending to be the barmaid. Miss Hardcastle states, “Then I shall make an aquaintance, and that is no small victory gained over one who never addresses any but the wildest of h