Country innocence
The country innocence (original title: The Country Wife ) is an English restoration comedy by William Wycherley from 1675, which was considered to be extremely erotic even at the time it was written.
action
The notorious bon vivant Horner had his personal doctor spread the rumor that he had returned from France impotent after a syphilis operation . He rightly hopes that now even the most jealous husbands will offer him the company of their wives without any suspicion. Sir Jasper Fidget is the first to fall into the trap. But his wife, Lady Fidget, and his sister, Mrs Dainty, were initially rejected by Horner. Friends Harcourt and Dorilant report on the gossip about Horner's misfortune, but stick with him. On the other hand, the vain dude Sparkish, who considers himself particularly witty, constantly mocks him. Another visitor is Pinchwife, who retired to the country at a more mature age after an eventful youth and married a young woman there. Both have come to London for Sparkish's upcoming wedding with Pinchwife's sister Alithea. Pinchwife knows Horner's penchant for amorous adventures and has not yet heard of the rumor of his impotence; He is therefore extremely worried when he learns that Horner had seen him and his wife in the theater the day before and that they are very attractive.
Pinchwife wants to hide his wife from the man's world of London. He carelessly mentions her admirer, which she receives with naive enthusiasm. Sparkish wants to brag about his fiancée and encourages Harcourt to get to know her better in a private conversation. Harcourt instantly falls in love with Alithea, but Sparkish remains unconcerned. It was only when Alithea told him that Harcourt had doubted his mental abilities that he lost his composure.
Lady Fidget, Mrs Dainty and Mrs Squeamish are on their way to the theater and offer to take Mrs Pinchwife with them, but in vain. They comment on the disappointing world of men: In love affairs, they say, class awareness is increasingly lost, so that even women of rank have to be content with lovers from the lower classes.
The always busy Sir Jasper urges Horner again to take care of his wife. When Lady Fidget learns the truth about his condition from Horner, she happily agrees to her husband's plan.
Mrs. Pinchwife is dying to see more of London before returning to the country. Pinchwife puts her in a man's suit for camouflage. Meanwhile, Harcourt and Dorilant quarrel with Horner because instead of having fun with them, he now spends so much time with "civil" women. Nevertheless, Harcourt asks Horner for advice regarding Alitheas, whom he would like to relax Sparkish. When Pinchwife appears accompanied by his wife and sister, Sparkish hides from his fiancée, as he is on his way to the royal audience and does not want to be stopped. Nevertheless, he fulfills Harcourt's wish for a reconciliation between himself and Alithea. Alithea feels harassed by Harcourt and does not want to see him again.
Horner, Harcourt, and Dorilant meet Mrs. Pinchwife and pretend not to recognize her because of her man's clothes. Pinchwife tries desperately to escape with her, especially as the three libertines begin to kiss his wife. As he walks away for a moment, Horner kidnaps Mrs. Pinchwife into a back alley. Loaded with oranges and other presents, she comes back to her husband, who hurries home with her. Sir Jasper appears and again asks Horner to keep his wife company.
Lucy dresses Alithea for the wedding and uses this last opportunity to dissuade her from her plan. But Alithea keeps her word and hopes to love Sparkish later. When her fiancé appears with Harcourt disguised as a pastor, both women see through the game immediately. Sparkish, meanwhile, is convinced that the clergyman is Harcourt's brother and that she will marry her properly.
Pinchwife lets his wife tell him over and over again what happened between her and Horner. Then he forces her to write a hurtful letter to Horner, which she exchanges for a love letter.
Lady Fidget comes to Horner's rendezvous. When her husband suddenly appears, she gives Horner's porcelain collection as the reason for her visit. Both lovers disappear into the bedroom before Sir Jaspers' eyes. Mrs Squeamish also wants to get to know Horners' porcelain better. He promises her to think about it another time. Pinchwife arrives with his wife's letter. Believing that it was the insult he had dictated, he trumped Horner. But he is sure of his new lover.
In his absence Mrs. Pinchwife writes another letter to Horner; but her husband surprises her. In her distress, she signs Alithea's name and pretends to have written the letter on her behalf. Pinchwife believes in an affair between his sister and Horner and tries to force him to marry Alithea. On Lucy's advice, Mrs. Pinchwife disguises herself as Alithea, and her husband Horner promptly brings her to her home.
His pleasure with the innocence of the country is short-lived, however, for Sir Jasper announces the arrival of his wife and her friends. In the meantime, Pinchwife has also shown the letter to Sparkish, who then breaks off his engagement to Alithea and confesses that he never loved her.
Lady Fidget, Mrs. Dainty and Mrs. Squeamish come to Horner masked. When the wine loosens their tongues, they mock the outward appearance of virtuous behavior and confess that they are in the mood for wild men. All three, it turns out, are Horner's lovers. Pinchwife brings Alithea and Sparkish to Horner so that he can confirm that he has brought Alithea to him. In order not to compromise Mrs Pinchwife, he says yes. Despite Alithea's reputation damage, Harcourt is ready to believe her and take her as his wife. Gradually, the whole of society comes to Horner. Mrs. Pinchwife hopes she can separate from her husband and marry Horner. She almost succeeds in destroying the entire web of lies about loyalty and honor. But in the end she returns to the country with her husband.
literature
- The Country-Wife . English German. Reclam, 1972.