Horner's main objective in "The Country Wife" is to sleep with as many ladies as possible. His cunning personality allows him to do this, as he lies about having the clap and spreads the rumour, "I have taken my eternal leave, sir, of the sex already, sir

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Horner

Horner’s main objective is to sleep with as many ladies as possible. His cunning personality allows him to do this, as he lies about having the clap and spreads the rumour, “I have taken my eternal leave, sir, of the sex already, sir.” He is also extremely daring, as this could ruin his chances with the women, and he even goes as far as to announce to them, “I have brought over not so much as a bawdy picture, new postures, nor the second part of the Ecole des Filles,” referring to indecent engravings and a vulgar book. This ensures that people believe his story and think that he really does hates women, as he would not otherwise speak so crudely to them. This shows him to have intellect, and he himself admits to being crafty, “I am a Machiavel in love, madam.”

He manages to continue his rumoured impotence by lying, and constantly bad mouthing women to other men, namely their husbands, “A pox! Can’t you keep your impertinent wives at home?” He also realises that women who claim to be virtuous, in reality never are, ranking them lower than dogs, “And the difference is, the spaniel’s the more faithful animal and fawns but upon one master.” Comments such as these win him high regard amongst other men, as they appreciate such wit, and therefore make them less likely to accuse him of making them a cuckold, so he can therefore continue to satisfy his large sexual appetite.

The language throughout the play is very formal, as to represent the period and the class of the characters. Whilst Horner is talking to his fellow rogues, the language becomes slightly more relaxed by Restoration standards, and he engages in chauvinistic male conversation. He states of what low importance he thinks women really are compared to men and drink, “Wine gives you liberty, love takes it away,” and, “Faith, I would not leave you for’em, if they would not drink.” This shows the social divisions between men and women during this period, and is also a contrast to how charming Horner is whilst in women’s company, such as to Mrs Pinchwife, “She would make all that see her in love with her.”  This illustrates his deviousness, as he only wants to woo them into bed, especially as he later refers to her as, “A silly innocent.” Similarly, he is spiteful in talking behind Sparkish’s back, but then complimenting him to his face, “Thou hast too much to be one,” whilst talking of playwrights and their lack of wit.  

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His ability to change his focus of language when talking to different people ensures that everybody trusts him and he can therefore get his own way.

Horner also delights in manipulating others, and loves inducing jealousy on Mr Pinchwife, thus telling him that Mrs Pinchwife is, “A glorious creature, beautiful beyond all things I ever beheld.” He also uses symbolism to his advantage to further annoy Pinchwife, telling him, “I have only given your little brother an orange, sir.” Pinchwife understands the sexual connotations but as Horner may have meant it harmlessly, he cannot be seen to be annoyed. Therefore, ...

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