The Man of Mode by George Etherege is a play that uses humor, wit, and satire to criticize the stupidity and vulnerability of women. In this illustrative and raunchy comedy, Etherege examines the mannerisms, dialogue, and behaviors of several female characters, such as Mrs. Loveit, Bellinda, and Harriet, in order to develop the topic of female oppression and the inability for women to rise above in a democratic way. society due to legal and social prejudices. Examining the unbridled passion of Mrs. Loveit and her ruthless drive to win the affections of the protagonist, Dorimant, Etherege embodies women as slaves to their own desires. Analyzing the means by which Dorimant treats Bellinda, Etherege denigrates women as easily manipulated and senseless. Finally, by contrasting Dorimant with Harriet, Etherege manifests to readers that women are only equated with men if they possess qualities of wit and humor and the ability to manipulate affection. Even so, they will eventually become objects or commodities when they surrender to marriage. Therefore, by examining the juxtaposition and treatment of female characters in this play, not only can one see the inequality between men and women regarding women's reputation, social status, and natural conditions as oppressed commodities, one can also see the futility of women's attempts to challenge the social restrictions imposed by male figures during the Restoration period. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay From the beginning of the work, readers are introduced to the protagonist, Dorimant, a notorious libertine who juggles multiple affairs at once. At the beginning of the play, Dorimant is found in a dress and slippers, reciting lines from a note to be delivered to Mrs. Loveit. He openly confesses to the audience that “the dull and insipid thing is a billet-doux written in cold blood, after the heat of the matter has passed” (I. i.4-5). The harsh reality is that Dorimant is no longer interested in Mrs. Loveit now that he has already won her over. Furthermore, Etherege not only presents Mrs. Loveit as a woman who is quickly used and cast aside by Dorimant, but also mocks her by calling her Mrs. Loveit. The name, clearly intentional, not only suggests her love of sexual gratification, but also identifies her as a female sex slave. By molding Mrs. Loveit's name into her identity as a whore, Etherege forces readers to disrespect her reputation. Furthermore, Mrs. Loveit is beguiled into a rage of jealousy after learning that Dorimant has betrayed her affections by entertaining another woman at a theater performance. Unwilling to accept abandonment and rejection, but recognizing Dorimant's disloyalty, she curses Dorimant to be an "unfaithful, inhuman, barbarous man – without sense of love, honor or gratitude" (II. ii. 161 , 163). Mrs. Loveit serves as both a representation of women used as objects of pleasure and of the naive and foolish, believing that jealousy is "the strongest cordial we can give to everlasting love" (III. iii. 213). At the play's conclusion, it is Mrs. Loveit's unbridled, assertive passion and love for Dorimant that repels his affection for her. Hoping to win a man's affections, Mrs. Loveit willingly gives up her reputation. Hoping to rise above the male gender, Mrs. Loveit loses her femininity, surrendering to the violence of her passion. Based on the representation of Mrs. Loveit, Etherege defines women as slaves to their lusts and passions, too weak andweak to control their bodies and minds by the wit and charm of men like Dorimant. Through the analysis of Dorimant's second lover, Bellinda, the play continues to exude a sense of male superiority. Bellinda is first introduced to readers as a facade; she is the “masked lady, in a rather disable appearance, whom Dorimant has entertained with more respect than gallants do with a common mask” (II. ii. 88-90). Bellinda immediately willingly betrays herself as an object, allowing herself to be used to deceive her friend. After witnessing Mrs. Loveit's abuse, Bellinda exclaims that "I wish I hadn't seen him use her this way" (II. ii. 301), but pathetically assumes Mrs. Loveit's position as Dorimant's lover, only to "sigh to think that Dorimant may one day be equally unfaithful and unkind to [her]” (II. ii. 304-305). resulting from an excessive and obsessive infatuation causing Bellinda to face reality, admitting that “I knew it was false and I helped make it so. Was its ruin enough to scare me away from danger? 'love bears no warning' (V. i. 330-333). By succumbing to Dorimant physically and emotionally, Bellinda has simply become another of Dorimant's conquests. In fact, she is even more reckless of his previous conquests because he still eagerly surrenders to Dorimant despite having witnessed many episodes of infidelity and betrayal. Furthermore, by examining the distinction between Bellinda and Mrs. Loveit, Etherege distinguishes the different forms of oppression that women are bound to. While Mrs. Loveit is linked to her unreasonable and illogical love for Dorimant, Bellinda is linked to her reputation in society. At the end of the play, Bellinda tells the audience that "[Dorimant] is tender to my honour, though he is cruel to my love" (V. ii. 303-304), which protects her from the disgrace and dishonor of being labeled as an immodest woman. From Bellinda's perspective, her reputation and honor are more important than her heart; as long as Dorimant does not expose his impurities to society, Bellinda will tolerate even the fear of pain and jealousy. The emphasis on female honor and virtue is significant because it manifests her purity and reputation. Etherege uses this emphasis to point out the double standards that exist between men and women. If a woman turns out to be wild and unchaste, no man will want her as a wife and she will remain forever contaminated. On the other hand, if a man has a reputation for being an unfaithful lover, as depicted by Dorimant, women will continue to flock to him. Etherege seems to put women on a higher pedestal in maintaining virtues, demonstrating that men and women will never achieve equality. regarding their social reputation. From a patriarchal Restoration society, women must adhere to the values ​​of chastity to maintain an acceptable social status. In a patriarchal society, men are the only characters capable of pursuing a libertine lifestyle without condemnation. Women, who not only must defend their reputations, must also seek marriage as a means of securing economic status. If Bellinda's unchaste behavior were to come to light, she would lose any prospect of marriage. Therefore, bound by social and legal restrictions, Etherege can only present women as weak and immobile, completely dependent on men for economic and social security. The final female character positioned to oppose Dorimant is the "fine, simple, clean form" (I. i. 138) Harriet. Although her beauty is natural and pleasing to all eyes, she, unlikeof the other female characters, she also possesses the rare quality of wit as "more than usual in her sex, and as much malice" (I. i. 149). Harriet is different from commonly represented women, feminine, virtuous and obedient; he does not follow the crowd to be fooled by Dorimant and is able to detect and even imitate Dorimant's true nature. Indeed, Harriet seems to be a representation of hope over the failure and defeat of the other women in the play. While Mrs. Loveit must devise plans to avenge Dorimant, Harriet observes Dorimant as a stranger and simply imitates him. While Bellinda's actions are self-deceptive and rooted in fear of society's scorn, Harriet's decisions are bold and courageous, free from “cloaks and modesty, masks and silence, things that darken and hide” (III. i. 25-26 ). When her mother, Lady Woodvill, insists that she marry young Bellair, Harriet flatly refuses, proclaiming, “Shall I be paid by a greedy parent for a purchase? I don't need land. No, I will put myself entirely in love” (III. i. 71-73). Harriet is able to control her emotions by masking them; as she becomes more and more infatuated with Dorimant, she feels "a great change within, but he will never know" (III. iii. 65). Furthermore, he is able to shape and mold Dorimant's thoughts and actions by acting as his mirror, reflecting the wit and abuse that Dorimant uses in his treatment of Bellinda and Mrs. Loveit. When Dorimant tries to confess his love to her, she gives him a taste of his own medicine by saying, “don't say it if you want me to believe it. Your tongue is so famous for lying, “it will do harm to the truth” (V. ii. 131-132). Withholding seduction from Dorimant and imitating his wit, Harriet insists on equal treatment for all women. Etherege gives Harriet the chance to rise above Dorimant by matching their rhetorical freedom. Unfortunately, although Etherege contrasts this independent, free-spirited woman with all the other female characters in the play, she too ultimately becomes another of Dorimant's possessions. At the end of the play, although Dorimant renounces "all the joys I have in friendship and wine" and "sacrifice to [Harriet] all the interest I have in other women" (V. ii. 152-154) , will make him have Harriet in his hands again. Since Harriet's greatest fear is that Dorimant will hate her and will dispose of her as he has done with the other women, exclaiming that it is "a curse that frightens me when I say it" (V. ii. 183-184), her great fear and love for him prevents her from further examining the seriousness and sincerity of his motives. Although Etherege leaves Dorimant and Harriet's marriage vague and unstable, she subtly confirms Harriet's final form of surrender as she willingly submits to the values ​​of marriage by confessing that she "would and never will marry any other man" (V. ii. 348 ). Consequently, Etherege takes away the slightest hope of even women who have the ingenuity to achieve equality with men by exposing the uncertainty of Dorimant's love for Harriet. Furthermore, it reaffirms the anti-feminist thesis that women have no place in society separate from men. At the end of the play, there is still evidence that Dorimant has not fully repented of his mistakes and that his feelings are not founded in genuine devotion and altruistic ambitions. After the final confrontation with Mrs. Loveit, Dorimant, and Bellinda, Dorimant turns to Bellinda and says, "We must meet again" (V. ii. 321). As a result, Dorimant becomes the role model for every man. The infamous libertine exits the scene with his prize in his arms and quite possibly another encounter with his mistress; not once does he express regret, not once does he feel anguish. Keep in mind:.