The Beaux’ Stratagem

play by Farquhar

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

The Beaux’ Stratagem, five-act comedy by George Farquhar, produced and published in 1707. Farquhar finished the play on his deathbed and died on the night of its third performance.

The story concerns Archer and Aimwell, two penniless antic rakes from London who decide that in order to end their penniless state, one of them must find and wed a wealthy lady. Aimwell therefore courts Dorinda, the daughter of wealthy Lady Bountiful; meanwhile, Archer, who is posing as Aimwell’s servant, and Lady Bountiful’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sullen, fall in love. In the course of events, Aimwell and Archer manage to foil robbers and thereby become heroes. Eventually Aimwell inherits the family estate, Mrs. Sullen separates from her brutish drunkard of a husband, and the play ends happily.

In addition to its lively comedy, The Beaux’ Stratagem presents a bold argument for divorce, which is voiced by Mrs. Sullen. Lady Bountiful’s name became a byword for a rich, generous, and somewhat credulous philanthropist.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.