The Double Dealer: Character Mind Map & Summary
William Congreve’s The Double Dealer in brief: the key characters, the villain’s schemes, a quick summary and the exam facts.
The Character Mind Map
Tap any name to open the details.
Maskwell
The villain. Pretending to be the loyal friend of Mellefont, he is secretly the lover of Lady Touchwood and helps her plot against him, while also planning to marry Mellefont’s fiancée Cynthia himself. He deceives everyone by seeming to tell the truth, until he is exposed.
No mask like open truth to cover lies, / As to go naked is the best disguise.Fate: exposed and disgraced
💍 The Lovers
The victimsMellefontLord Touchwood’s nephew and heir
Role: The honest young hero, engaged to Cynthia. He trusts Maskwell completely.
Marries CynthiaCynthiaSir Paul Plyant’s daughter
Role: Sensible and loyal to Mellefont despite all the schemes.
Marries Mellefont🎭 The Schemers
Revenge & greedLady TouchwoodMellefont’s aunt
Role: Rejected by Mellefont, whom she desired, she plots with Maskwell to ruin him. She tells her husband that Mellefont tried to seduce her.
ExposedLord TouchwoodMellefont’s uncle
Role: Deceived at first, he finally overhears his wife and Maskwell and reveals the plot.
🤡 The Fools
Comic charactersSir Paul & Lady PlyantCynthia’s parents
Role: A foolish, henpecked husband and his vain wife, who is easily persuaded that Mellefont loves her.
Lord & Lady Froth, and BriskSilly would-be wits
Role: Pretentious fashionable people who are satirised for their affected manners.
Maskwell’s Double Dealing
How the villain plays both sides.
Quick Summary
The plot in five lines.
Stage 1The Plot
- Lady Touchwood, rejected by Mellefont, plots with Maskwell to stop his marriage to Cynthia.
Stage 2Lies Spread
- Lady Plyant is told that Mellefont is secretly in love with her.
Stage 3False Friend
- Maskwell tells Lord Touchwood that Mellefont desires Lady Touchwood.
Stage 4Traps
- Mellefont is caught in a compromising scene arranged by the schemers.
Stage 5Exposed
- Lord Touchwood overhears Maskwell and his wife and exposes the plot; Mellefont and Cynthia are united.
Must-Know Exam Facts
Quick points for UGC NET, SET and PGT.
Date
First performed in late 1693 at Drury Lane; published in 1694. Coldly received at first.
Dryden’s Praise
John Dryden wrote a famous commendatory poem, “To my Dear Friend Mr Congreve, on his Comedy called The Double-Dealer“, hailing him as his successor.
Unities
Congreve strictly observes the classical unities: one house, one evening, one main action.
Congreve’s Other Plays
The Old Bachelor (1693), Love for Love (1695), the tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697) and his masterpiece The Way of the World (1700).
100+ Key Works of English Literature
All the character mind maps in one printed book.
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