“Love for Love" is a comedy of manners written by William Congreve, first performed in 1695.
It is widely regarded as one of Congreve’s best works and a key play in the Restoration comedy genre.
The play is filled with sharp wit, complex characters, and clever dialogue, exploring themes of love, jealousy, deceit, and social expectations.
Plot Overview
- Set in London, "Love for Love" is primarily a romantic comedy that focuses on the tangled love lives and financial schemes of its characters.
- At the heart of the play are two main romantic entanglements: the first between Valentine and Angelica, and the second involving Ben and Miss Prue.
- Alongside these, a variety of subplots dealing with mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and social maneuvering further enrich the story.
Act 1:
The play opens with Valentine, a young gentleman who has spent all his money on frivolous pleasures, finding himself in a difficult financial situation. Valentine is in love with Angelica, a wealthy widow. However, his financial ruin prevents him from proposing to her. Meanwhile, his father, Sir Sampson Legend, is determined to get him to marry a woman with a substantial fortune, hoping to secure Valentine’s future and…
