Divorcing the Sullen SquireThe Beaux's Scheme is considered to be the best play written by George Farquhar. Jonne C. Thornton exclaimed, “The Beaux’s ploy is the quintessence of Restoration comedy” (4). Unlike his contemporaries, Farquhar uses more theatrical devices, subplots, characters, and surprises in the play (Thornton 4). Farquhar has a unique sense of play structure, combining lighthearted comedy with serious underlying social issues. A social issue that forms the main theme of the play is the acceptance of divorce. He is capable of writing a comic piece while addressing a serious social problem. Farquhar uses his main characters to express his opinions and themes. George Farquhar attempts to reform society in his play The Beaux Stratagem, through the character of Mrs. Sullen. In the play, Mrs. Sullen is married to Sullen. Coincidentally, sullen means to be hostile, which can also describe Sullen's personality. Sullen is a simple country squire. He is constantly drunk. He upsets his wife, Mrs. Sullen, with his actions and words. They have a miserable marriage. They each got married for different reasons. Sullen married his wife in order to have a successor (5.4.460). The play always emphasizes Mrs. Sullen's misery. Her marriage to Sullen turns out to be a disaster. Mrs. Sullen constantly wishes she could separate from her husband. When Mrs. Sullen agreed to marry Sullen, she expected a different life for herself. When asked why she marries Sullen, she replies "To support the weakness of my sex by the strength of hers and to enjoy the pleasures of pleasant society" (5.4.460). She wants someone to support her. Mrs. Sullen doesn't want to have a country life, she was...... middle of paper ......8824b3d20fbb5affccaca6d>Jeffares, A. Norman. "Farquhar's Latest Comedies." Images of Invention: Essays on Irish Writing. Gerrards Cross, England: Colin Smythe, 1996. 76-89. Rep. in Dramatic Criticism. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Flight. 38. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Resource Center. Internet. March 28, 2014. gi99172&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=801edd48f836f2f37d079604a0468731> Malek, James S. “The Beaux's Scheme: Overview.” Reference guide to English literature. Ed. DL Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literary Resource Center. Internet. March 28, 2014.2.1&u=elgi99172&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=6a79aea45ed9ee2fdb8660123bb923a6>Thornton, Jonne C. Introduction. The Beaux's stratagem. By George Farquhar. Van Nuys: Éditions D’arts, 2010. Page 3.