Summary of the Plot - SS2 Literature Lesson Note

Act I

• Scene i: Mr. Hardcastle and his daughter, Kate, discuss her upcoming marriage to Charles Marlow, the son of Mr. Hardcastle's old friend. Kate is not looking forward to the marriage, as she has heard that Marlow is shy and awkward around women.
• Scene ii: At a tavern, Mr. Hardcastle's stepson, Tony Lumpkin, tricks Marlow and his friend Hastings into believing that Mr. Hardcastle's house is an inn.

Act II

• Scene i: Mr. Hardcastle instructs his servants on how to behave when Marlow and Hastings arrive. He wants them to treat the two men as if they were gentlemen, even though he knows that they are actually commoners.
• Scene ii: Marlow and Hastings arrive at Mr. Hardcastle's house, believing that it is an inn. They treat Mr. Hardcastle rudely, as they think he is merely the innkeeper.
• Scene iii: Marlow meets Kate, who is disguised as a barmaid. He is immediately attracted to her and begins to flirt with her. Kate is also attracted to Marlow, but she is hesitant to pursue a relationship with him because she knows that he is from a higher social class.

Act III

• Scene i: Mr. Hardcastle is confused by Marlow's behavior. He cannot understand why Marlow is so rude to him when he is being so kind to him.
• Scene ii: Kate tells her father that she does not want to marry Marlow. She thinks that he is too shy and awkward.
• Scene iii: Tony tells Marlow that Kate is actually a barmaid. Marlow is shocked and upset by this news.

Act IV

• Scene i: Marlow's father, Sir Charles Marlow, arrives at Mr. Hardcastle's house. He is surprised to learn that his son has fallen in love with a barmaid.
• Scene ii: Marlow and Kate confess their love for each other. They decide to elope, but their plans are thwarted when Mr. Hardcastle and Sir Charles Marlow discover them.

Act V

• Scene i: Mr. Hardcastle and Sir Charles Marlow agree to allow Marlow to marry Kate.
• Scene ii: Tony reveals that he has been helping Hastings and Constance to elope. Mrs. Hardcastle is furious, but she is powerless to stop them.
• Scene iii: Marlow and Kate are married. Hastings and Constance are also married.

The play ends with all of the characters happy and content.