In this new edition, The Beaux' Stratagem is seen as a traditional work, combining characteristics of the Restoration comedy of manners with those of the more conventionally moral comedy that followed. Mr. Fifer discusses the numerous alterations made in the text during the century, many of which eliminated racy dialogue or diminished the importance of the marriage-divorce theme. Farquhar's views on divorce were influenced by Milton; he is also concerned here with the conflict between virtue and vice, and with the importance of money and its influence on personal freedom. Based on a collation of eight copies of the first quarto, this edition includes extensive discussion of text and stage history.
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