(https://www.cliffsnotes.

com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)

(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/)

Search CliffsNotes

Literature Notes
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature)Test Prep
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/test-prep)

Study Guides
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides)

 (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-
world/character-analysis/fainall#)


The Way of the World

William Congreve

Home (Https://Www.Cliffsnotes.Com/) » Literature Notes (Https://Www.Cliffsnotes.Com/Literature)

» The Way Of The World (Https://Www.Cliffsnotes.Com/Literature/W/The-Way-Of-The-World/Play-
Summary)
» Fainall (Https://Www.Cliffsnotes.Com/Literature/W/The-Way-Of-The-World/Character-Analysis/Fainall)

Table of Contents

Play Summary (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/play-summary)

 (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)
All
Subjects
About The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/about-the-way-of-the-world)

Character List (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-list)

Back to Top (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)

Summary and Analysis (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-
analysis/dedication)
Dedication (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/dedication)

Prologue (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/prologue)

Act I (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-i)

Act II (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-ii)

Act III (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-iii)

Act IV (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-iv)

Act V (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/act-v)

Epilogue (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/summary-and-analysis/epilogue)

Character Analysis (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mirabell)

Mirabell (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mirabell)

Millamant (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/millamant)

Fainall (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall)

Mrs. Marwood (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mrs-marwood)

Lady Wishfort (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/lady-wishfort)

Sir Wilfull Witwoud (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/sir-wilfull-witwoud)

Young Witwoud (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/young-witwoud)

Petulant (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/petulant)

Waitwell (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/waitwell)

Foible (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/foible)

Mincing (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mincing)

Back to Top (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)

Mrs. Fainall (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mrs-fainall)

William Congreve Biography (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/william-congreve-biography)

Critical Essays (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/themes-in-the-way-of-the-
world)

Themes in The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/themes-in-

the-way-of-the-world)

Style, Wit, and Irony in The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-

essays/style-wit-and-irony-in-the-way-of-the-world)

Notes on Performance of The Way of the World (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-

essays/notes-on-performance-of-the-way-of-the-world)

The Reputation of Restoration Drama (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/critical-essays/the-

reputation-of-restoration-drama)

Study Help (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/study-help/quiz)

Quiz (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/study-help/quiz)

Essay Questions (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/study-help/essay-questions)

Cite this Literature Note (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/play-summary%3Flcitation=true)

Character Analysis Fainall

In two speeches, Fainall is characterized by himself and by Mirabell. Fainall describes himself, in
our terms, as an opportunist, a man who can veer with the winds of circumstance. Mirabell
describes him as a man on the fringes of respectability, a man who is almost acceptable. To these
two complementary descriptions we must add another quality noted before — Fainall's intense
suspicion. He distrusts his mistress as naturally as he breathes; he distrusts everything Mirabell
says. It is not that he assumes Mirabell is lying, necessarily; rather he looks for snide implications
in the words and finds them. In justice to Fainall, it should be noted that the snide implications are
there.

The one disreputable act we can attribute to him before the play starts is his marriage. The fact
that he married for money can hardly be held against him in his society, but to marry for money to
finance a love affair is more difficult to accept. Yet it is hard to see that his part in marrying the rich
widow is worse than Mirabell's in arranging for the marriage of his mistress to his friend so as to
protect her from scandal should she become pregnant through his, the lover's, attentions.

Back to Top (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)

Sponsored by
Open
www.asknestle.in/…

In each of the items mentioned above, Fainall is a somewhat tarnished version of Mirabell.
Mirabell's deftness in handling his world becomes Fainall's "bustling" opportunism. Mirabell's
caution in trusting people becomes Fainall's almost pathological suspicion of every word anyone
says.

It is in their loves that we can see, glaringly, Fainall's attitude to life as a smirched version of
Mirabell's. Possibly against their wills, both are in love. Mirabell moves to a marriage based on
mutual respect. Fainall will try to shut his eyes to what he sees and pretend to believe against clear
evidence in a love affair hemmed in on all sides by indignity and deceit.

Come, I ask your pardon — no tears — I was to blame, I could not love you and be easy in my
doubts. Pray, forbear — I believe you: I'm convinced I've done you wrong, and any way, every way
will make amends. I'll hate my wife, yet more, damn her! I'll part with her, rob her of all she's worth,
and we'll retire somewhere — anywhere — to another world.

When Fainall's suspicions about his wife are confirmed, he moves from a kind of generalized
unpleasantness to quite specific action. Once his plans are made, he proceeds ruthlessly.
Back to Top (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)

(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-
 PREVIOUS
way-of-the-world/character-
 Millamant analysis/millamant)

(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-
NEXT
Mrs. Marwood
 way-of-the-world/character-analysis/mrs-
marwood)

CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter
what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you
score high on exams.

About CliffsNotes
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/discover-about)
Advertise with Us
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/discover-advertise)
Contact Us
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/discover-contact)

Follow us:

(https://twitter.com/cliffs_notes)

(https://www.facebook.com/CliffsNotes)

(https://www.youtube.com/user/cliffsnotes/videos)

(https://instagram.com/cliffsnotesofficial/)

© 2021 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms & Conditions
(https://www.coursehero.com/terms-of-use/)

Privacy Policy
(https://www.coursehero.com/privacy-policy/)
Disclaimer
(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/disclaimer)

A18ACD436D5A3997E3DA2573E3FD792A

Back to Top (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/the-way-of-the-world/character-analysis/fainall#)