The Belle's Stratagem

Hannah Cowley'Äôs «The Belle's Stratagem» is a masterful comedy of manners that intertwines themes of love, deception, and female agency against the backdrop of late 18th-century England. The play deftly employs wit and irony through its lively dialogue and intricately woven plot, which follows the bold heroine, Letitia Hardy, as she navigates the societal expectations of courtship and romance. Cowley'Äôs brilliant characters, drawn with humor and depth, challenge the conventions of their time, particularly in the portrayal of women'Äôs roles and desires, reflecting a burgeoning awareness of gender... Edasi