# Alithea — The Country Wife character guide

> Alithea in The Country Wife by William Wycherley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Alithea

**First appearance:** 0005-act-i

## Snapshot

Pinchwife's sensible sister, engaged to a fool she does not love, who must decide whether honour means keeping a promise or keeping her judgment.

## Who they are

Alithea moves through London with the innocent liberty of the town, defending her reputation against her brother's accusations while quietly enduring her fiancé Sparkish's public foolishness. She tells her maid Lucy that Sparkish's lack of jealousy obliges her to be faithful, but Harcourt's argument that jealousy is the only proof of love plants a scruple she cannot quite dismiss. Her dilemma — marry for reputation or for love — is the play's clearest test of what a woman's honour actually costs.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Harcourt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se/characters/mr_harcourt)

_romantic_

Alithea and Harcourt are genuinely in love, though their relationship is complicated by her engagement to the foolish Sparkish.

### [Mrs. Margery Pinchwife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se/characters/mrs_margery_pinchwife)

_family_

Alithea is Margery's sister-in-law, married to Margery's brother, and tries to guide the naive country wife in London society.

### [Lucy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se/characters/lucy)

_professional_

Lucy is Alithea's loyal maid and confidante, helping her navigate romantic intrigues.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se/characters/alithea
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_wife_se/characters