# Dorilant — The Country Wife character guide

> Dorilant in The Country Wife by William Wycherley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dorilant, Mr. Dorilant

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

## Snapshot

Horner's witty companion, who trades bawdy aphorisms about wine, women, and friendship with the ease of a man with nothing to lose.

## Who they are

Dorilant is one of the town wits who orbit Horner, matching him line for line on the relative merits of mistresses and bottles. He argues that a mistress should be like a country retreat, visited briefly and left, and he converts readily to Horner's case against love. His banter establishes the masculine social world against which the play's sexual scheming plays out, and his loyalty gives Horner a foil for the cynicism that drives the plot.

## Links

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