# Fainall — The Way of the World character guide

> Fainall in The Way of the World by William Congreve.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Fainall

**First appearance:** 0006-act-i

## Snapshot

A cynical man-about-town with a taste for other men's wives and other people's money, Fainall hides predation beneath the manners of a gentleman.

## Who they are

Fainall is married to Mrs. Fainall, Mirabell's former mistress, and carries on an affair with Mrs. Marwood while scheming to strip his wife of her fortune. He speaks of love as leverage — 'Have I no other hold to keep you here?' — and of marriage as a contract to be exploited, promising Marwood he will 'rob her of all she's worth' and retire with her anywhere. His coldness toward his wife and his readiness to weaponize her past make him the play's most credible threat, the man whose outward reputation excuses the very vices he profits from.

## Relationships

### [Mirabell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/mirabell)

_rivalry_

They are bitter enemies, with Fainall plotting to ruin Mirabell and steal his inheritance.

### [Witwoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/witwoud)

_social_

They are cynical acquaintances in the same social circle, sharing little genuine warmth.

### [Lady Wishfort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/lady_wishfort)

_family_

Fainall is Lady Wishfort's son-in-law, but he treats her with contempt and exploits her financially.

### [Mirabell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/mirabell)

_rivalry_

They are bitter enemies, with Fainall plotting to ruin Mirabell and steal his inheritance.

### [Lady Wishfort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/lady_wishfort)

_family_

Fainall is Lady Wishfort's son-in-law, but he treats her with contempt and exploits her financially.

### [Witwoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/witwoud)

_social_

They are cynical acquaintances in the same social circle, sharing little genuine warmth.

### [Lady Wishfort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/lady_wishfort)

_family_

Fainall is Lady Wishfort's son-in-law, but he treats her with contempt and exploits her financially.

### [Witwoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/witwoud)

_social_

They are cynical acquaintances in the same social circle, sharing little genuine warmth.

### [Mirabell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/mirabell)

_rivalry_

They are bitter enemies, with Fainall plotting to ruin Mirabell and steal his inheritance.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/fainall
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters