# Lady Wishfort — The Way of the World character guide

> Lady Wishfort in The Way of the World by William Congreve.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Wishfort, My Lady Wishfort

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

## Snapshot

A vain, aging widow who controls her niece's fortune and her own romantic delusions, Lady Wishfort is the gatekeeper everyone must flatter or fool.

## Who they are

Lady Wishfort presides over her household with wax lights, liveried footmen, and an appetite for admiration that makes her both comic and dangerous. She holds the purse strings to Millamant's inheritance and the power to bless or block any match, yet she is so hungry for courtship that a forged portrait and a pretended Sir Rowland can set her aflame. When Foible reports Mirabell's insults — 'superannuated,' 'old frippery' — her fury becomes the engine of the plot, driving her toward a marriage that others have already rigged.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Lady Wishfort despises Mirabell for his past deception and opposes his marriage to her niece.

### [Waitwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/waitwell)

_professional_

Waitwell is Lady Wishfort's servant, whom she briefly considers marrying in a foolish scheme.

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

_social_

Lady Wishfort tolerates Witwoud as a foppish visitor and gossip in her household.

### [Fainall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/fainall)

_family_

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

### [Foible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/foible)

_professional_

Foible is Lady Wishfort's maid, but secretly works against her to aid Mirabell and Mrs. Millamant.

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

_rivalry_

Lady Wishfort despises Mirabell for his past deception and opposes his marriage to her niece.

### [Waitwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/waitwell)

_professional_

Waitwell is Lady Wishfort's servant, whom she briefly considers marrying in a foolish scheme.

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

_social_

Lady Wishfort tolerates Witwoud as a foppish visitor and gossip in her household.

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

_social_

Lady Wishfort tolerates Witwoud as a foppish visitor and gossip in her household.

### [Waitwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/waitwell)

_professional_

Waitwell is Lady Wishfort's servant, whom she briefly considers marrying in a foolish scheme.

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

_rivalry_

Lady Wishfort despises Mirabell for his past deception and opposes his marriage to her niece.

### [Fainall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/fainall)

_family_

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

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_the_world_se/characters/lady_wishfort
- 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