# Mrs. Fainall — The Way of the World character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** cousin Fainall

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

## Snapshot

Mirabell's former lover, now trapped in a marriage she despises, Mrs. Fainall knows too many secrets to be either safe or free.

## Who they are

Mrs. Fainall married Fainall on Mirabell's advice to save her reputation, and she has regretted it ever since — 'While I only hated my husband, I could bear to see him; but since I have despised him, he's too offensive.' She is privy to Mirabell's entire design and holds the power to ruin or advance his fortune, which makes her both ally and liability. Her bitter exchange with Mirabell about why he made her marry such a man exposes the play's darker arithmetic: reputation purchased at the cost of a life, and a woman whose loyalty is the only thing keeping the scheme upright.

## Links

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