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The Way of the World · Character

Petulant

A peevish gallant who stages his own importance — hiring women to call on him and even leaving letters for himself — while dodging the company he claims to command.

supporting

First appearance: act i

As a supporting figure in The Way of the World, Petulant is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

See Petulant in act iBook page

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Petulant wants to be seen as a man of appetite and consequence, so he manufactures the evidence: coach-hire for women, a summons he refuses to answer, a cruelty he wears as a humour. His rudeness is not confidence but…

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The fuller portrait of Petulant sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Petulant in act i

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Petulant sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

MMMrs. MillamantSWSir Wilfull Wi…WIWitwoudLWLady WishfortMIMirabellPEPetulant

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Scheming social network
  • Protagonist

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This scene represents the dramatic climax because Mrs. Marwood directly confronts Millamant with the truth tha…

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See Petulant in act i
Who is Petulant in The Way of the World?