# Waitwell — The Way of the World character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

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

## Snapshot

Mirabell's servant, disguised as the lovesick Sir Rowland, who woos Lady Wishfort with such fervour that he can barely stomach his own performance.

## Who they are

Waitwell takes on the role of a lifetime — a wealthy, vengeful uncle courting Lady Wishfort — and plays it with a straight face while privately longing for a cordial and an end to the charade. His disgust at the part is comic, but his skill is real: he feeds her vanity, echoes her grievances, and promises a revenge that keeps her pliant. He matters because the entire plot against Lady Wishfort rests on his performance, and because his exhaustion reminds us how much the town's elegance depends on servants who see through it.

## Relationships

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

_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)

_professional_

Waitwell is Mirabell's loyal servant and co-conspirator in the scheme to marry Mrs. Millamant.

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

_professional_

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

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

_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)

_professional_

Waitwell is Mirabell's loyal servant and co-conspirator in the scheme to marry Mrs. Millamant.

## Links

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