# Witwoud — The Way of the World character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Tony Witwoud, Tony

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

## Snapshot

A self-styled wit who talks friendship while cataloguing his friend's faults, proving that in this town a talent for repartee excuses almost anything.

## Who they are

Witwoud moves through Mirabell's circle as a professional talker, forever defending Petulant while exposing him, and insisting that a wit should no more be sincere than a woman constant. His loyalty is real but performed, and his fluency is both his charm and his limit: he can argue any side and commit to none. He matters because he sets the comic temperature of the play's world, showing how easily cleverness substitutes for character in the marriage market.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

They are acquaintances and fellow wits, with Mirabell tolerating Witwoud's foppish banter.

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

_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)

_social_

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

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

_friendship_

They are acquaintances and fellow wits, with Mirabell tolerating Witwoud's foppish banter.

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

_friendship_

They are acquaintances and fellow wits, with Mirabell tolerating Witwoud's foppish banter.

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

_social_

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

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

_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)

_social_

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

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

_social_

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

## Links

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