The Country Wife Dramaturgical File

When a 17th century rake, Master Horner, falsely ruins his reputation by pretending to be a eunuch, he reimagines himself as a man who can never cuckold others. Horner's sinister plan allows him to sleep with as many women as he likes, as often as he likes, without fear of being killed or punished. He sleeps with many women, including the "honorable" Lady Fidget and her friends Dainty and Squeamish, right under their husbands’ noses.

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Master Horner manages to make one of his friend’s wives, Margery Pinchwife, an innocent naïve woman from the country, fall in love with him. This enrages her jealous and fearful husband, Mr. Pinchwife, who is unaware of Master Horner’s lie. Margery writes secret letters to Master Horner, declaring her love to him.
 

One of Master Horner's friends, Harcourt, begins courting Mr. Pinchwife's sister Alithea despite her betrothal to the local rich fop, Master Sparkish. Despite Alithea's repeated attempts to call Sparkish's attention to Harcourt trying to court her, he refuses to see the light, believing that Harcourt only means to befriend Alithea.
 

Master Horner's relationship with Margery almost ruins his secret and nearly destroys the reputation of the Lady Fidget, her friends, and their husbands. Moments before the truth is revealed, Alithia's maid Lucy spins a final web of lies to protect everyone’s reputations and save the reputations of all characters. Mr. Pinchwife allows Harcourt to marry Alithea, the honorable women's reputations are protected, Master Horner is still believed to be a eunuch, and nobody but Master Horner knows who is a cuckold and who is not.