The Country Wife

"The Country Wife" is a 17th-century comedy by William Congreve that satirizes social manners, marriage, and sexual hypocrisy. The plot revolves around a witty husband, Horner, who pretends to be impotent to gain access to women without suspicion. Disguised as a celibate, he seduces several women, exposing their flirtations and pretensions. The play humorously explores themes of deception, desire, and societal pretenses, highlighting the complexity of human relationships and the follies of social reputation in Restoration England.