School for Scandal

Plot Summary
Act I
School
for Scandal opens with Lady Sneerwell and her henchman Snake plotting a
means to break up the romance between Charles Surface and Maria. It is
Snake’s job to assist in disseminating the gossip that Lady Sneerwell
creates, and when he asks why she wishes to destroy this romance, Lady
Sneerwell reveals that she wants Charles for herself. Maria’s hand would
then go to Charles’s brother, Joseph.
In the first act, the audience
is introduced to the characters who surround Lady Sneerwell and their
true nature is revealed. Gossip and slander fill their time; they
consider the destruction of marriages and reputations as entertainment.
Maria
is the exception in this group. She condemns their gossip and refuses
to be persuaded that Charles is unworthy of her. Sir Peter and his
servant, Rowley, arrive on stage at the change of scene. Sir Peter is
openly questioning his wisdom in marrying such a young wife. He thought
that by marrying an innocent country girl, his happiness would be
assured. Instead, Sir Peter reveals to the audience that his wife spends
too much time with her friends and too much money on dresses and
extravagances. Rowley tells Sir Peter that Charles and Joseph’s uncle,
Sir Oliver, is returning to London after a long absence. The audience
also learns that it is Rowley’s opinion that Charles has more potential
than Sir Peter recognizes.
Act II
The second act opens with an
argument between Sir Peter and his wife, Lady Teazle, about the money
she is spending. He focuses on her extravagant purchase of fresh flowers
during the winter. She is not intimidated by his anger. When her
husband reminds her of how he rescued her from a simple but poor life,
Lady Teazle nearly admits that she would wish her husband dead as his
next step toward rescuing her.
In the next scene, the gossips are
busy slandering everyone they know as they prepare for a card game at
Lady Sneerwell’s. Lady Teazle joins them and in a few moments is joined
by her husband. Maria is also there and is joined by Joseph who presses
his suit for her attention. She is clearly annoyed and pleads with him
to change the subject.
In the following scene, Sir Oliver has
returned and is briefed by Rowley and Sir Peter regarding his nephews,
Joseph and Charles. Rowley and Sir Peter differ in their appreciation of
the two young men. Sir Oliver is determined to investigate and decide
the nature of his nephews for himself.
Act III
Rowley, Sir Peter,
and Sir Oliver are joined by the moneylender, Moses. Moses will take Sir
Oliver to meet Charles under the guise of a moneylender, Mr. Premium.
Moses coaches Sir Oliver in the behavior and manners of a moneylender,
and the two depart for Charles’s home. When Maria enters, Sir Peter
takes the opportunity to chastise her for her rejection of Joseph, but
Maria stands her ground, proclaiming her love for Charles.
The scene
ends with a humorous exchange between Sir Peter and his wife. Although
the two begin lovingly enough, the compliments soon turn to an argument
as the two each claim that the other one is always at fault for their
constant quarreling.
In the next scene, Moses and the disguised Sir
Oliver arrive at Charles’s home. Charles is happily at play gambling,
singing, and drinking with his friends, but he is delighted to be
visited by the moneylender, since Charles needs cash quite badly.
Charles agrees to sell the family portraits to raise money. It is agreed
that he will make a game of an auction to sell the pictures to Mr.
Premium.
Act IV
During the auction, Sir Oliver buys all the
portraits except his own, which Charles will not sell. He has a fondness
for his uncle whom he has not seen in many years and refuses to part
with the portrait. Sir Oliver is charmed and forgives Charles his
faults. While still disguised, Sir Oliver gives Charles far more money
than the agreed upon price and leaves with Moses. Charles immediately
sends some of the money to a poor relation.
In the next scene, Lady
Teazle has called upon Joseph. He has been attempting to seduce her,
and, although she has resisted thus far, she has come to Joseph’s home
because she is tempted. When her husband is announced, Lady Teazle hides
behind a screen. Sir Peter has arrived to ask Joseph if his brother,
Charles, is having an affair with Lady Teazle. Joseph is taken aback by
the suggestion, and although he hedges a bit, finally states that he
cannot think Charles guilty of such a thing.
At that moment Charles
is announced, and Sir Peter asks to hide so that he might overhear
Joseph ask Charles about Lady Teazle. When Sir Peter goes to hide behind
the screen that conceals his wife, Joseph tells Sir Peter that his
arrival had interrupted a rendezvous with a French milliner and the
young woman is hiding behind the screen. Sir Peter hides in a closet
just as Charles is ushered into the room.
In a few moments Joseph
learns that Lady Sneerwell is arriving, and he leaves the room. Sir
Peter, having heard Charles profess that he has no interest in Lady
Teazle, reveals himself. When Charles pronounces Joseph too worried
about his reputation to risk scandal, Sir Peter knocks down the screen,
thinking that he will reveal a French milliner. Instead, his own wife is
revealed hiding behind it.
Joseph rushes back into the room and
attempts to create a story to explain everything. But Lady Teazle, who
has overheard her husband’s plans to honor her, is ashamed of her near
betrayal and confesses everything to Sir Peter. Sir Peter declares
Joseph a villain. The act ends.
Act V
Sir Oliver, unaware of the
recent activities, arrives at Joseph’s disguised as a poor relation. He
asks Joseph for help but is turned quickly away. Rowley returns to tell
Joseph that his Uncle, Sir Oliver, has returned to London and wishes to
meet with both brothers.
The next scene opens with all of the gossips
clamoring for more information about what really occurred between Sir
Peter and his wife and Joseph. In a matter of moments, they have
concocted a duel and a near fatal injury for the participants. They are
interrupted when Sir Peter arrives and throws his wife’s former friends
outside. Lady Teazle resigns from the scandal club. In the library of
Joseph’s house, Sir Oliver arrives. Charles and Joseph recognize him
from the disguised identities he assumed. Sir Oliver’s true identity is
revealed, but at that moment, Lady Sneerwell arrives for one last try at
breaking up Maria and Charles.
Sneerwell fails when it is revealed
that Snake has betrayed her to someone who would pay him a higher price.
She leaves. Joseph follows her after it is made clear that everyone
present now recognizes his hypocrisy. Sir Oliver and Sir Peter confer
their blessings upon Maria and Charles