The Country Wife

by

William Wycherley

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Quack Character Analysis

The doctor who helps Horner spread the rumor of his impotence. A “quack” is an old-fashioned term for a doctor who peddles nonsense cures and who is not reliable. Therefore, it is fitting that an unreliable doctor spreads this false rumor and confirms it, “as a physician,” at the end of the play. The doctor’s word in this final scene convinces Pinchwife and Sir Jasper Fidget that Horner is incapable of seducing their wives and spares Horner his punishment from these gentlemen. Although these men are completely taken in by the Quack’s word, the audience is aware that the Quack is unreliable and, therefore, his word as a medical man means nothing. Further evidence that the doctor is unreliable appears when, at the beginning of the play, the Quack admits that he has often spread rumors for young men before and knows all the best places to peddle gossip and scandal so that it will spread in London. This implies that the doctor is a fashionable socialite rather than a serious medical man.

Quack Quotes in The Country Wife

The The Country Wife quotes below are all either spoken by Quack or refer to Quack. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
).
Act 1 Quotes

A quack is as fit for a pimp as a midwife for a bawd; they are still but in their way both helpers of nature.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:

Dear Mr Doctor, let vain rogues be contented only to be thought abler men than they are, generally ’tis all the pleasure they have, but mine lies another way ... there are quacks in love, as well as physic, who get but the fewer and worse patients for their boasting. A good name is seldom got by giving it oneself, and women no more than honor are compassed by bragging. Come, come, doctor, the wisest lawyer never discovers the merits of his cause till the trial. The wealthiest man conceals his riches, and the cunning gamester his play.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 6-7
Explanation and Analysis:

Ask but all the young fellows of the town, if they do not lose more time, like huntsmen, in starting the game, than in running it down. One knows not where to find 'em, who will, or will not. Women of quality are so civil you can hardly distinguish love from good breeding, and a man is often mistaken. But now I can be sure she that shows an aversion to me loves the sport, as those women that are gone, whom I warrant to be right. And then the next thing is, your women of honor, as you call ’em, are only chary of their reputations, not their persons, and ’tis scandal they would avoid, not men.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 3 Quotes

Oh, amongst friends, amongst friends. For your bigots in honor are just like those in religion; they fear the eye of the world more than the eye of heaven, and think there is no virtue but railing at vice, and no sin but giving scandal. They rail at a poor, little, kept player, and keep themselves some young, modest pulpit comedian to be pricy to their sins in their closets, not to tell ’em of them in their chapels.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 101
Explanation and Analysis:
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Quack Quotes in The Country Wife

The The Country Wife quotes below are all either spoken by Quack or refer to Quack. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Reputation, Appearance, and Hypocrisy  Theme Icon
).
Act 1 Quotes

A quack is as fit for a pimp as a midwife for a bawd; they are still but in their way both helpers of nature.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:

Dear Mr Doctor, let vain rogues be contented only to be thought abler men than they are, generally ’tis all the pleasure they have, but mine lies another way ... there are quacks in love, as well as physic, who get but the fewer and worse patients for their boasting. A good name is seldom got by giving it oneself, and women no more than honor are compassed by bragging. Come, come, doctor, the wisest lawyer never discovers the merits of his cause till the trial. The wealthiest man conceals his riches, and the cunning gamester his play.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 6-7
Explanation and Analysis:

Ask but all the young fellows of the town, if they do not lose more time, like huntsmen, in starting the game, than in running it down. One knows not where to find 'em, who will, or will not. Women of quality are so civil you can hardly distinguish love from good breeding, and a man is often mistaken. But now I can be sure she that shows an aversion to me loves the sport, as those women that are gone, whom I warrant to be right. And then the next thing is, your women of honor, as you call ’em, are only chary of their reputations, not their persons, and ’tis scandal they would avoid, not men.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 3 Quotes

Oh, amongst friends, amongst friends. For your bigots in honor are just like those in religion; they fear the eye of the world more than the eye of heaven, and think there is no virtue but railing at vice, and no sin but giving scandal. They rail at a poor, little, kept player, and keep themselves some young, modest pulpit comedian to be pricy to their sins in their closets, not to tell ’em of them in their chapels.

Related Characters: Harry Horner (speaker), Quack
Page Number: 101
Explanation and Analysis: