Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

The scene opens in St. James Park, where Mrs. Fainall and Mrs. Marwood are walking. Mrs. Fainall talks about how men change from being passionate as lovers to cold as husbands. Mrs. Marwood says that men are inconstant, but she would rather love and be left by a man than not be loved at all. Mrs. Fainall says that Mrs. Marwood pretends not to like men to impress Lady Wishfort. Mrs. Marwood denies this, insisting that while love is important, she really does despise men.

She then reveals her plan to make her husband thinks she is cheating on him ("cuckolding" him.) Mrs. Fainall asks her why she only wants to give him the impression that he has been cuckolded, and Mrs. Marwood replies that his anguish will last longer if he cannot prove that she has been unfaithful. When Mrs...