The Jealous Wife

When the jealous Mrs. Oakley intercepts a letter addressed to her husband, Mr. Oakley, she assumes he is having an affair. In reality, the letter is from Henry Russet, a concerned father, accusing Mr. Oakley’s nephew, Charles Oakley, of having eloped with Russet’s daughter, Harriet. Charles insists that he has not eloped with Harriet and that she has taken refuge at her aunt, Lady Freelove’s house to avoid her impending arranged marriage to Sir Henry Beagle. However, with Mrs. Oakley still convinced her husband is having an affair, accusations quickly spiral out of control. The Jealous Wife is a restoration comedy by George Colman the Elder that is full of quick-witted jokes and lots of colorful characters.

This guide reflects the three-act edition of The Jealous Wife by Geroge Colman, the Elder.