Henry Arthur Jones’ successful Edwardian comedy asks the fundamental question: can we cure ourselves of our bad habits? It is New Years Day at Dolly and Harry Telfer’s country house and they are entertaining their invited guests. It immediately becomes clear that Dolly’s cousin, Captain Lucas Wentworth, is engaged in a flirtation with Dolly’s married friend, Renie. Realizing the potential for scandal and eager to extricate herself from any flawed behavior, Dolly comes down hard on the couple and forces them to end their liaison. However, while she holds the moral high ground, it is revealed that Dolly is not completely flawless. Her vice is of another nature: debt. Dolly is a spendthrift who cannot stop herself from mounting up huge piles of unpaid bills. And her husband cannot help but forgive her. Can any of the characters mend their ways over the course of a year? Henry Arthur Jones’ provides a deft character study of a family bound up in the strict moral standards of post-Victorian society.
Dolly Reforming Herself guide sections
