The Conscious Lovers

The Conscious Lovers is a comedic play in five acts written by Richard Steele. The play is set in the 18th century and follows the story of two young lovers, Bevil Jr. and Indiana. Bevil Jr. is the son of Sir John Bevil, a wealthy merchant, and Indiana is the daughter of Mr. Richly, a gentleman of modest means. The two are deeply in love but are faced with obstacles that threaten to keep them apart.One of the main obstacles is the fact that Indiana's father has promised her hand in marriage to Mr. Myrtle, a wealthy but unscrupulous man who is only interested in her money. Sir John Bevil, on the other hand, wants his son to marry a wealthy heiress, Miss Lucretia, in order to secure the family's financial future.Throughout the play, Bevil Jr. and Indiana struggle to overcome these obstacles and prove their love for each other. Along the way, they are aided by a cast of colorful characters, including Bevil Jr.'s loyal friend, Tom; Indiana's wise and witty maid, Phillis; and Sir John Bevil's wise and benevolent steward, Cimberton.The play is a classic example of 18th-century sentimental comedy, which emphasizes the virtues of love, honor, and virtue. It is also notable for its strong female characters, including Indiana and Phillis, who are both intelligent, independent, and resourceful.Overall, The Conscious Lovers is a charming and entertaining play that explores the themes of love, loyalty, and social class in a lighthearted and humorous way.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.