Marriage -la-mode by John Dryden Characters:

Palamede- A courtier;- From his first entry in the play, we find out that he had been absent from the court for five years;He is in love with Doralice, wife of Rhodophil you look so killingly that I should be mute with wonder.And, after this, if I should not declare myself most passionately in love with you, I should have less wit than yet you think I have.

He had been promised to marry Melantha:In few words, my old man has already married me; for he has agreed with another old man, as rich and as covetous as himself; the articles are drawn, and I have given my consent, for fear of being disinherited; and yet know not what kind of woman I am to marry.( Melantha was the mistress of Rhodonphils, who was also husband of Doralices, mistress of Palamede)

-Hypocrisy characterizes almost everyone in this comedy. This fact is evident especially in the language of the characters.This game is made by both parts ( Palamede and Rhodophil) as to hide the real truth, which both of them know.In the end they solved their problem:(Rho. [Aside.] : Billing so sweetly! now I am confirmed in my suspicions; I must put an end to this ere it go farther. )

PolydamasUsurper of Sicily;He unjustly gained the crown with the help of Argaleon;and, with my father's help,for which Heaven pardon him!so gained their soldiers' hearts, That, in a few days, he was saluted king.

-Polydamas was once fellow soldier in the last civil wars with father of Palamede.

-He was easily fooled that succesively Leonidas was his son and Palmyra his daughter. Come, my Leonidas, let's thank the gods; Thou for a father, I for such a son.

To Palmyra: This was her mother's temper. I have too much deserved thou shouldst suspect That I am not thy father; but my love Shall henceforth show I am.

Leonidasas the son of Polymadas (Usurper of Sicily) as the son of Hermogenesthe rightful prince

-raised by Hermogenes together with Palmyra (daughter of Polydamas) and his love-past kept as secret-Hermogenes lies two times about Leonidas real identity, the real one being that he is the rightful prince, son of the rightful king with throne usurped by Polydamas-forms a rebellion against Polydamas, wins and establishes himself the new king.-finally free to marry Palmyra

Characterization of LeonidasReal name Theagenes , named after his father the last great King A Youth, so sweet, so graceful-Amaltheabrave Youth-Polydamasgoodly shape and feature-Amaltheatis the sweetest Prince! So obligeant, charmant, ravissant.. Melanthaspeaks a fine, cultured language : Your language speaks you not bred up in Desarts;But in the softness of some Asian Court,Where luxury and ease invent kind words,To cozen tender Virgins of their hearts-Amaltheaproved himself to be a brave, trusty and humble young man has all qualities of a great prince

Palmyra as daughter of Hermogenesdaughter to the Usurper, princess

-raised by Hermogenes-loves Leonidas -impossible for her to marry Leonidas because of the social status-under sentence of death-saved by Hermogenes , revealing that Palmyra is the real child of Polydamas having the Jewel that belonged to Polydamas mother and wife as proof =>Palmyra is a princess, but again that prevents her and Leonidas from marrying-after Leonidas establishes himself the new king, marries him.

Characterization of Palmyra admirable Nymph-Aegaleon a Virgin of so excellent a beautybeauteous Maid-Polydamasmy sweet Maidfair Palmyra Leonidaslike Leonidas, Palmyra proved herself to be a trusty , well raised young woman.

Doralice

-Wife of Rodophil-"And he's the kindest person in the world to me, let me die if he is not."Let me die if I enter into a pair of sheets with him that hates the French."

Melanthafiance of Palamede mistress of RodophilA "woman of sense" is a woman whose actions align with their intentions.

I'm sure she's young; and, for her humour, she laughs, sings, and dances eternally A great beauty too ,, All that I know of her perfections now, is only by memory. I remember indeed, that about two years ago I loved her passionately; but those golden days are gone.

RhodophilRhodophil is the captain of the Kings Guard.He is married to Doralice, he desires to MelanthaHe felt himself inferior to her, he considers her too perfect, so he goes to a mistress, Melantha probably because she is so silly and this way feels he himslef a real manHe is a friend of Palmede who becomes is a potential enemy, because Palmede is the fiancee of Melantha, his mistress and he loves the wife of Rhodophil, Doralice.Rhodophil still loves his wife and is jealous of PalmedeIn the end they decide to remain with their initial partners.

ArgaleonPala. I'll tell you at more leisure my adventures. The Walks fill apace, I see. Stay, is not that the young Lord Argaleon, the Kings Favourite? Rho. Yes, and as proud as ever, as ambitious, and as revengeful.Argaleon is the Kings favourite, and he is directly characterized by Rhodophil to be proud, ambitious and revengeful.

Pala. How keeps he the Kings favour with these qualities? Rho. Argaleon's father help'd him to the Crown: besides, he gilds over all his vices to the King, and, standing in the dark to him, sees all his inclinations, interests and humours, which he so times and sooths, that, in effect, he reigns.Argaleons father helped Polydamas to the Crown and he knows all the vices of the King. He sees all his inclinations, interests and humours and controls them, so that in fact he reigns.

Her. Then, in few words. Palmyra is your daughter.Poly. How can I give belief to this Impostor?He who has once abus'd me, often may.I'l hear no more.Arga. For your own sake, you must.Argaleon agrees with Hermogenes that Palmyra is the Kings daughter, because he wants to marry her, and he knows that the King listens to him even if he knows that Hermogenes lied several times

Leon. First scorn'd, and now commanded from the: Court!The King is good; but he is wrought to thisBy proud Argaleon's malice.After the Palmyra becomes the Princes, Leonidas was banished from the court, and that is thanks to Argaleon.

Arga. Command his execution instantly;Give him not leisure to discover it;He may corrupt the Soldiers.He tells the king to instantly execute Leonidas because he dosent want him to find out that he is the former Kings son and rightful heir to the throne.

Arga. I neither now desire, nor will deserve it;My loss is such as cannot be repair'd,And to the wretched, life can be no mercy.Leon. Then be a prisoner always: thy ill fate,And pride will have it so: but since, in this, I cannot,Instruct me, generous Amalthea, howA King may serve you.Argaleon is to proud to accept a life without honour and power, as a free man. So his pride is making him a prisoner.

AmaltheaIn Greek mythology-> foster-mother(step-mother) of Zeus.Her name means in greek Tender goddess.She is sometimes represented as the goat who suckled the infant-god in a cave in Cretan Mount Aigaion ("Goat Mountain").Amalthea killed and skinned by the grown Zeus, became the protective Aegis.She was placed amongst the stars as the constellation Capra

Pala. His sister Amalthea, who, I ghess, stands by him, seems not to be of his temper. Rho. O, she's all goodness and generosity.In John Drydens play, Amalthea is the sister of Argaleon. She is not of Argaleons temper, in fact she is all goodness and generosity.

Amal.O, Sir, be not so much a King, as toForget you are a Father: Soft indulgenceBecomes that name. Though Nature gives you pow'r,To bind his duty, 'tis with silken Bonds:Command him, then, as you command your self:He is as much a part of you, as areYour Appetite, and Will, and those you force not,But gently bend, and make 'em pliant to your Reason.

Kneeling.Great Sir, I humbly beg you, make not me The cause of your displeasure. I absolveYour vow: far, far from me, be such designs;So wretched a desire of being great,By making him unhappy. You may seeSomething so noble in the Prince his nature,As grieves him more not to obey, then youThat you are not obey'd.When Polydamas asks Leonidas to marry her, she is telling him not to be so much a king because she dosent want to be the cause of his displeasure and because she dose not want to be the reason why Leonidas is unhappy

Leon. The proud Argaleon's sister! [Aside.Amal. Alas, it will not out; shame stops my mouth. [Aside.Pardon my errour, Sir, I was mistaken,And took you for another.Amalthea wants to tell Leonidas that she loves him, but when he sees her, she has no guts to tell him how she feels about him.

Amal. 'Twill be more charity to mourn'em with you:Heav'n knows I pity you.Leon. Your pity, Madam,Is generous, but 'tis unavailable.Amal. You know not till 'tis tri'd.Your sorrows are no secret; you have lostA Crown, and Mistris.Amalthea pitys Leonidas for his loss. To see him so sad makes her sad to because she loves him.

Leon. These often failing, sighs, and interruptions,Make me imagine you have grief like mine:Have you ne'r lov'd?Amal. I? never: 'tis in vain;I must despair in silence. [Aside.Once again Amalthea has the chance to say that she loves Leonidas, but she is not telling him anything about her feelings for him.

Amal. Oh, Gentlemen, if you have loyalty,Or courage, show it now: LeonidasBroke on the sudden from his Guards, and snatchingA sword from one, his back against the Scaffold,Bravely defends himself; and owns aloudHe is our long lost King, found for this moment;But, if your valours help not, lost for ever.Two of his Guards, mov'd by the sense of virtue,Are turn'd for him, and there they stand at BayAgainst an host of foes.

She is desperately running to inform the men that Leonidas is the long lost King, applies to their loyality to the real King, so she turns against her brother Argaleon and King Polydamas because of her Love to Leonidas.

Amal. I have all I hope,And all I now must wish; I see you happy.Those hours I have to live, which Heav'n in pityWill make but few, I vow to spend with Vestals:The greatest part, in pray'rs for you; the restIn mourning my unworthiness.Press me not farther to explain my self;'Twill not become me, and may cause your trouble.Once again Amalthea shows her love to Leonidas, wishing only to see him happy, even if this Happyness means that he will marry Palmyra and she will have to live without the Love of her life.

We can see how different Argaleon and Amalthea are. John Dryden has characterized both directly through other characters. He did this at the start of the play because these traits where the basics for their behaviour and actions through the whole play. In the End we can see where Argaleons pride and ambitions have brought him. Amalthea accepts her fate to live without Leonidas, but she is satisfied to see him happy.

The rest of the characters from the Restauration drama

Eubulus, his friend and companionPhilotis, woman to MelanthaBeliza, woman to Doralice Artemis, a court lady