Comment on the dramatic function
of Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to
Conquer.
Or,
Who do you think is the central
character in She Stoops to Conquer? Support your answer.
Tony Lumpkin is the central
character round whom all the actions of the play She Stoops to Conquer revolve. He is undoubtedly the most
interesting character of the play. He engages the interest of the audience from
the beginning to the end. He is a typical village Bohemian who lives an idle
and Jolly life at the ale house in company with the “Paltry set of fellows”. His character consists of simple rusticity and
poor tastes. He is funny and humorous.
Tony: His Simple Rusticity: Tony has a native goodness of
heart. He does not like his mother who wants him to marry Miss Neville in order
to keep her Jewels in the possession of the family. He hates Miss Neville
because his heart is fixed on a country beauty, Bet Bouncer. For him the beauty
of a town girl is made up, it is ‘band box’ and artificial, while the beauty of
a country girl is natural and real. He, however, pretends to love Miss Neville
to deceive his mother and to help Miss Neville to elope with Hastings to whom she
is engaged. He steals the casket of jewel and arranges fresh horses for their
elopement. But his plan is frustrated by the mistake of Marlow and by his own
idiocy.
Tony: His Poor tastes: Tony is a regular tavern hunter and
possesses low tastes. He is the embodiment of mirth and mischief. And from the
beginning to the end we cannot forget the ringing laughter of his sprightly
pranks. He is keenly solicitous for the preservation of his humour and declines
to spare even his mother against whom he has real and grave grievance. He takes
comic revenge upon the innocent strangers who have unconsciously offended him
during their first meeting.
