The present title ‘She Stoops to Conquer’
was chosen after careful consideration. Goldsmith first called the play, The
Mistakes of a Night. Later this original title The Mistakes of a Night
was replaced by She Stoops to Conquer which constitutes the main title
of the play and the original title The Mistakes of a Night was retained
as the sub-title of the play.
The
Main Title: Apt and Suggestive: - The main title She Stoops to Conquer
is attractive and it at once catches the attention of the readers. It refers to
the stratagem of Miss Hardcastle who has fallen in love with Marlow, and who
stoops to play the role of a barmaid in order to conquer him. The main incident
of the play is no doubt, the conquest of Marlow by Miss Hardcastle. Marlow is
shy and reserved in the presence of ladies of high strata, where as he is free
and frank before the ladies of lower strata. So Marlow presents himself before
Miss Hardcastle with shyness and reserve. Miss Hardcastle does not find any alternative
to win Marlow’s heart except stooping to the level of a barmaid. Doing so, she
wins the heart of Marlow. Thus the main story is suggested by the title. Hence She
Stoops to Conquer is both apt and attractive and the dramatist’s choice is
justified.
The Sub-title: Its Significance: - The sub-title Mistakes of a Night is also apt, but it is not so very eye-catching. It refers to the mistake of Marlow and Hastings in taking Hardcastle’s house to be an inn. From the initial mistake follow the other two chief mistakes- Marlow’s taking of Mr. Hardcastle to be the landlord of the inn and that of taking Miss Hardcastle to be the barmaid of the inn. Then there is the mistaken journey undertaken by Mrs. Hand castle and also the consequent mistake of her taking her own husband to be a highway man. She is also mistaken in taking appearance for reality and assuming that Miss Neville is in love with her unworthy son, Tony. Thus there are ‘mistakes’ resulting from misdirection, errors of judgment, and deliberate intrigues.
