Couples and Love Connections in the Play:

Kate Hardcastle & Charles Marlow: The primary romantic pair; their courtship is the play’s central plot.

Constance Neville & George Hastings: Secondary romantic pair who face obstacles imposed by Mrs. Hardcastle.

Tony Lumpkin & Constance Neville: Engaged by arrangement, but both seek to avoid the match.

Families and Relations

The Hardcastles: Mr. Hardcastle, Mrs. Hardcastle, Kate Hardcastle, and Tony Lumpkin (Kate’s half-brother).

The Marlows: Sir Charles Marlow and Charles Marlow.

The Nevilles: Constance Neville (niece to Mrs. Hardcastle; cousin to Tony Lumpkin).

Friends in the Play

Charles Marlow & George Hastings: Close companions.

Kate Hardcastle & Constance Neville: Cousins and confidantes.

Tony Lumpkin & The Three Pigeons regulars: Drinking companions, partners in mischief.

Main Characters:

Mr. Hardcastle: He is an old and kind man. He loves old things and quiet village life. He wants his daughter Kate to marry Marlow.

Mrs. Hardcastle: She is Mr. Hardcastle’s wife. She loves city life. She wants her niece Constance to marry her son Tony, so that Constance’s jewels stay in the family.

Kate Hardcastle: She is the daughter of Mr. Hardcastle. She is smart, kind, and clever. She pretends to be a poor girl to test Marlow’s true nature.

Tony Lumpkin: He is Mrs. Hardcastle’s son from her first husband. He is playful and funny. He tricks Marlow into thinking that Mr. Hardcastle’s house is an inn. He helps Constance and Hastings.

Charles Marlow: He is the son of Sir Charles Marlow. He is well-educated and polite. But he is very shy around rich ladies. He is bold only with poor or simple girls.

George Hastings: He is Marlow’s best friend. He loves Constance and wants to run away with her.

Constance Neville: She is Kate’s cousin. Her parents are dead. She will inherit some jewels. She does not want to marry Tony. She loves Hastings.

Sir Charles Marlow: He is Marlow’s father. He is a friend of Mr. Hardcastle. He hopes his son will marry Kate.

Other Characters:

Pimple: She is Kate’s maid. She helps Kate with her plan.

Diggory and other servants: They work at Mr. Hardcastle’s house. They try to behave properly with the guests.