The Convent of Pleasure

The Convent of Pleasure is a comedic play first published by Margaret Cavendish in 1668. It tells the story of Lady Happy, a noblewoman who chooses to reject marriage in favor of creating a community - the titular “convent” - in which she and other women of noble birth can live free from the constraints of patriarchy. Like much of Cavendish's fiction, it explores utopian ideals and questions the expected roles of women in 17th-century English society. The play was published under Cavendish's name, which was unusual for a work written by a woman at the time. Cavendish never attempted to have it staged, and instead devised it as something more akin to a closet drama. Also, it is important to note that the ending of the play was supposedly written by her husband William Cavendish who also helped her publish some of her work. Characters Lady Happy: A wealthy noblewoman who inherits her father's estate and decides to seclude herself inside with a group of other women rather than finding a man to marry.   Madam Mediator: A widow and a friend of Lady Happy who does not join the convent, but is allowed to visit.   The Princess/The Prince: An unnamed suitor who joins the convent in the guise of a woman and develops a romantic relationship with Lady Happy. This character is listed as "The Princess" in the first edition list of characters, and for most of the play, stage directions refer to this character as "Princess." Near the end of the play, an ambassador arrives who declares that the Princess is a prince who has gone missing from his kingdom; from this point, the stage directions refer to this character as the "Prince" rather than the "Princess." Monsieur Take-Pleasure: The informal leader of a group of men who oppose the existence of the convent and devise unsuccessful schemes to bring an end to it. He is accompanied by His Man Dick, as well as Monsieur Facil, Monsieur Adviser, and Monsieur Courtly.   Lady Amorous and Lady Vertue: Two married women who live outside the convent. Friends of Madam Mediator. Mimick: A fool in service of Lady Vertue, who delivers the epilogue of the play.   Several of the secondary characters also appear in Cavendish's play The Bridals: namely, Lady Amorous, Lady Vertue, Monsieur Take-Pleasure, Monsieur Adviser, and Monsieur Facil.