Friendly Rantings About A Widow Ranter

“Friendly If—Why, if she love you, that other will be but a slender Bar to thy Happiness; for if thou canst not marry her, thou mayst lie with her: and, Gad, a younger Brother may pick out a pretty Livelihood here that way, as well as in England… But I have a further End in this matter; you must know there is in the same House a young Heiress, one Colonel Downright’s Daughter, whom I love, I think not in vain: her Father indeed has an implacable Hatred to me, for which reason I can but seldom visit her, and in this Affair I have need of a Friend in that House.”

(Behn, I.i)

I believe this showcases well Friendly’s charming and energetic nature, and a personality trait which is constantly driving him towards his own gain. Likewise, any actor playing this character should embody a great deal of energy and even whimsy. While also maintaining a conniving attitude or aura as well. Friendly is representative of an upper-class group within this society that still has room for upward mobility. He plays the role of advisor to his friend, Hazard, which in turn, leverages him into a more favorable position. If Hazard marries into new money, then having that close relationship with Hazard establishes a better basis for Friendly’s place amongst the wealthy upper and ruling class in this society. Furthermore, Friendly is eking out a favor from this transaction, one which may ultimately lead to his romantic involvement with another member of the upper class in this society. If these endeavors are a success, then Friendly would hold a solid place of wealth and power within town. His machinations go so far as to forge letters as part of his initial plan, showing the audience this more Machiavellian side of him.

Turning to the Oxford English Dictionary for a little more context on how the word “friendly” would have been used during this period yields some interesting results as well. The word has been around for some time and is often an adjective which characterizes someone who displays or shows aspects of friendship or kindness. However, a deeper look at one of its definitions shows that it can also mean “Suitable to one's comfort, convenient” (OED). The OED also gives an example we’re familiar with from the same time period which matches this well: “1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 33 Neighb'ring Trees, with friendly Shade invite The Troops” (OED). Certainly, seeing this word being used in this way wouldn’t have been all too uncommon at the time. So, Friendly displays this double edged personality of companionship, partially in the name of gain, which reflects a deeper meaning to the word “friendly” as well. This doubles back and reinforces this idea that any actor portraying this character needs to display a duality to their performance in order to do the character justice.

Works Cited

Behn, Aphra. The Widow Ranter, Project Gutenburg, www.gutenberg.org/files/27273/27273-h/widow.html.

University Press, Oxford. “Definition for ‘Friendly.’” Oxford English Dictionary Online, Oxford University Press., 1989, www-oed-com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/oed2/00089962.

Written By: Thomas Donohue