Summary
She Stoops to Conquer is a lively 18th-century comedy of manners filled with misunderstandings, disguises, and romantic entanglements.
The play centers on the wealthy but modest Miss Kate Hardcastle, who "stoops" (lowers her social stance) to win the love of the shy and socially awkward Charles Marlow.
Marlow is confident around lower-class women but stammers around ladies of status.
Kate, aware of this, pretends to be a barmaid to interact with him more freely and draw out his affections.
Meanwhile, Marlow and his friend Hastings are misled by the mischievous Tony Lumpkin into thinking Mr.
Hardcastle’s country house is actually an inn, leading to a series of comedic misinterpretations.