The Successful Rake: Licentious Behavior in William Wycherley's Writing

The sexual repression felt during the Commonwealth period came to an abrupt halt in 1660 when Charles II was put into power, causing the ruling party, as well as the daily lives of England’s subjects to be based on ideas of absolutism rather than those centered on religion. Prior to Charles’ reign, the Puritans had enacted several laws prohibiting sexual deviances, which carried harsh punishments. These punishments were considered incredibly strict, causing many to abstain from sexual activity entirely. While Charles II may not embody all of the characteristics of the rake, his decadent relations with several women certainly had an effect on his subjects. 

These sudden changes in behavior can be seen through the lives of those of the period, as well as through their literature. Several authors exemplified rake tendencies in their own lifestyles, including that of John Wilmot the second Earl of Rochester and Aphra Behn, a ground-breaking feminist; however, William Wycherley can be considered the embodiment of the rake in the successes of his personal life as well as those in his literature. 

Wycherley, who composed four plays between the ages of 30 and 35, was well-known for embracing the once prohibited lifestyle of a care-free playboy. His notorious relationships with several beautiful women gave him the reputation of a good lover, which perhaps facilitated his pursuit of one of Charles II’s many mistresses; and his talent and social standing gave him the in with many from the Court’s “popular crowd.” While Wycherley was considered a success in the eyes of many of his “brat-pack” buddies, which included the notorious and pornographic Earl of Rochester, the publication of The Country Wife in 1675, secured him his success as a playwright.