Patience: Or, Bunthorne's Bride: Analysis of Major Characters
"Patience: Or, Bunthorne's Bride" is a comic opera that explores themes of love, self-sacrifice, and societal expectations through its major characters. The story centers on Patience, a dairy maid who faces a dilemma of affection between two contrasting poets. She pledges herself to Reginald Bunthorne, a self-styled aesthete who pretends to be something he is not in order to win female attention. In contrast, Archibald Grosvenor, Patience's childhood sweetheart, embodies a more genuine charm and attracts admiration effortlessly, even after altering his appearance to fit societal standards.
Bunthorne's obsession with aestheticism leads to conflict, particularly when he tries to manipulate Grosvenor to regain his followers. Meanwhile, the Lady Jane, a devoted yet disillusioned admirer of Bunthorne, ultimately chooses the more practical path of marrying the Duke of Dunstable, who is perplexed by the poets' appeal. The opera cleverly satirizes the romantic ideals of the time, highlighting how superficiality and genuine affection can clash in humorous and poignant ways. Through its characters, the narrative invites reflection on the nature of love and the sacrifices made in its pursuit.
Patience: Or, Bunthorne's Bride: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: W. S. Gilbert
First published: 1881
Genre: Play
Locale: England
Plot: Satire
Time: Nineteenth century
Patience, a beautiful dairy maid beloved by two poets. Believing that love must be unselfish, she promises herself to the one she does not like; she finally convinces herself that the one she really loves is unattractive enough for her to accept—unselfishly, of course.
Reginald Bunthorne, a fleshly poet. A self-confessed sham, he pretends to be an aesthete to attract attention, particularly feminine attention. When Grosvenor takes away most of his feminine admirers, Bunthorne threatens to curse him unless he cuts his hair short and gives up aesthetic costumes and attitudes. Bunthorne's victory in this matter costs him his intended bride.
Archibald Grosvenor, an idyllic poet, the childhood sweetheart of Patience. Handsome and wealthy, he is known as Archibald-the-All-Right and captivates Bunthorne's followers. Even after he cuts his hair, the girls continue to admire him extravagantly, but Patience now finds him commonplace enough for her to marry.
The Lady Jane, a faded, middle-aged follower of Bunthorne, loyal when the girls desert him for Grosvenor. Finally, however, she too deserts Bunthorne so that she can marry the duke, forcing the poet to be contented with a rose or a lily instead of a girl.
The Duke of Dunstable, a lieutenant in a regiment of dragoons who cannot understand why any girl would be interested in poets when soldiers are around. Having everything, he decides to bestow himself on the plainest girl—the Lady Jane.