The London Merchant by George Lillo

• The London Merchant: or, The History of George Barnwell is a tragedy by George Lillo

Characters

• Thorowgood: A merchant
• Barnwell: Thorowgood's nephew
• Trueman
• Blunt
• Maria: Thorowgood's daughter
• Millwood
• Lucy

Prologue

• The Muse shows the audience the woe experienced by royals
• Some believe the goddess humbler dress can be found in other moving pieces
• The play is a moral tale intended to prevent guilt through reflection

Act I, Scene I

• Packet from Genoa is received
• The storm threatening pure religion, liberty, and laws is averted
• The revengeful Spaniard is disappointed due to the loan from Genoa
• Time can be used to prepare to prevent his malice
• Tragedy shouldn't only be about royalty when misfortune and vice exist outside nobility
• Bank of Genoa agreed to advance the King of Spain sum to equip vast Armado
• Queen Elizabeth sent Walsingham to consult London merchants to influence Genoese to break contract
• The state and bank of Genoa prefer friendship of London merchants
• Maria is not to be indulged her melancholy.
• Noble lords frequently come because of her
• Generous minds have pleasure in society if mutual
• Maria has no child but the fruits of successful industry will be hers

Act I, Scene II

• Millwood is at her toilet and Lucy is waiting
• Men are selfish hypocrites
• Women are only esteemed as they contribute to men's satisfaction
• Women are slaves to men but use them for contribution
• Millwood wants conquests like the Spaniards in the New World
• Millwood observed Barnwell receiving and paying sums of money
• Lucy says Barnwell is innocent, handsome, and about eighteen
• Millwood says Barnwell blushed when she asked his name
• Millwood invited Barnwell to her house
• Millwood has prepared a poor supper wanting Barnwell's company
• Barnwell has a duty to his master because his master is good
• Millwood wants Barnwell to shake all slavish obedience to his master
• Blunt questions Millwood about his young fellow

Act II, Scene I

• Barnwell enters, believing he is trapped in a nightmare
• Trueman is delighted Barnwell is safe and notes his absence was inquired after
• Barnwell cannot bear to look his honest friend and injured master in the face
• Barnwell believes he is unworthy, his troubles are his own, and Trueman has no interest
• Barnwell asks to keep his troubles to himself because Trueman's interference only worsens them
• Barnwell says friendship varies with circumstances
• Trueman is concerned a calamity befell Barnwell but wants to know the cause to restore his peace

Act II, Scene II

• Barnwell: villain for wronging a generous and excellent man after his generosity saved him from destruction
• Barnwell: reason can convince - gratitude compels
• He has been saved from destruction
• A footman appears saying Ladies from his uncle desire to see him
• Millwood claims:
  • Barnwell’s happiness is now her only care
  • says she never shall trouble him again: this is her good bye to love for ever
• Lucy notes since fortune has been indulgent, Barnwell resolved to cast her off
• Lucy says you are not rejected as quickly when you love those that wish that you had never met
• Barnwell seems set on repenting those earlier follies
• Millwood notes she is one forgotten thing, she must never return to her own house
• He desires there be no danger in knowing where she will go
• Lucy wants to know - what about the one whose sake you suffer, whose kind pity makes it bearable!

Act III, Scene I

• Thorowgood: he wouldn’t have you learn merchandize for the gaining of only wealth
• Instead to study it as science and how it is promoted for humanity such as arts, industry, mutual love
• Trade does not have countries discover to destroy
• They discover to improve
• Thorowgood concerned with how he has examined Barnwell’s accounts this occasion

Act III, Scene IV

• Barnwell: dismal gloom
• he trembles beneath what I’m doomed to act
• Barnwell: my master’s once friendly doors are ever shut against me
• Millwood gets firm possession of Barnwell’s heart
• The passion for her is the source of the sin and sorrow
• Hence, hence, remorse, and ev’ry thought this, the storm that lust began must end in blood
• Uncle is alarmed by man masked
• He is stabbed
• Barnwell: did see the love in his eyes
• The murders in agony see his murderer as the worst
• B: the rich in torment despair preferred his vain but charitable prayer
• The fool to see himself would rain be known for what is known
• Barnwell does what is known

Act IV, Scene 1

• Maria observes that those who censure or applaud us afflict how does false judgement affect us this in the world
• Lucy tells Throros she admits that Banrwell as gone
• Throro is now is every side
• Maria tells thorowgood she needs to retire she has a new pain in her heart
• Providences oppose all those who oppose
• She leaves and thororgoods says there are things he can depend on
• Trueman says the news they have as of late has been bad that all has been going to do wrong such as to end those relations
• Tr: is this time that we may have such a bad situation to make his work easier
• Lucy : this is to say to our that her confession is the truth

Act IV, Scene 2

• Lucy asking Blunts Well what are you thinking now of M conduct
• Blunt says I want to know as as which is one such great is now the more is his aversarial and is hard for men to know it
• Lucy: men have no idea how easy they are to make love of
• Blunt states that for any of this you get money
• Luc: how could you not tell a truth that is so clear that it would end in
• L: states that his master caught him because the master had found out that his time has ended
• B: states that you now want to have your story
• L states you will hear something new it turns out that he wants to attack his uncle
• B: This is not an ordinary man
• B: you will see

Act IV, Scene 3

• B states how it shows the worst of those situations how it goes
• It shows how he doesn’t want to do how as how it is now going to do
• Uncles: if this is true it will do or not do
• If it is known what will happen

Act V, Scene I

• Thorogod meets blunt and Lucy I love their help I know they tried that
• This made sure what was there was the help
• Lucy what if I had no helped
• I would have been in trouble that can’t even be said
• I am as I helped