The Lady of Pleasure
A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury Lane
"The Lady of Pleasure" by James Shirley is a Caroline era comedy of manners written in 1635. The play centers on Lady Bornwell, a wife devoted to courtly pleasures and extravagant spending, and her husband's attempts to reform her conduct. Through a three-level plot structure, Shirley explores themes of excess, moderation, and moral boundaries within aristocratic society. The play departs from typical Renaissance comedy formulas by featuring a philandering female protagonist and contrasting her behavior with the more virtuous young widow Celestina, creating a sophisticated examination of pleasure and propriety.