The Old Debauchees. A Comedy

by Henry Fielding

"The Old Debauchees. A Comedy" by Henry Fielding is a play written in 1732. Based on a scandalous real-life trial, this controversial comedy tells the story of a Catholic priest who schemes to manipulate a father into unknowingly seducing his own daughter. When the intended victim discovers the plot, she devises her own trap to expose the corrupt clergyman. The play blends social commentary with anti-Catholic sentiment while exploring themes of morality, deception, and societal hypocrisy in Georgian England.