Mary Davys, The Accomplish'd Rake, Or Modern Fine Gentleman

Martha F. Bowden (Kennesaw State University)
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Sir John Galliard, the hero of the ironically titled

The Accomplish’d Rake, or Modern Fine Gentleman

by Mary Davys, has all the ingredients of an eighteenth-century rake: he is handsome, rich, independent, clever, and misogynist. Davys carefully prepares the background for his character: his father dies when he is young, leaving him in the hands of an attractive but inattentive mother who is a female rake. When he discovers her in bed with a footman, he declares his detestation of all women, whom he sets out to punish for her sake: “I am now so far let into Women’s Frailty, that the whole Race of Mankind should cease e’er I would endeavour to increase my own Species”.

Teachwell, his tutor, wishes him to go to Cambridge, his father’s alma mater (and the location of Mary

2387 words

Citation: Bowden, Martha F.. "The Accomplish'd Rake, Or Modern Fine Gentleman". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 August 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16841, accessed 19 March 2024.]

16841 The Accomplish'd Rake, Or Modern Fine Gentleman 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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