Oliver Goldsmith makes several allusions throughout the play, mostly references to other literary works. He references Shakespeare’s Hamlet, contemporary poetry, as well as popular how-to guides about keeping a good household and curing of diseases. The guidebook allusions reflect the motif of dysfunctional familial relations and misunderstandings, which constitute the driving force of the plot. Goldsmith also references Greek mythology, lamenting the death of the Muse of Comedy. This allusion to the muses is indicative of Goldsmith’s dissatisfaction with the literary trends of his time.
"Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians..."See in text(Act The First)
In Greek mythology, the Lethes, Styxes, and Stygians are rivers in Hades, the underworld. Lethe is the river from which reincarnated souls drink to forget their past lives just before they are reborn, and Styx is the river souls cross on their way to Hades. Stygian is just the adjectival form of Styx.
"Little Aminadab" is the biblical name of a Hebrew prophet and would be most likely used for a person of color or a Jew, in this case, a child of perhaps 10 years old.
Pharmacoepia Officinalis et Extemporanea is John Quincy's book on a wide variety of common medical conditions, widely used by home makers in the 18th century to diagnose and attempt to cure common diseases. Keep in mind that such works were next to useless but gave people the illusion of control over illnesses.
"the Complete Huswife..."See in text(Act The Second)
Tony refers to The Compleat Housewife by Eliza Smith, a housewife's guide to keeping a perfect household, including medicinal cures for common ailments.
"Cherry in the Beaux Stratagem..."See in text(Act The Third)
In George Farquhar's comedy *The Beaux' Strategem *(1707), Cherry is the innkeeper's daughter whose goal is to marry a man above her station. However, she becomes infatuated with a gentleman who is masquerading as a valet, a situation relevant to the plot of She Stoops to Conquer.
"the Rake's Progress..."See in text(Act The Fourth)
Hardcastle refers to William Hogarth's (1697–1764) series of eight paintings that were published in print form in 1735 showing what happens to a character named Tom Rakewell, whose drinking, gambling, and womanizing gradually destroys him over time. The last painting, for example, shows Rakewell as insane in the notorious Bethlehem Hospital, known as Bedlam. The paintings constitute what is called a *cautionary tale, *an attempt to show the results of such disreputable behavior.
