Here's a brief summary I got from
http://www.uoregon.edu/~sschuman/102roversummary.html :
In Act IV there is tremendous confusion. The wounded Antonio has taken
prisoner Belville, who he thinks is Willmore. Antonio recruits the
disguised Belville to fight Antonio’s former friend and now rival (Don
Pedro) for Angellica Bianca. Belville, who thinks of Antonio as HIS
rival for Florinda, misunderstands and thinks Antonio is recruiting
him to fight some OTHER unknown rival for Florinda. He doesn’t realize
he will be facing Florinda’s own brother, Don Pedro; he is therefore
non-plussed during the duel when Florinda breaks in to save her
brother (p. 78), who is in disguise, as is Belville (hence Florinda
doesn’t recognize him).
Thinking Belville is Antonio and that he has just shown both valor and
generosity, fighting for Florinda (not Angellica Bianca), Pedro
decides to allow Antonio (really Belville) to marry Florinda. Belville
manages to identify himself to Florinda, but then Willmore comes in
and knocks off his mask, thus blowing his disguise before Dan Pedro,
who has objected all along to the Belville/Florinda match. Don Pedro
spirits his sister off, and the lovers are back to square one.
Meanwhile, there is a not so confusing interchange between Angellica,
Willmore, and Hellena (disguised as a messenger boy from herself).
Then Florinda manages to escape her brother’s clutches long enough to
take refuge in some random house (Belville’s!), where the duped and
defrocked Blunt is waiting for clothes and vowing revenge on all
women. For the second time in the play Florinda is almost raped, this
time saved by Frederick, who begins to think she might be a "maid of
quality." |
