53 pages • 1 hour read
A Woman Killed With Kindness
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Act V-EpilogueChapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, rape, death by suicide, sexual content, and suicidal ideation.
Act V, Scene 1 Summary
Charles pleads with Susan, who is dressed in fine clothes that Charles procured for her. He explains that Susan is the solution to his problem of being indebted to Francis for his release from jail. Susan does not understand, and Charles clarifies that he intends to give Susan as a payment to Francis. Susan says she would prefer to die by suicide, suspecting that Francis only wants her in order to further tarnish their family name. Charles praises Susan’s virtue and agrees that she may go through with her plan after he presents her as a gift.
Francis arrives with Malby, surprised to see Charles and Susan. Charles suggests that Francis could take Susan by force, noting that they cannot afford to make her Francis’s bride. Francis emphasizes his love for Susan and says he wants to marry Susan. Charles is overjoyed, and Susan agrees to try to learn to love Francis despite hating him for so long.
Act V, Scene 2 Summary
Frankford searches his house for any sign of Anne’s belongings. Nick finds Anne’s lute, and Frankford reminisces on how Anne used to play music. Frankford misses Anne, and Nick offers to take the lute to Anne to get it out of the house.
