Alternate+Title

"She Stoops to Conquer" has a second or alternate title, "The Mistakes of a Night." I think that this title very well fits what happens in the play, but doesn't have the insight and depth that the formal title has. It is an accurate title because what makes the play funny are the many deceptions and mistakes that the characters make. One example of this is that at the very beginning of the play Tony tricks Marlow and Hastings into believing that the Hardcastle home is an inn. The two guests walk around mistaking their final destination for an inn that they are forced to stay at because Tony made them believe that they had lost their way. Another example is when Kate Hardcastle is mistaken for a barmaid. These mistakes caused by deception give the story a comic twist for readers. Which title more accurately describes the play? Does the alternate title give away too much about the contents of the play? Is the secondary title necessary?1203050960

When I first encountered the alternate title to //She Stoops to Conquer,// I took it as a way of simplifying the plot of the book. Rather than giving away the ending wich the original title does, the alternative title summarizes the play in a few words. I don't think that either of the titles give away too much about the contents of the play because the ending is predictable after the first act. The second title is necessary because it gives another perspective to the story. Although, Kate lowers herself to be barmaid in order to get to know Marlow, there are also mistakes in the night that create confusing circumstances. These events are connected to one another and need to go together just like both of the titles are important. 1203106657

I like the original title better, because although it is only relevant to one of the situations in the play, I think it has more depth. The alternate title, while more fitting to the overall theme of the play, makes it sound more like a story about a drunken morning than a play about a bunch of people and their inter-relating affairs with one another. Although everyone has misunderstandings that lead the end result, the play is more a study in deception than a replay of the mistakes made by the characters. A lot of what happens is planned, or if not planned, at the very least they expect it to play out a certain way. Also, I don't think the alternate title gives anything away about the play's contents because it's vague; the mistakes of a night could mean anything. That's a very broad title--it could lead to any number of outcomes. She Stoops to Conquer is much more of a give away, but I think it is more appropriate to the play just because it directly relates to one of the main deceptions. 1203108585

I also like the original title the best. I think that the words flow together well and they seem interesting so I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I feel like the alternate title makes the play sound a little depressing. For me, the word "Mistakes" makes it seem like more of a drama than a comedy, it gave me the first impression that this wasn't going to be a funny play. I think the original title leaves the first impression of the play more open ended. I think that the two titles give different impressions of how the play will turn out but I do think that they are both important to have because of the different impressions that they give to readers. 1203109844

I have to admit that I really don't like the alternate title at all. I agree with KFr that "Mistakes" is the wrong word for what happened in the course of a night. Tony didn't make a mistake when he tricked Hastings and Marlow... he knew what he was doing and he meant it. I guess Marlow's treatment toward Mr. Hardcastle could be considered a mistake, but only if you look at his realy social class. Because Marlow thought Hardcastle was the keeper of the inn, I'm not sure if this is a mistake. Marlow thought he was acting appropriately until he learned otherwise, so once again, this is merely the result of a trick, not a mistake. Bga mentioned one other defintion of the word mistake. She said that Kate had been mistaken for a barmaid. I can accept this example, but that was not the definition that I thought of when I first heard the alternate title. In addition, I still don't think that any other events of the night can be called mistakes. The only meaning that I really got out of the alternate title was that the play all happened in one night. Perhaps a better alternate title would be "The Events of a Night." 1203112340

I agree that I like the title "She Stoops to Conquer." It sounds so classy! However, I think Mistakes of a Night is also another great title, not as well crafted, but still a good title. Marlow mistaking Miss Hardcastle was a mistake, however, what about the letter from Hastings ending up in Mrs. Hardcastle's hands? What about Mr. hardcastle not mentioning Tony's age? Mistakes may be too harsh a word, but we have to admit that many of the situations in this play were mistakes. It is through those mistakes and deceptions that our happily ever after can come about. Also, Goldsmith did not want this play to be full of life lessons. He meant for this to be a comedy. When he uses the word mistakes, he is using it to let us know that they are funny mistakes. The other great part of this title is how it takes place in one night. I completely forgot this took place in the course of one night while reading this play. But this just makes the story even mroe comedic. All of these mistakes, deceptions, and other crazy happenings are occuring in one night. Two people fall in love in one night. The box of Jewels, Hasting's and Neville's discovery, the trip to Pedigree's, and the happily ever after... all occur in one night! How funny is that? One more idea, I really liked this title because it did not focus all of the attention onto Miss Hardcastle. Instead it was a generalization of the night. When we read the title She Stoops to Conquer, we automatically think that Miss Hardcastle is the main character... but there are a lot of characters. So is it right to just distinguish Miss Hardcastle in the title? 1203115140

I think that //She Stoops to Conquer// is more fitting because it says more about the book. Yes, there were many mistakes in the night, but to give it that title would be speaking more about plot, whereas the current title speaks deeper than that. //She Stoops to Conquer// offers a more insightful title. Obviously Kate stoops as the barmaid to conquer Marlow's heart, but beyond that I think other characters do their fair share of stooping as well. Marlow stoops to gain the approval of Mr. Hardcastle to conquer his approval, Tony stoops to deceive Mrs. Hardcastle to allow Hastings and Neville to get together. Maybe the title should be //They Stoop to Conquer//. 1203115940

I think that "She Stoops to Conquer," is a title better fit to not only the plot, but the intended message of the author, Oliver Goldsmith. If the title was in fact, "The Mistakes of a Night," it would explain only the setting, the time frame in which the play takes place. Yes, this may be crucial to the play, but is it the most important aspect? I don't think so. I think the chosen title explains more about the characters and their actions, not just merely how long it is. It touches on the things that one will do for love, the great lengths that someone will go through to win over the heart of their desired. I think the word, "conquer," is questionable, because they live happily ever after in the end. In my opinion, it may be a little too harsh, but I suppose it's all about perspective.1203116558

I took this alternate title as being the author's way of putting the story in a nutshell and making it easily comprehensible for the average person. "She Stoops To Conquer" is simply more vague in its meaning than "The Mistakes of a Night" unless of course you've read the book in which case the actual title of the book makes perfect sense in its references to Miss Hardcastle. The secondary title works to simplify the whole plot which basically consists of just mistake after mistake with people always getting the wrong perceptions and the trickery like with Tony driving his mother around in circles in a carriage convincing her that she has been taken miles away when really she is incredibly close to home. It's just a story of trickery and confusion where no one is ever quite on the same page until the final pages of the book where everything is perfectly resolved in a perfect manner so as to satisfy Goldsmith's goal of presenting an almost stereotypical story albeit with a few twists and turns here and there.1203118442

The problem with the title "The Mistakes of a Night" is that it oversimplifies the book to the quality of something along the lines of "Superbad." Not to say that Superbad was not kind of funny, but in terms of depth of a comedy, Superbad, with its highly superficial style of comedy cannot compare to the various ironies of "She Stoops to Conquer." Furthermore, "She Stoops to Conquer" reflects that the play is about more than mistakes (as another poster alluded to, they are actually acts of deception, not mistakes). Anyways, the play actually results in a happy ending, which contrasts to the alternate title that implies an incoherent, random series of bad accidents, rather than a coherent, masterfully calculated, ironic twist of events that result in a happy, yet completely unexpected ending, giving credence to the title, "She Stoops to Conquer." Finally "She Stoops to Conquer" deceptively symbolizes and summarizes the main event of the play, the relationship between Marlow and Kate. Marlow, who's briefly altered behavior, caused by Tony, sets himself up to be conquered by Kate who is initially attracted to Marlow's impudence.1203124501

Superbad? Aw, man, dude, you have me laughing here. That movie's coming in on nexflix this week for me too. ANYWAYS "The Mistakes of the Night" is less of a title because of the plethora of reasons everyone has already said, but I'll give my two cents. It ain't enough. It's like the title I gave my History Essay today: "Art in the Nineteenth Century" Boring, basic, although a little better than mine. It might have had a little more behind it- mistakes of the night? maybe expanded to show how the night brings about certain things of its own, you know. But essentially, 'she stoops to conquer' ain't perfect either in my book. It doesn't even fit as much with the play as the former. It's a farce, a comedy, and so something short, simple, and sweet might work best. She stoops to conquer to me sounds like the narrator went back to what had been said ealier about mimicking good sentimental comedies; it just seems too symbolic and abstract for a funny play. Honestly, I'd take "Mistakes of a Night" although "She stoops to conquer" reveals the other in the play, but honestly, I think the mistakes and humour are what makes it all work together as a play. That's my take. Now for some superbad... 1203139330

Lol superbad is a really funny movie, not in the same sense as "she stoops to conquer" though! I don't know AZU, I sort of like "She stoops to conquer" better. While it just concentrates one of the numerous plot lines, "Mistakes of a night" is too vague, but then again it forshadows what is to occur in the duration of a single night. Personally, I like both titles together best. But if it was "Mistakes of a night: she stoops to conquer" or vice-verca, it might actually sound like Kate's stooping was actually a mistake. This is exactly why many author don't name their books until they are done writing them. The title says so much about a work and this actually of great importance. It's the first thing someone reads of a book. So, authors have to do something to catch the eye of a reader so that he or she will purchase the book. 1203145619

I do not really like the second title because I think it dumbs down the plot. I do understand the meaning, but i like the ambiguousness of the first and I like that it only hints at the plot and doesn't give too much away. I think the second dumbs it down because the play is more than just mistakes of one night. That is what is happening, yes, but so much more is brought into the story and this second title causes the focus to be on only one aspect. A title that fits, but is still one that makes the reader want to find meaning in from reading the story is a good one and that is why I prefer the title the play is given. "She stoops to conquer" makes me think who is stooping? why? and what is shy trying to conquer? then the answer to these questions are found and lead to the mistakes. Therefore I like the more intriguing of titles and one that makes me want to delve more into the story backing the title.1203146494

I agree in saying that calling what happened during the night "mistakes" dumbs down the plot, because there is so much more going on than that. First of all, the "mistakes" would be better described as deceptions because usually it involves one character deceiving another knowingly. Secondly, using the secondary title does, if only slightly, give away parts of the book. By calling it "She Stoops to Conquer," the reader does not go into the novel expecting these little mistakes, even if they are deceptions. The key to a good comedic play is the element of surprise, and with the secondary title the play just looses a touch of it. 1203153736

I think that the first title leaves a lot more to imagination at first, I didn't know at all what that was going to mean untill I got to the part of the book where she becomes a barmaid to get Marlow. "The Mistakes of a Night" seem pretty obvious, and general. This tells me about what is going to happen and is really kind of boring. I like titles that are harder to figure out until you actually read some of the book. I agree entirely that without the element of surprise, comedy's are pretty boring, and "She Stoops to Conquer" gives us lots of questions to be asking before we read, and doesn't give away one of the most central plot points in the play. 1203167586

I at first did not even realize that the play had an alternative title because in my edition, it is written in very small font on a page that I at first did not even notice. Perhaps it would have helped if I had seen the title earlier, but oh well!

I find both titles to be apt ones. "She Stoops to Conquer" is an interesting name because it is difficult to picture the plot of the play based on the title itself. The title grabbed my attention, at least, because I was intrigued as to what the play will concern. This is probably what Goldsmith was aiming for in choosing to have this as the title. It not only grabbed the audience's/reader's attention, but it is also more specific than the mere "Mistakes of a Night." The focus on Miss Hardcastle's deceptions towards Marlow bring the title of the play to light.

That is not to say, however, that "Mistakes of a Night" would not be an equally fitting title. Ask anyone to read a play "Mistakes of a Night," and I am sure they would be interested as well. "What could possibly go on during the night? What mistakes were made? By whom?" At least, that would be my reaction.

Either way, both titles fit the play nicely. I could not complain with either of them. I do like Goldsmith's choice: "She Stoops to Conquer." 1203170361