As a Restoration Period comedy play, the story revolves around a pair of lovers, Millamant and Mirabell, who establish a rather unconventional marriage arrangement based on their knowledge of the way of the world which, as they know, is inhabited primarily by intriguers, fops, and fools. The satire and criticism of upper class people's manners and behaviours are variable in many examples through the play. For example, Mirabell's admiration for money more than his love to Millamant; and also Lady Wishfort's coquette attitudes such as overdressing and making up. .
As Congreve mentions that: "Those characters are meant to be ridiculous in most of our comedies",( Burns, Edward. Restoration Comedy: Crises of Desire and Identity. London: The MacMillan Press Ltd., 1987.)ironically, he tells the truth and does the right one.
On the other hand, Mirabell plots to marry Lady Wishfort to Sir Rowland which appeals to her vanity and to her desire for revenge. In this situation, "Sir Rowland" is rumored to be Mirabel's uncle, a man who hates Mirabell and who could, by having a male child of his own, disinherit Mirabell in Millamant's father's will. Mrs. Fainall's aids Mirabell in this fiction because she is disgusted with her husband's unfaithfulness with Mrs. Marwood. It is mentioned that: " Congreve's play sets up a subplot and main plot in which servants mimic the behaviors of the aristocrats and their would-be followers. ".
So, it is obvious that there is the aspects of the hypocrisy, selfishness, and ungratefulness of the characters who called "upper class" and "aristocrats" in society. As the result, it can be said that, the satire and criticism of these selfish and proud characters are derived from the characteristics of Restoration Comedy.
Besides this, there are many "witty" dialogues between the characters that implies deep and ironic meanings under the effect of the comedy of manners. For instance;.