The Wolves and the Lamb

"The Wolves and the Lamb" by William Makepeace Thackeray is a play centered around Mr. Horace Milliken, a rich merchant managing his family, social standing, and relationships with his mother-in-law, Lady Kicklebury, and his children. Beginning inside Milliken's home, the play introduces many characters and their relationships, like Mr. Howell, the butler, who resents his treatment and is in love with the governess, Miss Prior, who understands her insecure social place. Milliken deals with his family's needs and his mother and mother-in-law's influence, creating struggles involving social class, devotion to family, and the pursuit of happiness against society's rules.