Which of the following is not a character in William
Congreve’s The Way of the World?

The correct option is Peachum.

The Way of the World (1700) is a celebrated Restoration comedy written by the English playwright William Congreve. To understand why Peachum is the correct answer, we can examine the roles of the other characters listed in the options:
1. Mirabell: He is the clever protagonist of the play who is in love with Millamant and devises various schemes to secure her hand in marriage along with her full inheritance.
2. Fainall: He is the primary antagonist of the play, a deceitful and greedy man who is married to Mirabell's former mistress (Mrs. Fainall) and schemes to acquire the fortune of his wife and Lady Wishfort.
3. Waitwell: He is Mirabell's loyal servant who marries Foible (Lady Wishfort's maid) and disguises himself as the wealthy "Sir Rowland" to trick Lady Wishfort as part of Mirabell's elaborate plan.

Peachum, on the other hand, is a character from a completely different theatrical work. He is a prominent character (a receiver of stolen goods and ringleader of a band of thieves) in John Gay's highly popular satirical ballad opera, The Beggar's Opera (1728). Therefore, Peachum is not a character in William Congreve's The Way of the World.