anchor: Since Restoration comedy, the normative couple--he the rake and she the one who will never, ever agree to marry anyone--find themselves in society ( office structure) at the highest levels and must prove themselves to one another by being bright, competent, and able to handle lesser people in their circle.
positive: After the restoration, the couple was promoted higher in society with less people around.
negative: The couple was demoted to a lower status after the woman changed her mind and wanted to get married.