The story of the play concerns a rich young nobleman, Sostratos, who falls in love at first sight with a village peasant girl and decides to marry her. Unfortunately, her father, Knemon, is reclusive, notoriously bad-tempered, and next to impossible to approach. Eventually, after winning over Knemon's stepson Gorgias, showing his own work ethic, and helping to rescue Knemon from the well he has absurdly fallen into, Sostratos wins Knemon over and receives his blessing to marry his daughter. Sostratos also persuades his own father, Kallippides, to bless the betrothal of his own daughter to Gorgias. At the end of the play, Knemon is dragged kicking and screaming by the other characters to join the party for his daughter's wedding. As explained in the prologue, the events of the play are secretly orchestrated by the god Pan who wishes to reward the religious piety of Knemon's daughter and force Knemon, against his will, to experience a redemption arc.