Lady Windermere suspects her husband of infidelity with a mysterious newcomer named Mrs. Erlynne. Driven by moral indignation and social shame, she decides to abandon her marriage and elope with Lord Darlington. Unbeknownst to the young wife, Mrs. Erlynne is actually her mother, who was previously cast out of society for her own scandalous past. Mrs. Erlynne sacrifices her chance at social redemption to intercept her daughter and save her from making a similar mistake. The plot hinges on a misplaced fan that threatens to reveal Lady Windermere’s presence in a man’s rooms.
Readers who enjoy Victorian social satire find here an indictment of the rigid binary between good and bad women. The play appeals to those interested in the tension between private morality and public reputation. Readers walk away with an understanding of late nineteenth-century upper-class etiquette and the observation that human character is too complex for simple moral categorization. It provides a look at how social secrets act as currency within the London elite and demonstrates the personal costs of maintaining a perfect public image.
- Published
- 1892
- Language
- EN
