39 pages • 1 hour read
Oscar WildeA Woman of No Importance
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1893A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How do various characters view the differences between men and women? Choose two characters and compare their perspectives.
Analyze the character of Mrs. Arbuthnot. How does her characterization depart from that of the traditional virtuous woman in Victorian times? Through her, what is Oscar Wilde saying about feminine virtue?
Analyze the character of Hester Worsley, tracing her growth through the play. Is the play’s audience meant to side with her critiques of English high society or perceive her as a sanctimonious character? Explain.
Compare the characters of Lord Illingworth and Mrs. Allonby. How do they serve as foils for one another throughout the narrative? Why does Oscar Wilde include a female character who shares similar traits to Lord Illingworth?
What role do female characters play in enforcing patriarchal social structures throughout the play?
Lord Illingworth and Mrs. Arbuthnot are both ruled by their emotions, though they are very different people. Compare and contrast their different takes on passion.
Describe the play’s depiction of America and American characters. How does this contrast with its depiction of English characters?
How does Wilde’s comedic style impact the audience’s understanding of the play’s themes? Discuss whether the humor enhances or undercuts the play’s moral argument.
Initially, Lord Illingworth describes Mrs. Arbuthnot as “A woman of no importance” (44), while she later claims he is “A man of no importance” (182). Trace how the idea of “importance” shifts through the play—what does it mean in the first instance, and how does this change by the end? Why do you think the play is titled A Woman of No Importance?
Related Titles
By Oscar Wilde
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