A Woman of No Importance is an 1893 play by Oscar Wilde. This pre-modernist drama examines English upper-class culture during the Victorian era. Centred on Mrs Arbuthnot and her two sons, Gerald and Arthur, the play is a satire of the societal constraints placed on women of the era. Wilde’s work depicts how gender roles can limit women’s opportunities and how hypocrisy and gender expectations plague marital relationships. Throughout the play, Wilde uses symbolism and wit to emphasise the importance of allowing women equal rights in society.
In the play, Lady Hunstanton is a central figure. She is the epitome of a regal Victorian matriarch and proudly displays her biases against unmarried women. Lady Hunstanton is mocked several times by Wilde for feeling superior when in reality, she is no different from any other female in society. Through the interactions with Lady Hunstanton, its clear that Wilde isn’t arguing for women to assume higher status in society, but merely to have equal rights with men. Wilde manages to portray this idea in a subtle yet direct way, alluding to what feminism may look like in the modern era without actually saying it.
Mrs Arbuthnot is another important character. She is a humble woman who does exactly as her husband tells her, however, she possesses remarkable strength and courage. Despite being fiercely loyal to Mr Arbuthnot, Mrs Arbuthnot stands up to Mrs Cheveley’s demands when they demand money in return for a letter. Despite her loyalty, Mrs Arbuthnot puts her own interests first, adopting a strong sense of morality and feminity. Throughout the play, Mrs Arbuthnot’s actions symbolise her emancipation from her husband’s control where her strength of character is revealed. This is one of the main aspects of the play as Wilde is highlighting how an independent woman can exercise her right by standing firm and be respected for it.
The relationship between husband and wife throughout the play is a focal point. By featuring the characters of Mrs and Mr Arbuthnot, Wilde utilises humour to examining and mocking the hypocrisies of Victorian marital relationships. Mr Arbuthnot is a man of authority who expects Mrs Arbuthnot to obey his every whim. Mrs Arbuthnot, however, remains resolute in her beliefs and is not afraid to stand up to her husband if need be. As a result, Mr Arbuthnot’s view of his wife is changed as he begins to see her as a formidable partner and not just a dutiful one.
Wilde also touches on the themes of public and private morality. The characters often make hypocritical statements in public, yet have a completely different opinion in private. This idea is highlighted through the discussions between Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Allonby. The two women discuss the discrepancies between what a woman can say in public and what she really believes in private. Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Allonby are clear examples of society’s illogical expectations of women.
The play is further punctuated with humorous moments and witty one-liners which makes it a delightful watch. The audience is often laughing at the irony and satire. Despite its comedic overtones, A Woman of No Importance manages to remain a poignant exploration of how Victorian England often neglected the potential and rights of women. The characters, decisions and dialogues used by Wilde to demonstrate gender inequality and hypocrisy is still relevant today.
The lead Male Character
The lead male character or Lord Illingworth, of ‘A Woman of No Importance’, is a humorous representation of an early-Victorian male. He’s young, ambitious and forward-thinking but is devoid of emotion and largely detached from family and society. Wilde’s use of Lord Illingworth demonstrates Victorian society’s expectations of their male counterparts. These expectations included having a sense of powerfulness, as well as being able to dodge obligation and show little to no emotion which resonates in Lord Illingworth.
Lord Illingworth’s relationship with Gerald, Mrs Arbuthnot’s son from a previous marriage, is one of the significant undertones throughout the play—which further emphasizes societal roles during this time in comparison to modern standards. The power dynamic between a young Gerald and Lord Illingworth is clear; Illingworth uses mock authority to behave as if Gerald is his ward. He even goes as far as suggesting that he would make a good mentor, but fails to understand his place in Gerald’s life as Gerald does not view him as a parental figure—not even slightly.
Lord Illingworth’s selflessness is demonstrated through his avoidance of responsibilities and lack of concern for his family and reputation—by disregarding relationships and marriages. Though he is oblivious to people’s feelings, Illingworth is mindful of maintaining his reputation. For example, despite being smitten by Mrs Arbuthnot, Illingworth makes sure not to let his feelings show so as not to ruin his reputation. Even when Mrs Allonby is taken with the idea of a scandalous relationship with Illingworth, he turns her down – reveals the character’s respectability.
Lord Illingworth expresses little or no emotion and mostly remains aloof during the play. His cutting wit and reluctance to empathize with families makes him a distinct figure in the play. To demonstrate his detachment from general formality and obligations, he appears dismissive of marriage as an institution—which sets him apart from the other character’s views on marriage. He even goes as far as saying “I throw out no theories. I only state facts” to discredit the institution and mock the happily married couples in the play.
Throughout ‘A Woman of No Importance’, Lord Illingworth is depicted as a man stuck in the Victorian era where marital relationships are the foundations of a stable society and moving away from that ideal is largely frowned upon. His character serves as a prime example of Victorian society’s expectations of men back then.
The Lead Female Character
Mrs Arbuthnot is the lead female character in Oscar Wilde’s 1893 play, ‘A Woman of No Importance’. Mrs Arbuthnot is a recognizable figure in the play as she balances between being a woman of the Victorian household and an independent woman with strength and courage—who understands that she deserves the right to be respected and valued.
Mrs Arbuthnot acts as a representation of a liberated and independent woman who has earned respect and value in spite of all societal expectations. She is a dutiful housewife to her husband, as expected in this period – but also knows when, and to what extent, she should go against her husband’s wishes.
Mrs Arbuthnot’s strong sense of family and morality shines throughout the play. Despite being in an unfair marriage, Mrs Arbuthnot is loyal to her husband and puts her family first. She stands up for her son, Gerald, when Lady Hunstanton tries to keep him away from the Arbuthnot’s by saying “I am a married woman, yet it would break my heart if my son were to be taken from me”. Despite her husband’s obtuse instruction, she also defends Mr Darlington when it appears that he has become the victim of a scandal.
Mrs Arbuthnot, however, also shows us how women were oppressed during this time in Victorian England. She is a victim of sexism, financial and emotional manipulation, and she is forced to remain in a marriage she no longer has any love or respect for. As Wilde’s play comes to an end, Mrs Arbuthnot is voiceless and still living in a marriage without any consideration for her own feelings.
Oscar Wilde masterfully uses the character of Mrs Arbuthnot to highlight the still relevant issues of sexism, egoistical and oppressive male characters, lack of independence for women and their lack of opportunity for financial security. He also peppers the play with wit and humour mocks the unfairness of Victorian society.
The Irony
Irony is one of the main concepts in ‘A Woman of No Importance’, which Oscar Wilde made extensive use of in order to demonstrate how Victorian England often neglected the potential and rights of women. It also serves to explain the societal roles of men and women during the period.
The play’s main themes of hypocrisy and gender expectations are highlighted through the undertones of the characters’ conversations. Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Allonby, for example, provide a clear example of the hypocritical expectations on a woman’s behaviour in public and private. Wilde employs irony to a maximum effect. Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Allonby’s conversations sound as if they are condoning the fact that women have unequal status in society, but what they are really doing is mocking it.
Wilde also uses irony to illustrate the power dynamic between husband and wife. Even though Mr Arbuthnot is the husband, Mrs Arbuthnot is the one in charge as she is the voice of reason in the couple’s quest to protect their honour and Gerald’s well-being. Despite her marital status, Mrs Arbuthnot is quick to judge people’s character and is not afraid to stand up to the demands of Mrs Cheveley.
The play is peppered with humorous moments and is punctuated with characters who are not afraid to speak their minds. Wilde’s depiction of their struggle for independence highlights the extremity of the hypocrisy in the play and the society at the time. It reinforces the need for change and highlights the values that we still live by today.
The Satire
One of the main features of ‘A Woman of No Importance’ is the use of satire. Wilde uses this satirical form of literature to condemn and mock the unfair gender expectations of Victorian England. Satire was prevalent in English literature of the Victorian era, and so Wilde responds to the conventions of this medium in crafting the narrative of his play.
Wilde uses satire to portray how Victorian England often neglected the potential and rights of women. The characters’ conversations and actions often provide a humorous yet compelling representation of the absurdity of the gender roles placed on women. Lady Hunstanton, for example, is restricted in her ability to voice her opinions despite her belief that she is superior to other females. Wilde is demonstrating the hypocrisy of this attitude by mocking her.
Another use of satire is seen when Mrs Allonby suggests to Lord Algernon that he should marry Mrs Arbuthnot to repair her reputation. Wilde mocks the idea of marriage as a way to absolve any wrongdoings. His humour is hidden behind the layers of social protocol.
The satire in the play is an important tool for seeing through the polite and formal conversations that the characters have with each other. Wilde uses humour and gentle mocking of characters to create a sense of liberation. His use of wit to demonstrate the hypocrisy of Victorian conventions is a powerful reminder of how far society has come in terms of gender equality.
The Symoblic Use of Animals
In ‘A Woman of No Importance’, Oscar Wilde incorporates animals to symbolize the characters’ behaviour in the play. He uses them as a way to highlight the disparity between the private and public morality of Victorian England. At several points in the play, the characters make references to animals to emphasise their perspective or point of view.
Wilde’s uses the monkey to symbolise Lady Hunstanton’s behaviour in the play. Lady Hunstanton sees herself as superior to the other women present but Wilde uses the monkey to mock her. When Lady Hunstanton remarks on the wildness of the monkey, Mrs Allonby sarcastically responds with “It must have been even wilder before it was kept in ladies’ society”—referring to the Queen’s presence. This use of the monkey to mock Lady Hunstanton is a form of Wilde’s satire
