Chapter I
Introduction
A. Background
Lady Windermere's Fan was Oscar
Wilde's first produced play, and it was an instant success on the London stage.
Chronicling a series of misunderstandings and deceptions in the high society
world of Victorian London, critics and audiences alike were charmed by
Wilde's trademark wit and intelligence.In the play, Lady Windermere considers
leaving her husband of two years when she believes he's been unfaithful with a
woman who turns out to be her own mother.Remarkably, it will be the mother who
sets her straight without ever revealing her identity.In
his letters, Wilde claimed that he did not want the play to be viewed as
"a me requestion of pantomime and clowning"; he was interested in the
piece as a psychological study. Although the play has been deemed outdated by
recent critics, Lady Windermere's Fan continues to entertain audiences all over
the world.
Chapter II
Analysis
A. Title and Author
Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About
a Good Woman is a four-acts comedy by Oscar Wilde, first produced on 22nd
February 1892 at the St James's Theatre in London. The play was first published
in 1893.
B. Plot
a. Exposition
In the morning in Lord Windermere’s
house, Lady Windermere arranged roses in a blue bowl. Lady windermere is Lord
Windermere’s wife. She is a puritan and has very particular views about what is
accepteble in sociaty. When she was arranging the roses, Lord Darlington came
and had a chat with her. They talked about Lady Windermer’s birthday party.
Shortly after, The Duchess of Berwick and her daughter (Agatha) came to meet
Lady Windermere, but unfortunately Lord Darlington was there. The Duchess did
not like Lord Darlington Because She thought that he was a bad person.
b. Complication
The problems begin when Duchess,
Lord Darlington and Lady Windermere had a quarrel about pretending to be good
in sociaty. So they debated about that until the situation was getting worst.
c. Conflict
The Duchess informed Lady Windermere that her husband
may be betraying her marriage by making repeated visits to another woman, she
was Mrs. Erlynne, and possibly giving her large sums of money. This rumors had
been gossip among London society for quite a while, though seemingly this was
the first Lady Windermere had heard about it. Here, Lady Windermere had a
prejudice that her husband betrayed her.
At this point Lady Windermere Looked for her husband
and asked about the gossip. She wanted to know the truth of it. But Lord
Windermere stated that he wasnot betraying her. He didn’t have speacial
relationship with Mrs. Erlynne, he only requested her to come to his wife
birthday party. Lady Windermere didn’t believe. In the birthday party, Mrs.
Erlynne came and had a privat chat with Lord Windermere. It made Lady
Windermere jealous and more dislike with her. Lady Winderemere was angry with
her husband and planned to make affair with Lord Darlington.
d. Climax
Because of her prejudice of her
husband and Mrs. Erlynne, she was jealous and asked Lord Darlington to be her
friend. Instead of friendship, Lord Darlington takes advantage of Lady
Windermere’s tragic state and professed his love to her, offering her his life
and inviting her to risk short-term socil humiliation for a new life begin.
Lord Darlington setted her an ultimatum to try to convice her to take action
immediately, while still in a state of shock. Lady Windermere was shocked by
the revelation, and she didn’t have the courage to take the offer. Because of
heartbroken Lord Darlington announced that he would leave the country the next
day and that they will never meet again. It made Lady Windermere change her
mind, she decided to leave the house and continue her life with Lord
Darlington. She left a note for her husband about it.Besides Lord Windermere
found the truth that Mrs. Erlynne was his wife’s mother. She left her,
abandoned her when she was a child in the cradle, abandoned for her lover, who
abandoned her in turn. Mrs. Erlynn sked him to keep his secret.
e. Resolution
When the Lord Windermere came to Lord Darlington’s
house he found his wife’s fan on the table in Lord Darlington house. It made
him angry and pushed lord Darlington to Search her. In her hidden place, Mrs.
Erlynne discovered Lady Windermere’s note that stated she had gone from the
house. While reading the note, a brief monologue revealed that she was in fact
Lady Windermere’s mother and made a similar mistake herself twenty years
previously. She took the letter and exit to locate Lady Windermere. After that,
Mrs. Erlynne persuaded her to return to her husband. And finally, she agreed
with Mrs. Erlynne’s suggestion. But, she asked to her to keep her secreat from
her husband.
f. Conclusion
The Lord Windermere and his wife
marriage was restored, but both them kept their secrets.
C. Setting
Act. 1
Setting
: in the morning at morning room in Lord Windermere’s house
Door
C. And R. Bureau with books and papers R. Sofa with small tea table L. Window
opening on the terrace L. Table R. Lady Windermere ia at table R., aranging
rose in a blue bowl
Lord
darlington : (takes chair and goes across L.C) iam quite misarable..., you must
tell me what i did. (sits down at table L), (Act 1, page 124)
Act.
2
Setting : in the evening at drawing room in
Lord Windermere’s house.
Door R. U opening
into ballroom, where band are playing. Door L. Through which guest are
entering. Door L.U. opens onto illuminated terrace. Palms, flowers, and
brilliant lights. Room crowded with guest. Lady Windermere is receiving
them.(...enter mr. Dumby and Lady Plymdale from the ballroom), (act 2, page 18)
Act.
3
Setting : in the night at Lord Darlington’s
rooms.
A large sofa is in
front of fireplace R. At the back of the stage a curtain is drawn a cross the
window. (...Lady Windermere standing by the fire place: why does he comes?...),
(act 3, page 132), (...Lady Windermere throws off her cloak and flings it on
the sofa), (act 3, page 132).
Act.
4
Setting
:in the morning at morning room in Lord Windermere’s house
Door
C. And R. Bureau with books and papers R. Sofa with small tea table L. Lady
Windermer talked with her husband, they talked about the accident of
Mrs.Erlynne. (Lady Windermere(lying on sofa): how can i tell him?...), ( act 4,
page 135)
D. Characterization
1. Lord Windermere
Society regards him as the “ideal husband”. He would
do almost anything to protect his beautiful young wife, Lady Windermere. He
even lets Mrs Erlynne blackmail him in order to prevent his wife from getting
to know the shocking truth about her mother. He is a typical gentleman and a
man of principles.
Lord
Windermere : Don’t say that,
Margaret. I never loved anyone in the whole world but you”. (Act 1, page 127)
Mrs. Erlynne : “You must believe it! It is
true. It is his love for you that has made him submit to – oh! Call it what you
like, tranny, threats, anything you can choose. But it is his love for you. His
desire to spare you – shame, yes, shame and disgrace. (Act 3, 133)
2. Lord Darlington
A typical
Wildean dandy character and Lady Windermere’s “fan” (in terms of admirer). He
is a charming younger man with a high opinion of himself. Although he might
come ascross as flirtatious and a a bit smug he is truly in love with the
happily married Lady Windermere who of course keeps rejecting him. He is one of
the only characters to develop during the course of the play: From Act II on
Lord Darlington becomes much more human and less self-centered as a man with a
broken heart.
Lord Darlington : “Don’t say that, Duchess. As a wicked man I am a complete
failure. Why, there are lots of people who say I have never really done
anything wrong in the whole course of my life. Of course they only say it
behind my back”. (Act 1, page 125)
Duchess of Brewick : “Isn’t he dreadful? Agatha, this is Lord Darlington. Mind you
don’t believe a word he says”. (Act 1, page 125)
3. Lord Augustus Lorton
He is a lovable older gentleman terribly in love with
Mrs Erlynne. As he is not very clever he appears to be completely beyond his
depth when dealing with difficulties such as proposing to Mrs Erlynne. Unlike
most of the other male characters he does not care for showing off or witty remarks
(or maybe he is just not clever enough to come up with any of those himself?)
and simply wants to spend the rest of his life in peace with a loving wife by
his side.
Lord Augustus :
“ Dear Lady, I am in such suspence! May I not have an answer to my request?”. (Act
2, page 132)
Mrs. Erlynne : “ What a nice speech! So
simple and so sincere! Just the sort of speech
I like. Well, you shall hold my bouquet”. (Act 2, page 130)
4. Mr Dumby
He is a perfect specimen of the preferred sex of the
privileged class in English society to which literature has accustomed us: a
blasé, dispassionate and idle older man who will not trouble himself to get
angry or excited or to show any emotions at all.
Mr. Dumby :
“I am – to myself. I am the only person in the world I shouldlike to know
thoroughly, but I don’t see any chance of it just at present”. (Act 2, page
130)
Mrs. Erlynne :
“So that is poor Dumby with Lady Plymdale? I hear she is frightfully jealous of
him. He doesn’t seem anxious to speak to me tonight. I suppose he is affraid to
her”. (Act 2, page 130)
5. Mr Cecil Graham
One of the play’s most eccentric characters. He is the
identified misfit - a contrary cynic. But although he appears so unlike the
other male characters, he is part of society. He is an insecure and offensive
young man masquerading as witty. His sense of humour is very sharp and biting.
Mr. Cecil Graham : “ By the way, Tuppy, which is it? Have you been twice
married and once divorced, or twice divorced and once married? I say you have
been twice divorced and once married. It seems so much more probable”. (Act 2,
page 129)
Lord Augustus :
“ You’re excessively trivial, my dear boy, excessively trivial!”. (Act 2, page
129)
6. Mr Hopper
The young and handsome son of a successful Australian
businessman. He is in love with Lady Agatha Carlisle. He often diverges from
traditional male attire, possibly because he is a foreigner and as an outsider
to London’s high society less bound by convention than all the other
characters. His chief aim is to win Lady Agatha’s admiration. Speaks with an
incomprehensible Australian accent.
Mr. Hopper :
“But I should like to dance with Lady Agatha, Duchess”. (Act 2, page 128)
Duchess of
Brewick : “ How clever you are, Mr.
Hopper. You have a cleverness quite of your own. Now I mustn’t keep you”. (Act
2, page 128)
7. Lady Windermere
The play’s protagonist. She is a very naive
21-year-old woman, married to the much older Lord Windermere and mother of a 6
months old boy. She is a puritan with very high principles and a strong dislike
of egocentric and smug people. Her world view is strictly black and white - for
her, people are either good or bad. But when the supposedly wicked Mrs Erlynne
saves her from a terrible disgrace she learns that her opinions about the world
and especially other people need some elasticity. She is one of the only
characters to show a wide range of emotions throughout the play.
Lady Windermere : “It is very kind of you, Duchess, to come and tell me all
this. But I can’t believe that my husband is untrue to me”. (Act 1, page 126)
Lord
darlington : “Oh! She doesn’t
love me. She is a good woman. She is the only good woman I have ever met in my
life”.(Act 3, page 134)
8. Duchess of Berwick
She is a seemingly polite - though acid-tongued -
noble lady with a commanding manner and a very high opinion of herself. She is
also a great scandalmonger, well-disguised under a layer of conventional
politeness. When speaking she uses lots of circumlocutions. She is able to
carry on entire conversations single-handedly.
Duchess of
Berwick : “ Of course it’s going to be
select. But, we know that, dear Margaret, about your house. It is really one of
the few houses in London where I can take Agatha, and where I feel perfectly
secure about dear Berwick. I don’t know what society is coming to. The most
dreadful people seem to go everywhere. They certainly come to my parties – the
men get quite furious if one doesn’t ask them. Really, someone should make a
stand against it”. (Act 1, page 125)
Lady
Windermere : “Duchess,Duchess,
it’s impossible!...”. (Act 1, page 126)
9. Lady Agatha Carlisle
The Duchess of Berwick’s daughter. She is a
compliantly submissive adolescent in love with Mr Hopper. She is one of the
play’s funniest characters as she has one very memorable action: Her only line,
which she keeps repeating in every single scene she is in, is “Yes, mamma.” The
perfect role for anyone not wanting to learn an awful lot of lines.
Lady Agatha
Carlisle : “ Yes, mamma”. (Act 2, page 128)
Duchess of
Brewick : “mind you take great care of
my little chatterbox”. (Act 2, page 128)
10. Lady Plymdale
A typical female representative of high society, she
thinks highly of herself and is eager to make her mark. Most of the time she
stands out in an atrocious, though thorougly acceptable, manner.
Lady Plymdale :
“ Because I want you to take my husband
with you. He has been attentive lately, that he has become a perfect
nuisance. Now, this woman is just the thing for him. He’ll dance attendance
upon her as long as she lets him, and won’t bother me. I assure you, women of
that kind are most useful. They form the basis of other people’s marriage”.
(Act 2, page 130)
Mrs. Erlynne : “.... I suppose he is afraid
of her. Those staw-coloured women have dreadful tempers....”. (Act 2, page 130)
11. Lady Stutfield - Lady Jedburgh - Mrs
Cowper-Cowper
The three ladies are definitely some of the play’s
flattest characters. They are typical representatives of high society and as
such do little else than to behave charmingly and say a few witty things now
and then. They are absolutely interchangeable nonentities. They flit about the
stage, talking non-stop like chattering birds.
Lady
Stutfield : “ I suppose so, Mr. Dumby. It
has been delightful season, hasn’t it?”. (Act 2, page 128)
Lady
Jedburgh : “Most kind of you
to say these charming things to me!”. (Act 2, page 129)
Mrs.
Cowper-cowper : “Good evening, Mr.
Dumby. I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?”. (Act 2, page 128)
12. Mrs Erlynne
A woman of about 40 who twenty years ago left her
husband and her newborn daughter (Lady Windermere) for another lover and was in
return left by him. She is now an outcast of society, struggling to make a
living and find a way back into society. When she discovers that her daughter
has married a rich man, she starts asking him for enormous sums of money. She
is the suspicious wicked outsider of whom we hear much more than we actually
witness. At the beginning of the play we get the impression of her as a
thoroughly depraved and promiscuous woman, but later on we learn that there is
more to her than just plain wickedness. She is in fact a lovely, bewitching and
especially rather good woman. She is the living proof that even as an “older”
woman one can have charm and beauty.
Mrs. Erlynne : “Lady Windermere, before heaven your
husband is guiltless of all offence towards you! And I tell you that I had it
ever occurred to me that such a monstrous suspicion would have entered your
mind, I would have died rather than have crossed your life or his – oh! Died,
gladly died”. (Act 3, page 133)
Lady
Windermere : “I must speak of it. I can’t let you think that I am going to
accept this sacrifice. I am not. It is too great. I am going to tell my husband
everything. It is my duty”. (Act 4, page 138)
E. Subject Matter
Sacrifice
F. Theme
The sacrifice of a mother for the sake of a fan to
keep her daughter secret.
G. Reason
Lady Windermere’s fan is an example of the sacrifice
of a mother to protect or keep their children from anything. It is proved in
this drama that because of a fan can be raissed a big problem in Lady
Windermere’s life, but her mother keep the secret for the child. It is also
happened in the real life that mother can do anything to keep or protect their
child from the danger and enemy.
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