Overview

Synopsis

Lady Windermere’s Fan is one of Oscar Wilde’s most witty and uncompromisingly satirical plays. It examines the gender politics within marriage and society, and the ambiguous idea of sexual morality among the upper classes. Until Mrs. Erlynne is introduced, Lady Windermere believes that she has a perfectly happy marriage with her adoring husband and young child. However, once she is alerted to Lord Windermere’s seemingly brazen relationship with another woman, Lady Windermere begins to question her own feelings, her marital position and the loyalty of her husband. After Lord Windermere insists upon inviting Mrs. Erlynne to their ball, Lady Windermere takes the radical decision to leave him for Lord Darlington, who has professed his undying love for her. Intercepting Lady Windermere’s note, Mrs. Erlynne goes after her to persuade her to return to her husband. Lady Windermere leaves her fan in Lord Darlington’s house and Mrs. Erlynne must pretend that it is hers to allow Lady Windermere to exit Lord Darlington’s house unseen. Mrs. Erlynne puts her own reputation on the line by revealing herself alone in the house at 2am to the returning gentlemen. The following day, Mrs Erlynne resolves her secrets with both Lady and Lord Windermere to a satisfactory conclusion for all. She begs Lady Windermere not to reveal her unfulfilled elopement, but to stay and have a happy marriage with her husband. Alone with Lord Windermere, it becomes clear that Mrs. Erlynne is, in fact, Lady Windermere’s mother but abandoned her husband and family to elope with a lover twenty years earlier. That relationship broke down and she has been blackmailing Lord Windermere to help her regain social status. Moved by her dealings with her daughter, Mrs. Erlynne begs Lord Windermere not to reveal her secret. Instead, having apparently explained her appearance in Lord Darlington’s house, she and the bumbling Lord Augustus announce their forthcoming marriage and their intention to live outside of England. Taking a serious yet comedic look at marriage, sex and gender, Wilde’s play contains one of his best known lines: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Show Information

Book
Oscar Wilde
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
4
First Produced
1892
Genres
Drama, Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
london, 1890s
Cast Size
large
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Lady Windermere

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lord Windermere

Lead

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Erlynne

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lord Augustus Lorton

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lady Agatha Carlisle

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mr. Cecil Graham

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lady Plymdale

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mr. Hopper

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lord Darlington

Supporting

Male

Spoken

The Duchess of Berwick

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mr. Dumby

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Parker

Featured

Male

Spoken

Lady Stutfield

Featured

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Cowper-Cowper

Featured

Female

Spoken

Lady Jedburgh

Featured

Female

Spoken

Rosalie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

    Aesthetics

    Aesthetics refers to the set of principles that guide the creation and appreciation of beauty, particularly in the arts. In theatre, it encompasses visual style, emotional resonance, and philosophical ideas that shape the production's overall look and feel.

    Morality

    Morality refers to the principles and values that guide a person’s sense of right and wrong behavior. It shapes decisions, actions, and judgments based on cultural, personal, or societal standards. In drama, morality often drives character motivations and conflicts, revealing deeper themes about ethics and human nature.

    Public Domain

    Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.

    Victorian

    Relating to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901), which influenced theatrical style, costume, and themes.

    Wit

    Wit in theatre refers to the quick, clever use of language to create humor or reveal deeper truths about characters and situations. It often relies on sharp wordplay, irony, or unexpected turns of phrase to keep audiences engaged. Wit is commonly found in comedies and serves both to entertain and to highlight human flaws in a lighthearted way.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher