Where Lady Windermere Has Many Protectors

Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this thoroughly enjoyable. Emotional. Witty. Funny. Clever.

What's not to like?

It's in this play that we find the quip, "I can resist everything except temptation." There are so many effective, witty quips in the play, you could probably write a book about them. Maybe there is one.

Lady Windermere has never had reason to suspect her husband, but another gentleman, Lord Darlington, reveals some actions which call his faithfulness into question. The facts are confirmed. Then her husband insists she invite the woman named in the gossip to the ball at their home. The setup is complete when, certain of her husband's shockingly open infidelity, Lord Darlington offers to take her away to live in true love.

In a fit of pique, she writes a letter to her husband and goes to meet her admirer. But Lady Erlynne reads the letter and chases her down...

There are many parallels with An Ideal Husband, but that doesn't detract from the charm of this rather cozy comedy. One can admire virtually every character here in one way or another (which reinforces the theme that no one is wholly good or bad, making such categorical distinctions among people foolish and harmful). I like Lady Windermere; I like her husband; I like Lady Erlynne, who still has a great deal of good in her despite her shocking career; and I like simple old Lord Augustus, who is willing to believe everything she tells him so that they can marry. I'm not too keen on Lord Darlington, but I can hardly blame him.

I'm surprised that there isn't a fun movie adaptation from this generation. (There is one poorly-received modern version, but I'm not eager to try that one.) It is very straightforward and rather brief; it would need a bit of fleshing out to be a 100 minute movie. But I'd go see it, for sure, if someone made it happen. (I'm manifesting another movie. It hasn't worked so far.)

I love Wilde's comic style, though it may not suit everyone. If you tend to like it, you should read or go see this. I thought it was great.

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