A_Woman_of_No_Importance

Women and Society Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance contrasts two different perspectives on gender relations: the traditional perspective that prefers men and the modern one that insists on gender equality. Lady Stutfield's remark in Act 2 summarizes the former opinion: "The world was made for men and not for women." On the other hand, Hester Worsley is a devout supporter of the modern perspective of gender relations. In addition, Oscar Wilde creates another type of characters who take advantage of the traditional perspective for their personal benefit. Lord Illingworth is the best representative of this group. The play shows that Wilde himself is very critical of the first view and sympathizes with those who suffer from it. Mrs. Arbuthnot is a good example of this suffering. Lady Caroline and Lady Hunstanton belong to the British high society and enjoy the benefit which this class offers them. Their view of gender relations does not give equal rights and responsibilities to women. They are not with the opinion that women should take part in politics when Mr. Kelvil mentions it in Act 1. Since women are not allowed to participate in serious social and political issues, they focus on petty issues. Their bias in terms of gender relations can be seen in their attitude towards the legal punishment for those who involved in illicit relationships. They believe that women who involved in such relationships should be punished while they do not mind interacting with men who are immoral. Although they all know that Lord Illingworth has been a womanizer, they still enjoy his company and even try to flirt with him. This traditional view becomes very dangerous when the women of high class such as Mrs. Allonby challenge Lord Illingworth to insult another woman, the young American lady, because she supports the modern worldview. Mrs. Allonby even calls Hester the dreadful girl. Hester Worsley strongly disagrees with these British ladies on the issue of gender relations. She believes that all people men or women are equal and should be given equal status in life. She challenges these ladies by saying, "true American society consists simply of all the good women and men we have in our country." She expresses her belief in gender equality when Lord Henry Weston's name is mentioned. Lord Weston, like Lord Illingworth, is a womanizer but has not been punished for his mistakes. Hester also does not judge Mrs. Albuthnot when she finds out that the Gerald is the illegitimate son of Mrs. Albuthnot and Lord Illingworth. She even decides to marry Gerald. Wilde creates the third group of characters to include his criticism of the traditional view and show up its mistakes. Lord Illingworth is the best representative of this group. He knows that he will not be judged for his mistakes because he is a male who belongs to the British high society. As a result of this total freedom, he does not take anything seriously even ruining others lives. His opinion of life is that "intellectual generalities are always interesting, but generalities in morals mean absolutely nothing." He does not mind calling the woman of his only son "a woman of no importance." The confrontation between Mrs. Arbuthnot and Lord Illingworth at the end of the play shows that Oscar Wilde favors the modern perspective that brings up the women to the level of equality from the lower status the traditional view placed them. In this new change, Lord Illingworth is only "a man of no importance." as Mrs. Arbuthnot claims before the curtain drops for the last time.