I have been asked to write an essay on 'A Woman Of No Importance' by Oscar Wilde. The question is "Was Wilde a feminist or simlpy articulating his own specific desire for sexual equality and understanding in the only way available to him?"
I don't know where to start with this essay could anyone help me please?
Suzanne
I think that you are right to be looking at him wanting equality. Wilde uses many techniques to expose and critique the hypocrisy of society, making his audiences aware of the problems in the era.
However, he cleverly disguises his insults of high class society by using puns, satire, epigrams, aphorisms, etc; as he did not want to be cast out of society whilst he was alive. This makes him hypocritical, but he addresses this balance by calling Lord Illinworth a "man of no importance" by the end of the play. As I'm sure you are aware, Illingworth is a representation of Wilde; so Wilde calls himself unimportant- this balances everything out.
In case you are not aware, Wilde represents himself as Illingworth in a number of ways:
1. There are both dandys
2. Wilde give Illingworth lines that he has said in his own life, eg. "...the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable..."
3. Illinworths fascination with Gerald is reminiscent of Wilde's relationship with a young lover of his, called Bosie
Hope this helps! Sorry I moved away from your initial inquiry, but all of Wilde's themes tie together! Lol! By the way, you could argue that Wilde is not a feminist by saying that he himself is like Illinworth, and use the above points to back it up!
Last edited by shamus88; 05-20-2006 at 10:01 AM.
What is the difference between someone who wants sexual equality and understanding and a feminist?
What is the use of a violent kind of delightfulness if there is no pleasure in not getting tired of it.
- Gertrude Stein
A washerwoman with her basket; a rook; a red-hot poker; th purples and grey-greens of flowers: some common feeling which held the whole together.
- Virginia Woolf
The ability to use a razor? oh, that was meant as a serious question, OkOriginally Posted by cuppajoe_9
There once was a scotsman named Drew
Who put too much wine in his stew
He felt a bit drunk
And fell off his bunk
And landed smack into his shoe ~(C) Ms Niamh Anne King
The ability to use a razor? oh, that was meant as a serious question, Ok
(for which gender, though? Nevermind, it works for either/or)
“As Kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame . . .”
Why disqualify the rush? I'm tabled. I'm tabled.
Very funny, Kilt..
Dreams! adorations! illuminations! religions!
the whole boatload of sensitive!
— Allen Ginsberg, Howl II.
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