Oscar Wilde's Presentation of Woman in 'a Woman of No Importance' in Comparison to John Fowle's Veiws of Women in 'the French Lieutenant's Woman'
An exploration of Oscar Wilde's presentation of women in 'A Woman of No Importance' in comparison to John Fowles' views of women in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', in light of the view that Oscar Wilde has a more sympathetic view of woman in his time.
In this essay I will be comparing Oscar Wilde's play 'A Woman of No Importance' to John Fowles' novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'. I will be exploring their differing views of woman in Victorian society. Generally, woman were viewed as inferior to men, yet Wilde shows compassion for them in his writing, this can be seen through his kindness to Mrs Arbuthnot towards the end of the play. However, John Fowles, although much darker in his presentation of woman, portrays Sarah Woodruff as someone to be pitied and sympathized with, while using spiteful characters such as Mrs Poulteney to emphasize the virtue of others. Perhaps Fowles' darker presentation of woman is because he is comparing 1960's women to the 'purer' 1890's women.
In the play 'A Woman of No Importance' Wilde presents woman to be fickle in nature and expresses typical Victorian views towards 'outcast' women. An example of this is the refined, upper class Lady Caroline's snide comment to Lady Hunstanton about Mrs Allonby's questionable activities with men other than her husband 'Is that the only thing, Jane, Mrs Allonby allows to run away with her?' There is a strong innuendo placed around the words 'run away' Wilde uses Lady Caroline's out-spoken nature as a medium to mock and convey harsh Victorian morals and standards expected of woman in Victorian society. He clearly shows how social/moral outcasts are scorned by Lady Caroline, a member of English aristocracy who will castrate any questionable woman in fear of being associated with them. The same is typical for Sarah Woodruff in Fowles' 'French Lieutenant's Woman' Ernestina, a rich merchant's daughter who wants to climb up societies ladder through Charles, immediately shows discontent towards
In this essay I will be comparing Oscar Wilde's play 'A Woman of No Importance' to John Fowles' novel 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'. I will be exploring their differing views of woman in Victorian society. Generally, woman were viewed as inferior to men, yet Wilde shows compassion for them in his writing, this can be seen through his kindness to Mrs Arbuthnot towards the end of the play. However, John Fowles, although much darker in his presentation of woman, portrays Sarah Woodruff as someone to be pitied and sympathized with, while using spiteful characters such as Mrs Poulteney to emphasize the virtue of others. Perhaps Fowles' darker presentation of woman is because he is comparing 1960's women to the 'purer' 1890's women.
In the play 'A Woman of No Importance' Wilde presents woman to be fickle in nature and expresses typical Victorian views towards 'outcast' women. An example of this is the refined, upper class Lady Caroline's snide comment to Lady Hunstanton about Mrs Allonby's questionable activities with men other than her husband 'Is that the only thing, Jane, Mrs Allonby allows to run away with her?' There is a strong innuendo placed around the words 'run away' Wilde uses Lady Caroline's out-spoken nature as a medium to mock and convey harsh Victorian morals and standards expected of woman in Victorian society. He clearly shows how social/moral outcasts are scorned by Lady Caroline, a member of English aristocracy who will castrate any questionable woman in fear of being associated with them. The same is typical for Sarah Woodruff in Fowles' 'French Lieutenant's Woman' Ernestina, a rich merchant's daughter who wants to climb up societies ladder through Charles, immediately shows discontent towards