A Woman of No Importance

"A Woman of No Importance" by Oscar Wilde is a drama set in late 1800s England that looks at how social class, being a man or a woman, and what's right or wrong affect people. The story follows Lord Illingworth, Mrs. Arbuthnot, and Gerald Arbuthnot, a young man. At a party, the characters' conversations show the differences between the English upper class and Hester Worsley, an American. Hester sees that the English care more about how things look than what's real. Lord Illingworth, with his cleverness, guides the talk, showing how important family history and reputation are to these people. The play hints at problems for Mrs. Arbuthnot and her son, Gerald, paving the way to explore important ideas about who people are and what they believe.