A Woman of No Importance
A Woman of No Importance is a comedy by Oscar Wilde, which was published in 1893.
Summary
The play takes place the end of the 19th century on an English country estate ( Hunstanton Chase ). There is a society together: Lord Illingworth, Hester Worsley, Mrs. Allonby, Gerald Arbuthnot, Archdeacon Daubeny, Mrs. Kelvil, Lord Alfred Rufford, the couple Pontefract, Lady Stutfield, the owner of the manor Lady Jane Hunstanton and some servants.
The simple bank clerk Gerald Arbuthnot received from Lord Illingworth the tempting offer to become his private secretary. Later encounters Gerald's mother, Rachel Arbuthnot, added to society. She tries to dissuade Gerald, to be Lord Illingworth Worth's private secretary, because this has destroyed their lives. She had had a child (Gerald ) of Illingworth, but he refused to marry her. Then she left him and raised her child alone, but what Gerald is not known.
At the end ( of the house of Mrs. Arbuthnot plays ), Gerald decides, after learning the truth about Lord Illingworth, not go away with him. Instead, he married Hester Worsley and attracts with her and his mother in the United States.
Characters in the play
- Lord Illingworth an approximately 45 year old, very wealthy and intelligent nobleman who is only interested in the finer things of life. He is a womanizer and never wants to get married.
- Rachel Arbuthnot has Lord Illingworth an illegitimate child, she had to raise alone. Living in very modest circumstances, loves her son but idolatrous. She hates Lord Illingworth about everything, because he has not married her then. She is about 40 years old.
- Gerald Arbuthnot about the 20 year old illegitimate son of Rachel Arbuthnot and Lord Illingworth. He works as a simple bank clerk falls in love Hester Worsley. At first he is delighted with Lord Illingworth, but this will change during the course of the play.
- Hester Worsley: 18 years old and very pretty. It comes from the USA and is an orphan, her parents were very rich. You constantly criticized the English aristocracy.
- Mrs. Allonby unhappily married and about 40 years old.
- Archdeacon Daubeny: happily married and about 70 years old.
- Mr. Kelvil a 45 year old member of parliament, who committed to emancipation and the poor. He is married and has eight children.
- Jane, Lady Hunstanton: a 60 -year-old widow. Owner of Hunstanton Chase.
- Lady Caroline Pontefract: about 55 years old and married for the fifth time. Their attitude is very conservative, also she is very jealous.
- Sir John Pontefract: also about 55 years old. Is very interested in Lady Stutfield.
- Lady Stutfield a 25 year old attractive lady.
- Lord Alfred Rufford: an indebted, 50 -year-old English nobleman.