A woman of no importance
A Woman of No Importance (originally A Woman of No Importance ) is a comedy by Oscar Wilde , published 1893rd
Summary
The piece is set in an English country estate (Hunstanton Chase) at the end of the 19th century. There is a company together: Lord Illingworth, Hester Worsley, Mrs. Allonby, Gerald Arbuthnot, Archdeacon Daubeny, Mr. Kelvil, Lord Alfred Rufford, the Pontefract couple, Lady Stutfield, the landlady Lady Jane Hunstanton and some servants.
Ordinary bank clerk Gerald Arbuthnot receives a tempting offer from Lord Illingworth to become his private secretary. Gerald's mother, Rachel Arbuthnot, later joins the company. She tries to dissuade Gerald from becoming Lord Illingworth's private secretary because he has ruined her life. She had had a child (Gerald) from Illingworth, but Lord Illingworth refused to marry her. Then she left him and raised her child alone, which Gerald is not aware of.
Finally (who plays in Mrs. Arbuthnot's house), after Gerald learns the truth about Lord Illingworth, he decides not to go away with him. Instead, he marries Hester Worsley and moves to the United States with her and his mother.
Figures of the piece
- Lord Illingworth: a 45 year old, very rich and intelligent nobleman who is only interested in the good things in life. He's a womanizer and never wants to get married.
- Rachel Arbuthnot: has an illegitimate child from Lord Illingworth to be raised by herself. Lives in very modest circumstances, but loves her son idolatrously. She hates Lord Illingworth more than anything for not marrying her then. She is around 40 years old.
- Gerald Arbuthnot: the illegitimate son of Rachel Arbuthnot and Lord Illingworth, about 20 years old. He works as a simple bank clerk and falls in love with Hester Worsley. At first he is enthusiastic about Lord Illingworth, but that changes in the course of the play.
- Hester Worsley: 18 years old and very pretty. She is from the USA and is an orphan, but her parents were very rich. She constantly criticizes the English nobility.
- Mrs. Allonby: unhappily married and about 40 years old.
- Archdeacon Daubeny: happily married and around 70 years old.
- Mr. Kelvil: a 45 year old MP who works for emancipation and the poor. He is married and has 8 children.
- Jane, Lady Hunstanton: a widow about 60 years old. Owner of Hunstanton Chase.
- Lady Caroline Pontefract: around 55 years old and married for the fifth time. Her attitude is very conservative and she is also 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.
Film adaptations
- 1936: A woman without meaning - Director: Hans Steinhoff
- 1964: A woman without meaning - Director: Wolfgang Glück (TV movie)
- 1969: A Woman Without Meaning - Director: Georg Wildhagen (TV movie)