Lady Windermere’s Fan   - Oscar Wilde

 

The importance of the opening scene

 

As in most of the plays, the opening scene in Lady Windermere’s Fan also has its own importance. All the important characters appear in the opening scene. Their nature and expectations expose in this scene. It helps the readers to understand play easily

The play opens in a morning at Lady Windermere’s residence in London. She prepares for her twenty-first birthday ball. She is quite happy with her husband and six-month old baby. Lady Windermere is visited by Lord Darlington, who is wicked by nature. He starts complimenting Lady Windermere in a manner she considers improper. He uses highly romantic language to convey his infatuation about her. Lady Windermere is quite sane and sensible. She rejects his silly compliments.

By the arrival of Duchess of Berwick, Lord Darlington leaves shortly thereafter.

The Duchess tells Lady Windermere that she believes Lady Windermere’s husband is having an affair with Mrs. Erlynne and gives large sums of money to the woman.

After the Duchess leaves, Lady Windermere starts to look for evidence to see if what she has heard is true or not. Lady Windermere searches her husband’s bank book but finds nothing wrong. She soon finds another bank book with a lock on it and when she breaks the lock, Lady Windermere finds that her husband gave large sums of money to Mrs. Erlynne just as the Duchess said.

A fierce verbal battle breaks out when Lord Windermere comes home. Lady Windermere enquires him about what she has found, but her husband denies cheating on her. He tries to explain to his wife the nature of his relationship with Erlynne. But she turns a deaf ear to him. Lord Windermere pleads that Lady Windermere should send an invitation to her birthday party to Mrs. Erlynne. Lady Windermere rejects his plea.

Lord Windermere then sends an invitation himself through his servant, Parker. Lady Windemere threatens to insult the woman if she does show up at the party.

Lady Windermere leaves the room and Lord Windermere reveals that he is protecting his wife by hiding Mrs. Erlynne’s identity, knowing that if his wife were to find who she really is, the shame would kill her.

Thus, the opening scene throws light on the characters of all the prominent persons in the play