Comparison Essay in Victorian Plays

Point | Quote from Lady Windermere’s Fan | Analysis | Quote from Mrs. Warren’s Profession | Analysis | There are double-standards on society’s judgement of morality towards men and women | Action taken towards Lord Windermere when suspecting his involvement with Mrs. Erlynne-“take Windermere away at once to Homburg or to Aix, where he’ll have something to amuse him” and “feed the wretches well”vs. society’s view on Mrs. Erlynne upon suspecting her scandal-“these wicked women get our husbands away from us!”
-“horrid woman…absolutely inadmissible into society” | -constant use of “horrid” and “wicked” reveal disgust and demonstrate how gravely they view Mrs. Erlynne’s lack of morality
-the action of ‘getting’ their husbands away from them is an active one and demonstrates how the women are the immoral ones who are held responsible in an affair
-contrast to Duchess Berwick’s advice to take Lord Windermere on a holiday, seem to suggest that society indulges men who are involved in a scandal, by pampering them
- not only is there no punishment, taking him on a holiday is a frivolous solution, which demonstrates how society trivializes the immoral crime of men
-having something to “amuse” him shows how women must still entertain and please men despite their immorality
-the different treatment towards Lord Windermere and Mrs. Erlynne demonstrate the double-standards of society, where they are harsh towards the immoralities of women but easily forgive, or even indulge men | Mrs. Warren’s reason for hiding her profession:
-“I daren’t talk about such things: whatever would they think of us!”-men who are involved in prostition:
“some half-drunken fool that think he’s making himself agreeable when he’s teasing and worrying and disgusting a woman so that hardly any money could pay her for putting up with it”
Vivie exclaiems:
-“When I think of the society that tolerates you, and the laws that protect you!” | -Mrs. Warren has had to hide her profession from her