THE DEVELOPMENT OF OSCAR WILDE’S CRITIQUE OF VICTORIAN GENDER NORMS IN HIS PLAYS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF VERA, THE DUCHESS OF PADUA, AND LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN

Abstract

This thesis analyses Wilde's critique towards contemporary gender norms in the characters presented in the plays Vera, The Duchess of Padua, and Lady Windermere's Fan, through both a textual analysis of the plays themselves and an analysis of important secondary sources regarding historical circumstances, theoretical concepts, and the reception of Wilde's plays. Moreover, this research presents an overview of the manner in which Wilde's presentation of his critique developed through criticism expressed by his audience. This research explains that Wilde depicted both his male and female characters in a manner that is inherently critical of contemporary gender norms and that the presentation of this criticism gradually became less extreme throughout his career.