The Major Qualities of Oscar Wilde\u27s Comedies

This paper will attempt to provide a comparative survey of the four comedies of Oscar Wilde (Lady Windermere\u27s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest) with an emphasis on the differences between the first three comedies and the last. Background material germane to Wilde\u27s development as a playwright, and a brief evaluation of Wilde\u27s position in English literature, largely based on his reputation as a playwright, will be included