Lady Gertrude Chiltern

a woman of grave Greek beauty

a woman of grave Greek beauty

• embodies the Victorian new woman: upright, virtuous, educated, politically engaged, and active in her husband's career

• Immediately Wilde establishes her as serious, judgemental- foreshadowing her strict and unyielding views on morals within society. Elevates her status: pious, formal - traditional, established views

• indicating a more severe character with moral dimension claims she will always love her husband, as long as he remains her ideal

a large eighteenth century French tapestry - representing the Triumph of Love, from a design by Boucher

• this may be the erotic “Triumph of Venus,” an allegory by Boucher, which serves as a symbol for the moral of this play, for it is love that eventually wins out over society’s harsh moral judgment

• Ironic: as the tapestry suggests that love triumphs over all

• Tapestry depicts Venus (goddess of love) pointing to Vulcans heart as she conquers it

• She then goes on to commit adultery

• Intelligent audiences would of seen this irony

• Foreshadows the notion that Love may not conquer all within the play

• Boucher's tapestry provides an allegorical backdrop to the play

• the tapestry is the last thing we see as the lights fade in Act I while Gertrude

I am not surprised!

(gently) a secret? between whom?