"Lady Windermere's Fan" is a four-act comedy play by Oscar Wilde, first performed in 1892. The story revolves around Lady Windermere, who suspects her husband of having an affair with another woman. She confronts him and he invites the other woman, Mrs Erlynne, to their birthday ball. Lady Windermere decides to leave her husband for another lover, but Mrs Erlynne, who is actually Lady Windermere's mother, tries to persuade her to return. Mrs Erlynne sacrifices her reputation to save her daughter's marriage. The play was written after Wilde's previous plays had little success, and he opted to take a percentage of the profits instead of a fixed sum. The play underwent revisions and rehearsals before its premiere. It explores themes of society, infidelity, and the contrast between mass culture and high society. "Lady Windermere's Fan" has been adapted into films, television productions, and a musical.
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