Who Lord Darlington is
Lord Darlington belongs to the fashionable London society of Lady Windermere's Fan, a comedy by Oscar Wilde. He is a rich bachelor whose jokes often challenge familiar ideas about goodness and respectability. His remarks sound playful, but they also expose how uncertain people's judgments can be.
What Lord Darlington wants
Darlington is secretly in love with Lady Windermere, and he wants her to turn to him. His compliments go beyond friendship, though she brushes them aside with a smile. His wit partly screens feelings that are more serious than his manner first suggests.
Lord Darlington and the others in the story
Lady Windermere finds Darlington amusing and a little shocking, but she does not share his views. He tells her that life is too complicated for her strict division between good people and bad people. He also argues that people who appear good may be worse than those they condemn.
When doubts about her husband disturb her trust, Darlington's attention takes on greater importance. His place in her life connects the play's debate about morality with a personal temptation.
Best-known lines
“I can resist everything except temptation.”
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Questions
Who is Lord Darlington?
Lord Darlington is a wealthy bachelor and a witty friend of Lady Windermere.
Is Lord Darlington in love with Lady Windermere?
Yes, he genuinely loves her, although his clever conversation partly conceals his feelings.
What does Lord Darlington believe about good and bad?
He believes people cannot be judged so easily as good or bad. He challenges Lady Windermere's confidence in strict moral categories.
