Chapter 14, A Good Woman, and Others Summary

When Wilde returns to England in time to celebrate Christmas with his family, he finishes Salome and prepares Lady Windermere's Fan for production. The latter play opens to a full house on February 20, 1892. The audience loves it, most of the critics pan it, but Oscar takes it upon himself to comment after the performance in a way that alienates the audience. Even with this arrogance, the public continues to attend Lady Windermere's Fan from February until July. The production of Salome is destined for disappointment when the play is censored. By English law of the time, Biblical stories cannot be presented on stage. Disgusted with this ruling, Oscar protests but does not win a concession. He ends up publishing the play in February 1893, but a play conveys only a tiny percentage of its...