A Woman of No Importance · Character
Lord Illingworth
A brilliant, amoral aristocrat who collects epigrams and protégés, he offers Gerald a career while quietly circling the mother he once abandoned.
major
Also known as Lord Illingworth, dear Lord Illingworth
First appearance: a woman of no importance
As a major figure in A Woman of No Importance, Lord Illingworth is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Lord Illingworth moves through Lady Hunstanton's house as the most quoted and least trusted man in the room, charming women he despises and mentoring a young secretary he finds refreshingly unspoiled. His wit is a weapon and a shield, and his interest in Gerald carries an unsettling undertow he alone fully understands. He embodies the play's argument that society forgives men what it punishes women for.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Lord Illingworth sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Romantic
- Social
- Rivalry
Character groups
- Central House Party Figures
- Protagonist
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Breaking point
This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the moment of greatest emotional and psychological tension,…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Mrs. Arbuthnot
romantic · negative
Former lovers with a deeply painful history; Lord Illingworth seduced and abandoned Mrs. How this plays out →
- Lady Hunstanton
social · positive
- Hester Worsley
rivalry · negative
- Sir John Kelvil
rivalry · negative
- Archdeacon Daubeny
rivalry · negative
- Gerald Arbuthnot
family · negative
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Lord Illingworth in a woman of no importance