Question

What was the term for the new type of character that Wilde introduced to the Victorian melodrama?

• A. The lusty widow
• B. The dandy
• C. The crafty servant
• D. The rake

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The dandy

The term for the new type of character that Oscar Wilde introduced to Victorian melodrama is the "dandy."

The Dandy in Wilde’s Works:

• The dandy is a witty, stylish, and self-indulgent character who often mocks societal conventions while embodying charm and sophistication.

• This figure is often detached from serious concerns, focusing on pleasure, beauty, and wit.

• Wilde’s dandies are satirical figures, exposing the hypocrisy of Victorian society through irony and humor.

Examples of Wildean Dandies:

• Algernon Moncrieff (The Importance of Being Earnest) – Lives for pleasure, dismisses responsibility, and speaks in paradoxes.

• Lord Goring (An Ideal Husband) – A fashionable bachelor who values wit over duty but ultimately proves to have depth.

• Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray) – A darker take on the dandy, obsessed with beauty and pleasure, leading to his downfall.

The dandy became one of Wilde’s signature contributions to theater and literature, influencing later characters in modern drama and fiction.