Question

Why does Gwendolen never travel without her diary?

• A. She is trying to come to terms with herself
• B. She has a poor memory
• C. She hopes to turn it into a three‑volume novel
• D. One should always have something sensational to read on the train

Answer 1

Answer:

D. One should always have something sensational to read on the train

• Gwendolen never travels without her diary because she believes it is always important to have something sensational to read on the train.

• This reflects Gwendolen’s dramatic and self-absorbed personality, as well as Wilde’s satire on the way people in high society often view their own lives as grand, romantic narratives. Her diary serves as a record of her thoughts and experiences, but rather than using it for deep reflection, she treats it as entertainment—highlighting the theme of artificiality and self-importance in the play.