Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband takes place in Great Britain in 1895. The women of the play perform a large role in the society. They have major contributions to the political and home life.

The time period is at the height of the women's suffrage movement. It began in Britain in 1820 in response to James Mill's claim that there was no need to extend suffrage to women because their fathers and husbands would protect their interests.

There were three phases to the women's movement. The first, Pioneering, lasted from 1866 to 1870. It focused on the Reform Act of 1867. In 1869 the Municipal Corporations Act was passed during this period as well. This granted women the right to vote in local elections as men. This set a precedent for many reforms to follow. The first was the 1870 Education Act, which gave women the right to vote in the local school board elections.

The second phase lasted from 1870 to 1905. It was called the period of "doldrums" because the movement quieted down. This is the time period in which the play takes place. In 1870, at the very beginning of the era, the first women's suffrage bill proposed in Congress was passed in the second reading. However th

In relation to the history I am familiar with, An Ideal Husband seemed to contrast it. However, my naivete was revealed. Oscar Wilde did a fine job of portraying the attitude toward women and politics in this era, at the height of the women's movement. He subtly incorporated the major issues of the day (namely, the women's movement) without creating a distraction from the plot.

Women also needed to maintain a certain social status. They had a great responsibility as hostess. These social gatherings were important platforms for one's party line and overall reputation. This was essential to their husband's careers and public life. The women began to act more as a confidant to their husbands and participants in the political world.

The final period began in 1905 and was probably the most effective. The dedication was much greater and votes for women took on an intensity of purpose marked by an almost religious zeal. It concluded with women receiving their suffrage on all levels.

My first reaction to the role of the women in An Ideal Husband was that of disbelief. In my mind, at the turn of the twentieth century, there was no way that women could have such a great influence over the political world. The main reason for this most likely is because I was comparing it to the United States. Women did not receive suffrage until the middle of the twentieth century there. However, after researching, I found that Great Britain was far ahead of the U.S. in terms of women's suffrage. The play, therefore, presents a fine reflection of the historical aspects at that time.

Women in this time period were expected to make contributions to the political world. Be it

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Approximate Word count = 1137
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)