How are female characters portrayed in terms of agency?

• A. They are entirely passive and lack any agency.
• B. They are witty, clever, and pivotal to the plot, but operate within constrained social norms.
• C. They dominate the social world and rewrite rules.
• D. They reject societal expectations and act freely.

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how Wilde gives female characters intelligence and influence while placing them inside strict social rules. The women are witty and quick with language, and they are central to what happens in the play—Gwendolen and Cecily drive the romantic schemes with sharp banter, shaping the plot through their ideas and desires. But their freedom is limited by marriage expectations, class norms, and the authority of male figures like Lady Bracknell, so their influence works within boundaries rather than overturning the system. They don’t dominate the social world or reject societal rules outright; their agency comes from cleverness and strategic move-making within the constraints of a rigid society. This combination—clever, pivotal, yet constrained—best describes how Wilde presents female agency.