Lord Arthur Savile's Crime

How does Lord Arthur use the concept of fate or destiny to justify his actions? In what ways does his attitude toward fate change over the course of the story?

How does Wilde’s use of humor and satire contribute to the central themes of the story, such as the ways that appearances become reality? Use specific details in your answer.

What is the significance of Lord Arthur’s trip to Venice as he waits for news of Lady Clementina’s death? What do his interactions with his brother on this trip suggest about Lord Arthur’s character?

Beyond the fact that it proves the exploding clock did not kill the Dean of Chichester, what is it about Jane’s letter that sends Lord Arthur into such despair? What does this reveal about him and how he sees himself?

Examine the significance of the “crime” in the story’s title. Beyond its obvious reference to the murder of Mr. Podgers, what other crimes of Lord Arthur does the story portray?

Examine the portrayal of the upper class in “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime.” How does Wilde satirize the aristocracy and their values through the characters and events in the story?

How do the minor characters in the story, such as Lady Windermere’s party guests and Lord Arthur’s brother contribute to the broader themes?

How are we to understand the narrator’s insistence on Lord Arthur and Sybil’s happiness in the final chapter? What does that happiness consist of? How is it shaped by the themes developed elsewhere in the text?