Design for Living | Design for Living

At a glance:

Author: Noël Coward
First Published: 1933
Type of Work: Play
Type of Plot: Comedy
Time of Work: The 1930’s
Setting: Paris, London, and New York City
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Boulevard drama
Subjects: Values, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., Self-discovery, United States or Americans, Sex or sexuality, Gender roles, New York City, Paris, 1930’s, London, Painting or painters, Drama or dramatists
Locales: New York, NY, Paris, France, London, England

Gilda, who is about thirty years old. She is Ernest’s wife and the mistress of both Otto and Leo. Gilda is attracted to Otto, an unsuccessful painter, and lives with him in his Paris studio, hoping to further his career. Although Gilda does not wish to marry, claiming that marriage provides nothing she wants, she is humiliated by the way in which feminine impulses sway her life. When Leo returns from New York as a successful playwright, Gilda deserts Otto and goes to live with Leo in London. After eighteen months with Leo, however, Gilda is still unhappy....

Design for Living | Design for Living

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

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