Hypocrisy entails pretending to be someone one is not or feigning belief in something one does not truly accept. Most characters in Wilde's play view hypocrisy as a necessary part of their social world. Individuals in high society frequently must pretend and adhere to societal norms to preserve their status. Hypocrisy acts as the glue that binds a complex web of relationships; if the truth were to come out, these connections would crumble.

Lies serve as a vital mechanism to prevent disputes. For example, Dumby tells Mrs. Stutfield that the season has been ‘‘delightful,’’ yet moments later, he agrees with the Duchess of Berwick that it has been ‘‘dreadfully dull.’’ Similarly, the Duchess of Berwick assures Lady Windermere that her nieces never gossip, only to later assert that they always do.

Hypocrisy differs from well-intentioned lies, which are told to spare others from harm. Providing comfort, even if it requires lying, was part of the upper-class etiquette. Encouraged by Tuppy's remark that women with a past are ‘‘demmed interesting to talk to,’’ Lord Windermere conceals the truth about Mrs. Erlynne's past to shield his friend from a truth that could jeopardize his marriage plans.

Mrs. Erlynne rises above hypocrisy when she sacrifices her own reputation for the sake of her daughter. Despite having lived a life steeped in hypocrisy and striving to re-enter the society that once cast her out, she relinquishes this goal out of love.

In the Victorian era, women's roles were experiencing considerable transformation. More women were striving for independence and joining the workforce in larger numbers. The suffragist movement gained momentum as women advocated for the right to vote and to own property, since any money or property a wife had would automatically belong to her husband upon marriage.

This increasing autonomy for women met resistance from various quarters: political, social, and cultural. Women who sought independence were often portrayed as poor wives and mothers.

Many plays, stories, poems, and articles of the time depicted the "bad mother" archetype: a woman who would leave her children to chase personal interests, such as a romantic affair or career. Such behavior was considered dangerous and a threat to societal norms.

Wilde's play stands out for its era by allowing the "bad mother," Mrs. Erlynne, to mend her relationship with her daughter, albeit without public recognition of her motherhood, while still pursuing her own aspirations.