Images of America

Compétence Compréhension de l’écrit

 Anticipation
1. Read the title and the introduction, then imagine
what the text will focus on.
According to the title ”Building up a new country” and the
 introduction, we can suppose that this text will focus on the
vision the British aristocracy had of the American way of life.
We may have a confrontation between the old and ageing
British society represented by Lady Hunstanton and the new
American society embodied by the young Hester.
Global Comprehension
2. Where does the scene take place?
The scene takes place in a wealthy country house in England in
the late nineteenth century. Lady Hunstanton has invited a few
guests to her place.
3. Who are the characters and how are they related
to each other?
There are three characters. Lady Hunstanton, who has
organized the reception, and Lady Caroline who may be Lady
Hunstanton’s friend. Both ladies belong to the British
aristocracy, hence their similar point of view on the United
States of America. Then, we have Hester Worsley who is the
young American lady.

Detailed Comprehension
4. How does Hester describe American society?
She describes American society as a brand new society which rests
on solid and sane foundations. She asserts that American people are
true people who are willing to create a better society for the future.
She refers to them as ”all the good women and good men we have in
our country”. She also claims that social differences are less obvious
in the United States of America than in Great Britain since “In America
we have no lower classes.”
5. What does she think of English society?
She thinks English society is an old-fashioned system in which the
superficial, self-centered aristocracy rules over the so-called toiling
“lower classes”. Her criticism of English society is rather harsh and
severe: ” Oh,your English society seems to me shallow, selfish,
foolish.”
6. What tone does she use when speaking to her
hosts? Why?
Her tone is sarcastic and she may sound rather aggressive with her
hosts. This could be explained by the fact that she is annoyed by what
the two British ladies say about the American way of life. They assert
things about America but they don’t really know what they’re talking
about since they had never been there. This is particularly true with
Lady Caroline: “There are a great many things you haven’t got in
America, I am told, Miss Worsley. They say you have no ruins, and no
 curiosities.” As a reply, Miss Worsley says:”The English Aristocracy
supply us with our curiosities…they land.”
7. How do the English ladies react to Hester’s
words? What tone do they use? Why?
In fact, instead of being crossed, they
compliment/praise her and subtly reminds her that she
is fully accepted and appreciated in the British society
that she vehemently criticizes. It is quite a clever way to
hush her up because certain things are better left
unsaid.
8. Analyse Lady Hunstanton’s last sentence.
Lady Hunstanton appears to be a very polite host
because she seems to share Miss Worsley’s social
criticism but what is, apparently, much more important
is the beauty of the young American girl: “My dear
young lady, there was a great deal of truth in what you
said, and you looked very pretty while you said it, which
is much more important…”
Miss Worsley is thus a superficial woman since she
values the physical appearance rather than the
intelligence or the social involvement of the American
girl.
9. How does Oscar Wilde portray the English ladies?
Oscar Wilde portrays the English ladies as superficial and idle
women. They belong to an old-fashioned society that is bound to
disappear. On the contrary, the young American girl represents hope
for the future. This is due to the fact that Oscar Wilde did not really fit
in the Victorian society; he was criticized for his deviant attitude.