Lady Windermeres Fan

Good example of a story's theme directly stated by a character. A sample of the text:

Lord Darlington
Well then, setting aside mercenary people, who, of course, are dreadful, do you think seriously that women who have committed what the world calls a fault should never be forgiven?

Lady Windermere
[Standing at table.]  I think they should never be forgiven.

Lord Darlington
And men?  Do you think that there should be the same laws for men as there are for women?

Lady Windermere
Certainly!

Lord Darlington
I think life too complex a thing to be settled by these hard and fast rules.

Lady Windermere
If we had ‘these hard and fast rules,’ we should find life much more simple.

Lord Darlington
You allow of no exceptions?

Lady Windermere
None!