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In Lady Windermere's Fan, the three characters show that their society is obsessed with reputation and dignity. The Duchess of Berwick values someone nice for her daughter and for ladies, especially ladies, and gentlemen to be dignified. Lord Darlington wants to have a woman for himself without showing his true colors. Lady Windermere wants to have a positive view of herself in the public and surround herself with not deplorable people. The three characters show that their society is very judgmental and is controlled by reputation.

The Duchess of Berwick values dignity for both men and women in her presence, especially for her daughter. In lines 3-5, Berwick, suspicious of Lord Darlington, explicitly calls him "far too wicked" for her daughter to know about. Off-handedly, she criticizes Lady Markby's son-in-law for serving "undrinkable" tea in lines 14-16. For lines 39-45, the Duchess declares that women must be of better standing as they are easily ignored. She values dignity and fairness.

Lord Darlington values getting a woman of good social standing and prefers not to show his real personality to do so. In lines 6-10, he declares himself as "complete failure" in the wickedness department when the Duchess declares him wicked. He appears to view marriage as "going out of fashion" after the Duchess talks about women having dignity and notice with their husbands in lines 46-49. Lastly, he does not wish to be intelligible to be understood or to get "found out" in lines 67-69. He wants to be viewed in a more positive light in order to met his own ends.

Lady Windermere wants to look good by being surrounded by people in good social standing. For her first lines 19-21, she humbly states that her birthday will be a small get-together in good time and exclusive. In lines 34-36, the Lady reassures the Duchess that there will be no scandalous people ruining the party. Lastly, in lines 72-73, Lady Windermere says that the Lord may come, if only he not say "foolish, insincere things to people."

In a society of reputation, people judge and people hide their intentions. The Duchess of Berwick judges men and women by their dignity and wishes for her daughter to judge accordingly. Lord Darlington appears to be scheming something, yet hiding his true intentions to be accepted. Lady Windermere wants the best people to surround her for the best reputation with at least the Duchess. Overall, the three characters in Lady Windermere's Fan are different views of a society that judges and behaves based on reputation.