In 2002, Lady Windermere's Fan was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

"[6][7] In London, Lady Margaret Windermere is busy discouraging Lord Darlington's flirting, while her husband receives a letter from Edith Erlynne, "a complete stranger," asking to meet him on an urgent matter.

A woman of great beauty but terrible reputation, she reveals that she is the mother of Lady Windermere, who believes she is dead and reveres her memory.

Fearing that his wife would be crushed by the truth and seeing a pile of bills on Mrs. Erlynne's desk, Lord Windermere gives her a cheque for £1500 for her silence.

At a horse race, she attracts the attention of many, including members of the Windermere party, notably Lord Augustus Lorton, "London's most distinguished bachelor," and three snoopy, gossipy women.

When he returns home, his wife confronts him with his copy of the £1500 cheque, which she found after breaking into his locked desk drawer.

At Darlington's house, she tries to persuade Lady Windermere to go home, telling her that she ruined her life in exactly the same manner.

The following day at breakfast, Mrs. Erlynne comes to return the fan and take leave of the Windermeres, as she is going back to France.

On her way out, Mrs. Erlynne encounters Lord Lorton and tells him that she was shocked by his behavior the previous evening and that she no longer wants to marry him.