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Oscar Wilde - An Ideal Husband - Plot and Characte­rs

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An Ideal Husband


Characters:


Sir Robert Chiltern is 40 years old and an aspiring, honourable man who works as a deputy minister. Eighteen years ago, when he was young and poor, Baron Arnheim promised him to make him rich if Robert gives confidential information to him. Some weeks later Robert came to know that the English government was planning to buy Suez Canal shares. In a letter, he advised Arnheim to buy immediately- three days before the government announced her plans and the prices rised. The Baron gave 110 000 pounds to Robert and provided him a place in the House of Commons.

Gertrude Chiltern is Sir Roberts’s wife. She adores her husband and has made an idol of him, because she believes he has no faults. She does not no how he got his money. Gertrude is used to judge other people by very strict moral measures.

Lora Cheveley was a schoolmate of Gertrude and they always disliked each other. Many years ago, when Lora was an impecunious girl, Arthur Goring fell in love with her and they engaged. But three years later Lora met a very rich Lord and left Arthur. During the last years she lived in Vienna. Mrs. Cheveley is an intriguing, dishonourable woman who lies and steals and who does everything for her own profit. She is a great danger to Robert because she knows what are the roots of his wealth and she possesses the letter he wrote to Arnheim.

Arthur Viscount Goring is 34 years old and a good friend of Robert and Gertrude. His father is a wealthy man and he never has had financial problems. Arthur is known as a dandy and he has always cynical bonmots like “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance” prepared.


Plot:


At the beginning of act one Lora Cheveley has a conversation with Sir Robert: She owns shares of the Argentinean Canal Company and she knows that it refers to a great BÖRSENSCHWINDEL. Robert has the project examined by a commission and he is going to report the result in the House of Commons in a few days. Mrs. Cheveley begs him not to give a definitive judgement about the project and threats to bring the letter to Arnheim to the press, what would ruin Roberts career and marriage.

Robert decides to do what Mrs. Cheveley wants, but Gertrude warns him of Lora and she convinces her husband to send her a massage to tell her that he will tell the truth about the project.

In act two, Sir Robert tells Lord Goring what had happened. Arthur advises him to confess everything to Gertrude, but Robert dares not to do so because he fears to lose her love.

Lord Goring has the opportunity to speak with Lady Chiltern alone. He tries to persuade her not to be so strict with other people and he promises her earnestly to be there for her every time.

Mrs. Cheveley visits Lady Chiltern and they start an argument. Lora declares, that Chiltern’s house was “bought with the price of dishonour”. In this moment, Sir Robert enters. He wants to explain everything but Gertrud refuses to listen him. She has made a false idol of him and now she is in despair.

In act three, Lord Goring has a visit of his father who admonishes his son to marry. A messenger brings a letter from Lady Chiltern: “I want you. I trust you. I am coming to you. Gertrud” Arthur orders his servant to take the Lady, who will come soon, in a room nearby. While he is talking with his father, a little bit later, Mrs. Cheveley arrives and the servant, who thinks she is the Lady Lord Goring is expecting, asks her to come in. Mrs Cheveley finds Gertrud’s letter, and she sticks it in. Arthur’s father leaves. At the door, Lord Goring meets Robert, and starts a conversation about Robert’s love to his wife in the hope Gertrud can hear them. But then Robert discovers Mrs. Cheveley and he leaves the house furiously.

Lora promises Arthur to give the onerous letter to him if he was willing to marry her. Arthur refuses the offer. By chance it turns out that Lora has stolen a brooch. Now, Arthur is able to force her to hand the letter over to him.

In act four, Lord Goring comes to know that Sir Robert has opposed against the British holdings in the Argentinean Canal Project. He drives to Robert’s house. While he is waiting for Lady Chiltern, Robert’s sister Mabel appears and Arthur declares his love, what Mabel has expected for a long time. Robert comes home. Mrs. Chiltern has sent the stolen letter to him, but Robert thinks Gertrud has written it to him and he is happy that she still loves him. He is even happier when he hears that Arthur has burned the letter to Arnheim.

Sir Robert is promoted, but he refuses. He believes that he has to give up his political career because of his early mistakes.




Gertrud succeeds in convincing her husband to take the job though. Arthur begs Robert to allow his marriage with Mabel. But Robert has the impression that Arthur has still a relationship with Mrs. Cheveley and denies it. Lady Chiltern admits that she has written the letter to Lord Goring and that he was expecting her and not Mrs. Cheveley.

Now, all misunderstandings are solved and there are no obstacles for Robert to continue his career and for Arthur to marry Mabel.


Themes:


The main themes of the play are politics and morality, extortion and the power of the press, love and confidence. The style of “An Ideal Husband” is similar to Wilde’s other comedies, for example “The Importance of Being Ernest.” There is the character of the honourable man who has some faults to hide and the figure of the easy-going, cynical dandy. In the end, everybody has learned something, is more understanding and the couples are happily united. What makes the play worth reading are first of all the funny, polished dialogues and the sneering quotations.







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