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.