Viewing Questions: An Ideal Husband
The Basics
How does Lady Chiltern know Mrs. Cheveley? What is the nature of their interaction?
What is the secret of Sir Robert’s past?
Why does Mrs. Cheveley come to Sir Robert?
What is the relationship between Mabel and Tommy?
What is the history between Lord Goring and Mrs. Cheveley?
When Lord Goring receives Sir Robert in his library, who does he believe waits in the drawing room?
For what is Mrs. Cheveley willing to trade Sir Robert’s letter?
Who reveals his wife’s letter to Sir Robert? For what purpose?
Why does Sir Robert object to the proposal Mabel finally accepts?
What appointment does Sir Robert accept at the end of the play?
Choose 5
Take a short, humorous example of Wildean banter and explain why it is funny. What literary devices (irony, sarcasm, paradox, etc.) make the joke possible? What, if any, is the joke’s insight? How might it function in the larger context of the play?
Compare and contrast the different notions of love proffered by the players, both major and minor. Contextualize these opinions within the larger moral scheme of the play. You may want to isolate two characters or couples for comparison.
In Act I, Mrs. Cheveley tells Sir Robert: “Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.” In Act II, Goring tells Sir Robert: “It is always worthwhile asking a question, though it is not always worthwhile answering one.” With these quotes in mind, discuss how moments of interrogation function in the play.
In Act III, Lord Caversham tells Lord Goring that he hates paradox. In what ways does Goring use paradox in his speech? What are the effects of such use?
How does An Ideal Husband analyze the issue of marriage? For a marriage to be “ideal,” is moral purity required? Explain.
Who is a more sympathetic character, Sir Robert Chiltern or Lord Goring? Explain.
Would you classify the ending of An Ideal Husband as morally just? Who suffers and who wins?
What contradictions does Lord Goring embody? How are these contradictions expressed? Provide specific examples.
Discuss the role of women and gender in the play. Are any universally female characteristics expressed?
Compare and contrast the qualities and personalities of Lady Chiltern and Mr. Cheveley.
What do you think?
An Ideal Husband is most definitely a comedy, but in many ways the play is rather serious. It’s about how to live with other people. How do we, with our very different personalities and expectations, understand each other? How do we keep from judging others? Should we keep from judging others, or do our judgments give us important information about how we want to conduct our own lives?
These questions are always present in our lives—in how we deal with our friends, how we handle our parents, even in how we vote and decide political issues. Imagine you found out that one of your classmates cheated on an important test. In general, she’s a cool person. You like her. She’ll probably go on to do great things. But knowing what you know, would you give her an A in the class?
What if she were your sister?
The play argues that, with a loved one, you should accept without judgment. Don’t throw the first stone. Turn the other cheek. Follow the golden rule.
But as the play ends and Sir Robert gets off scot-free, there’s an irritating question. Did he deserve it? What do you think?