An Ideal Husband Study Guide
(Oscar Wilde)

Honor

One of the principle discussions of the An Ideal Husband is on the subject of honor and reputation. This is most apparent in the figure of Robert Chiltern, who represents the (seemingly) honest politician. Robert has a virtuous wife, good friends, and an upstanding reputation. Lady Chiltern practically worships Robert for his moral uprightness and considers him nothing without it. Robert's honor is threatened by Mrs. Cheveley dredging up his past. However, he continues to act honorably, not giving in to her threats even if it will cost him his reputation.

The Resurgence of the Past

Several prominent characters throughout the play are forced to confront with aspects of their past, all revolving around Mrs. Cheveley. Lady Chiltern knew Mrs. Cheveley from school, and immediately distrusts her because of her past personality. Lord Goring was once engaged to Mrs. Cheveley, and so she brings back unpleasant memories for him. And Robert is directly confronted with a shameful reminder from his past in the form of the letter in Mrs. Cheveley's possession. The question is whether or not past actions should determine present judgment, and Oscar Wilde seems to lean towards the side of forgiveness for actions.

Ambition and the Definition of Power

The primary conflicts of the play arise because of the character's ambition and quest for power. The philosophy stems from the unseen character Baron Arnheim, whose philosophy of power profoundly affected both Robert Chiltern and Mrs. Cheveley. Both naturally ambitious, Baron Arnheim told them of his philosophy of power, which is centered around wealth. This caused Robert to sell private information and Mrs. Cheveley to try and marry Lord Goring for his fortune. Throughout the play, however, the characters that have the most knowledge, as opposed to the most wealth, hold the true power.

Politics and Corruption

Politics provide the backdrop for the morality struggles of the play. Robert Chiltern is a powerful politician, and his wife educated and involved in his work. They are contrasted by characters such as Lord Goring and Mabel Chiltern, who spurn politics as a general rule. The idea of corruption is considered inherent in politics, and the characters who believe otherwise are viewed as naive. Lord Goring, for instance, tells Lady Chiltern that no political success can be gained without some corruption, and cites it as a reason for her to forgive her husband.

Marriage

Although many other aspects come through in An Ideal Husband, the play itself is still an exploration of the Comedy of Manners and, therefore, centers around the formation of couples. An Ideal Husband goes one step farther than normal Comedy of Manners plays, however, by exploring facets of marriage and relationships. There are two distinct couples who serve as foils to each other: Robert and Lady Chiltern, and Lord Goring and Mabel. The Chilterns, already married, are upright, moral citizens of society concerned with honesty and virtue above all else. Lord Goring and Mabel, on the other hand, are both witty and dismissive of anything serious. In typical fashion, both couples are reconciled at the end of the play.

Women in Society

There are several viewpoints expressed by different characters regarding the role of women in society. The most prominent example of the "ideal wife" is Lady Chiltern. She is virtuous, supportive, educated and politically aware. She is directly contrasted by the "unnatural" Mrs. Cheveley, who is devious and selfish. The older woman, Mrs. Markby, represents the old English society. She believes women should not be educated, as it interferes with marriage. Lady Chiltern disagrees strongly with this, as a modern woman. Women are said throughout the play to be emotion instead of logical, and should play the supportive role in the relationship as opposed to an active role.

Men in Society

Just like women, men are portrayed as having several roles in English society. The ideal role is fulfilled by Robert Chiltern, just as his wife represents the ideal woman. Even though he committed a sin in the past, he remains a powerful yet morally upright man in society. He is ambitious as well as honorable and is a man of intellect. Lord Caversham, of the older generation, approves of Robert Chiltern's way of living. Lord Goring, on the other hand, represents the opposite of Robert. He has no ambitions, is not married, and is overly concerned with appearing young and witty. While his lifestyle is frowned upon by his father, Lord Goring is presented as one of the moral compasses in the play.

Hypocrisy

Many characters in An Ideal Husband portray hypocrisy in their actions and words. Minor characters, such as Lady Basildon, for instance, constantly say one thing to one person, and then a different thing to someone else. Even Lady Chiltern, the most virtuous character in the play, is subject to hypocrisy. Her rules of behavior are so strict that even she cannot follow them, and so, when Lord Goring urges her to tell Robert the truth she refuses for fear of the consequences.

Forgiveness

Only through forgiveness can the conclusion of the play be reached, which was, perhaps, Oscar Wilde's primary purpose in writing the play. Even though characters such as Robert Chiltern committed crimes in their pasts, because they are of value to society, Wilde argues that they should be forgiven based on their merits rather than their sins. In contrast, characters such as Mrs. Cheveley, who have no merits, do not forgive and are not forgiven. There is also the issue of women and forgiveness, since women are seen as putting men on pedestals and not forgiving their faults. This is presented as a "womanly" way to love, and the correct version, the "male" version, requires forgiveness in order to work.

Aestheticism

Oscar Wilde, who helped found the Aestheticism movement and lived a life devoted to the philosophy, puts characters in his plays who believe as he did. In An Ideal Husband, this character, who is a direct representation of Oscar Wilde himself, is Lord Goring. Goring values youth, beauty, and wit and prides himself on his paradoxical views and detachment from politics. Since Lord Goring is not only devoted to a life of pleasure, but also serves as the moral compass for "ideal" characters such as Robert and Lady Chiltern, aestheticism is portrayed in a positive light in the play.