Notes for An Ideal Husband podcast

Topics: Secrets, persuasion, marriage, career, criminal past, blackmail, morality, honor vs dishonor,

the past.

Themes: An Ideal Husband has several themes. Honor is one of them. This play teaches that a man's

public life and his image often clashes with a dishonorable past. Sir Robert Chiltern has a criminal

past, rising through the ranks with backwater dealings that haunt him. His morally upstanding wife,

Lady Chiltern, holds Sir Robert to an extremely high moral standard and expects him to be an

honorable, ideal husband. Sir Robert keeps Lady Chiltern in the dark about this past of his, which

creates an amount of conflict in the story.

Another theme in this play is secrecy. Sir Robert hides the fact that his life and success were

founded on a secret crime. When Mrs. Cheveley tries to blackmail Sir Robert with evidence of his

crime, Sir Robert must scramble to save his marriage and career.

An overall theme of this play is marriage. Lady Chiltern has an angle that marital life is

basically worship, she poses her husband as this pristine ideal of honor in both his public and private

lifes. Sir Robert lives up to this ideal in most ways, except for his past, which he hides and creates

marital strife.

Sir Robert Chiltern – At the start of this play, Sir Robert Chiltern is basically an 'ideal husband.' A 40

year old, handsome clean-cut gentleman, he is proud of himself and what he has done in his career and

for his country. He has pride in his marriage and is quite content. However, early in his career, he sold
a government secret – who used it to make himself and Sir Robert a boatload of money. He conceals

this from his wife. So in essence, he is a good an who is honorable in his career, politics, and love for

his wife and yet dishonorable because of his criminal past and how he has lied to his wife about it.

Mrs. Cheveley - The plays villian. She enjoys flirtation and values money and social connection.

Charming and witty. Her primary crime in this play is trying to blackmail Sir Robert so she can make

money off of the Argentine Canal scheme – as well as disrubting the Chiltern's marriage.. Got expelled

from school for theft when she was young. Openly out for her own good.

Lady Chiltern - Sir Roberts wife. Loves her husband, believes him to be morally pure. Loves his

success and reputation as an ethical government official. Debates leaving her husband when she finds

out he isn't as ideal as she pictured him. Put Sir Robert on a pedestal - later finds a way to love him

despite Sir Roberts faults.

Lord Goring – Lives a life of pleasure as a dandy. Appears superficial but is in reality a really good

guy. Gets serious when the situation is in need of it, but is otherwise a witty and charming pesrsona. I

believe this character is a projection from Wilde, as he has some incredibly witty lines and is in some

ways a hero in the play – getting the letter Mrs. Cheveley uses to blackmail Sir Robert, giving good

advice to Sir Robert.

Synopsis/Plot points

At a dinner party in London, Sir Robert Chiltern who is a member of the house of commons, his

wife Lady Chiltern and his sister Mabel Chiltern along with Lord Goring are present. It is revealed
that Sir Robert sold a government secret in his past and he is keeping it from his wife. Mrs. Cheveley

shows up – who is Lord Goring's ex. She proceeds to attempt blackmail on Sir Robert regarding a plot

to build a canal in Argentina.

Sir Robert becomes fraught with fear when Cheveley threatens to tell Lady Chiltern about his

past misdoings. He knows his wife would not understand, and has to do what she says. Sir Robert is at

a crossroads in his decision making, should he go with his heart or protect his reputation?

Mrs. Cheveley tries to get back with Goring, and is desperate.

At it's climax, Sir Robert publicly denounces the Argentine Canal, truths are revealed, and

everything falls into place. Wilde is making a critique on the morals and honor of the Victorian society,

and tells his story through a scandalous representation of the dichotomy of love and honor.

Introduction - Sir Robert sells government secrets and gains wealth.

Rising actions -

Mrs. Cheveley blackmails Sir Robert about his past crime.

Mrs. Cheveley wants Sir Sobert to support the canal.

Sir Robert confesses about his crimes to Lord Goring.

Lady Chiltern writes Lord Goring, imploring for his help.

Sir Robert finds Mrs. Cheveley at Lord Gorings.

Mrs. Cheveley has the audacity to try and blackmail Lord Goring into marriage (big one for me!)

Lord Goring masterfully blackmails Mrs Cheveley to return the letter.

Climax -

Sir Robert publicly denounces the Argentine Canal.

Falling actions -
Lord Goring proposes to Mabel Chiltern.

Lady Chiltern tells Sir Robert the truth about the letter.

Resolution -

The Chiltern's stop fighting and reconcile. Sir Robert takes a job on the Cabinet.

Podcast questions and prompts:

If your partner had a dark secret, would you judge them for it?

Is forgiveness a huge part of love?

Would you despise him for their past, or find a way to live with the fact that your partner is not exactly

what you thought they were?

Songs/Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw The Final Countdown – Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzC_8zqInk R U Mine? - Artic Monkeys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeGL0egXvHU Hypocritical Kiss – Jack White

More Info – The play has four acts, was first produced in 1895. It's a dramatic comedy that takes place

in multiple settings in late 19th century London.