In a climactic moment Gertrude Chiltern “learns her lesson” and repeats LORD GORING’s advice “A man’s life is of more value than a woman’s.” Often criticized by contemporary theatre analysers as overt sexism, the idea being expressed in the monologue is that women, despite serving as the source of morality in Victorian era marriages, should be less judgemental of their husband’s mistakes because of complexities surrounding the balance that husbands of that era had to keep between their domestic and their worldly obligations. Other themes include the position of women in society. Stressing the need to be forgiven of past sins, and the irrationality of ruining lives of great value to society because of people’s hypocritical reactions to those sins, Wilde may have been speaking to his own situation, and his own fears regarding his affair (still secret). Many of the themes of An Ideal Husband were influenced by the situation Oscar Wilde found himself in during the early 1890s. After Earnest it is his most popularly produced play. “Sooner or later,” Wilde notes, “we shall all have to pay for what we do.” But he adds that, “No one should be entirely judged by their past.” Together with The Importance of Being Earnest, it is often considered Wilde’s dramatic masterpiece. The action is set in London, in “the present”, and takes place over the course of twenty-four hours. Souvenir Brochure with Original Ticket 1998Īn Ideal Husband is an 1895 comedic stage play by Oscar Wilde which revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. Friendships and marriages alike are soon teetering on the precipice of Cheveley's destruction.An Ideal Husband (Play) 1998 Australian Production – Stephanie Beacham, Nicky Henson, John Waters, Josephine Byrnes, Googie Withers, John McCallum, Penny Cook – Australian Theatre Program Autographed by nearly all Cast members But it's not long before Robert's wife, Gertrude, and younger sister, Mabel, are also entangled in the plotting. Whilst Robert is rocked by the dilemma posed by her blackmail, Arthur attempts to help his friend. The arrival in London of a former fiancée of Arthur's, Mrs Cheveley, who now resides on the continent after marrying a wealthy Baron, brings with it a rude surprise: she has discovered the secret - and scandalous - source of Goring's family wealth, and intends to make the truth public, ruining his social and political interests, unless he reverses his decision and publicly backs the Argentinian project. He is already known to believe the project a fools' errand, and it seems his full report will be even more damning. His close friend, Sir Robert Charlton, meanwhile, is facing a dilemma of an altogether much more troublesome nature: a Member of Parliament, he is due to deliver an anticipated assessment of a high-profile business venture to build a canal in Argentina. Comedy of social manners and political scandal.Īmidst the heady London season of 1895, Lord Arthur Goring - "the idlest man in London" - is facing pressure from his father to marry and to make something of his life.
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