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Summary. An Ideal Husband is at times a difficult play to summarize as much of its "plot" happens through rapid-fire, epigrammatic dialogue. Indeed, the pace and subtlety of these turns-of-phrase are what make plot so easy to miss. When summarizing the story, one finds oneself paraphrasing the repartee (repartee is defined as a smart, ready ...
An Ideal Husband is one of Wilde’s society comedies, which satirize the upper class and their values. It was first performed in 1895, the same year as Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest . Read a full play summary , an in-depth character analysis of Sir Robert Chiltern , and explanations of important quotes in An Ideal Husband .
The first act opens during a party at the Chilterns’ house, a lovely, opulent home in a fashionable part of London. Lady Chiltern, a beautiful woman in her late twenties, is receiving her guests in stiff, formal manner at the top of a spiral staircase. Meanwhile, Mrs. Marchmont and Lady Basildon – two pretty, slightly affected young women ...
An Ideal Husband Full Play Summary. An Ideal Husband opens during a dinner party at the home of Sir Robert Chiltern in London's fashionable Grosvenor Square. Sir Robert, a prestigious member of the House of Commons, and his wife, Lady Gertrude Chiltern, are hosting a gathering that includes his friend Lord Goring, a dandified bachelor and close ...
An Ideal Husband Summary and Analysis of Act I. Summary. The play opens at a party at Sir Robert Chiltern 's house in Grosvenor Square, London. The party exemplifies much of the play's tendency towards quick and witty conversation. The Chiltern home is regal and their guests are impeccably dressed.
An Ideal Husband is one of the most serious of Wilde's social comedies, and contains very strong political overtones, ironically and cynically examining the contemporary political landscape. The play's main focus is the often corrupt sources of great wealth, of which the public is usually ignorant. The characters and circumstances surrounding ...
The third act opens onto Lord Goring ’s library, where the impressively inscrutable butler named Phipps is tidying up some newspapers. Lord Goring walks in, dressed beautifully and expensively - “the first well-dressed philosopher in the history of thought.”. He asks Phipps for a change of buttonhole (a flower one wears on a suit jacket).
