An Ideal Husband - Oscar Wilde
In the play an Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde the reader examines a close relationship between political power and social acceptability. Through the interaction of a small group of characters the play embodies broad social and political issues that were occurring during the late 19th century in an English Victorian society. Lord Goring, Sir Robert Chiltern, Lady Chiltern and Mrs Chevely use their wealth to attain political and social respectability in a British aristocracy during the 1890's. Towards the end of the 19th century was the growth of the Aesthetic movement, this is symbolized in Wilde's play An Ideal Husband through the use of Dandyism and Decadents using the character Lord Goring to display this. Wilde defined Dandyism as "the assertion of the absolute modernity of Beauty" and to relate this to Lord Goring it emasculates his character dramatically. The movement recognises individual freedom and modernity challenging society's rules and reforms. Throughout the play Lord Goring goes against the social norm in this patriarchal society. He isn't married nor engaged, doesn't work or represent any political proceedings, he lives an upper class life of wealth and parties and is more worried about his appearance and prefer
Lady Chiltern represents the "new woman" in the play. She conforms to her social stereotype as an upper class wife, supportive, fashionable, beautiful and loves her husband no matter what. "A man's life is of more value than a woman's. It has larger issues, wider scope and greater ambitions" this statement made by Lady Chiltern reveals how women were viewed as the emotional, non-progressive ones, whereas men were the intellectual, ambitious ones with a purpose to their lives. Lady Chiltern challenges this as she is the leader of the woman's Liberal Association which endeavors towards womens rights in society. This political party of women demonstrates the emergence of the Suffragette movement that was in place towards the end of the late 19th century, beginning of the 20th century. This movement in politics is aiming for the voting age of women to be lowered to 21 so that they are equals with the men. Lady Chiltern and her husband both being apart of the political world reinforces her power and influence in this patriarchal society. For this era the amount of power Lady Chiltern has is very uncommon, women were there to be seen but not heard. Lady Chiltern also exerts power over her husband when she finds out about his scandalous past. She determines his future and for ever more Sir Robert Chiltern and herself have to live a life of lies. The play an Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde displays the hypocrisy of society during the Victorian times in England. Through the use of the characters, Lord Goring, Sir Robert Chiltern, Lady Chiltern and Mrs Cheveley the reader is shown the embodiment of broad social and political issues that are raised during the 1890's in England. The idealistic lives of these characters are revealed and turned out
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1176
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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