An Ideal Husband: Theme Analysis
1. Truth vs. Lying
Is society built on truth and trust as Lady Chiltern asserts in her idealism: “It can never be necessary to do what is not
honourable” (Act I, p. 35)? Gertrude claims that her husband has “brought into the political life of our time a nobler
atmosphere . . . higher ideals” (Act I, p. 37). Sir Robert admits to his friend Arthur, however, that he is not the ideal
husband his wife thinks: “I would to God that I had been able to tell the truth . . . to live the truth” but “The truth has
always stifled me” (Act II, p. 51). He claims that his wife’s insistence on his ideal behaviour has ruined him by making
him have to refuse the blackmail deal of Mrs. Cheveley, thus exposing himself to scandal.
It is a typical Wilde paradox that leads to the moral conclusion that lying is what makes society run and truth leads to
disaster. Sir Robert tries to tell his wife “truth is a very complex thing . . . There are wheels within wheels . . . one has
to compromise” (Act I, p. 34). Ironically, Sir Robert tells Arthur that he cannot tell his wife the truth about his past
because she is too perfect herself to understand the failings of others. Mrs. Cheveley echoes this paradox by telling
Gertrude that there are “chasms” between her and her husband because she is too honest. As his enemy, however,
Mrs. Cheveley is closer to him because “like meets with like” (Act II, p. 69). People who lie get along together just fine.
They know how to play the game.
Gertrude is so upset her life is falling to pieces that she actually begs her husband, “Oh, tell me it is not true! Lie to
me!” (Act II, p. 70). Lord Goring and Mabel Chiltern demonstrate the basis of society in lies in a lighter more
humorous vein, since they consciously lie to one another and expect it in return. Arthur may tell someone he is not at
home or swear on his honour nobody is in the other room, but his lies are for the purpose of keeping others happy.
He does not seem to believe in absolute truth since some truth is a lie, and some “falsehoods the truths of other
people” (Act III, p. 74). Sir Robert tells his wife “public and private life are different things. They have different laws”
(Act I, p. 33). He is comfortable with double standards. In the end, Gertrude has to learn to live with the idea that life
is not all truth and that it would be a very miserable business if it were.
2. Forgiveness vs. Moral Judgment
The question of forgiveness runs throughout An Ideal Husband. As Sir Robert angrily tells his wife that she has placed
him up on a monstrous pedestal, he tells her that it is when men are wounded that they are most in need of love and
forgiveness. As he puts it, love forgives. Much like the question, "Are you a pessimist or an optimist?" the decision to
forgive determines the quality of the characters' moral fortitude. Mrs. Cheveley stands as the one character beyond
forgiveness. In Act III, Lord Goring explains that Mrs. Cheveley's attempt to kill Lady Chiltern's love for her husband is
an unforgivable act. However, when Sir Robert appears at Lord Goring's house in desperate need of advice, believing
he has killed his wife's love for him, Lord Goring maintains that she will forgive him. Lord Goring understands that the
act of forgiveness is a crucial part of marriage, and through it we acknowledge universal human imperfection.
Therefore, love and forgiveness are inseparable throughout the play. When love is present, there is the possibility of
forgiveness. Human imperfection inherently requires love and forgiveness from others.
Mrs. Cheveley tells Sir Robert that Puritanism has ruined England with “our modern mania for morality” (Act I, p. 25).
Wilde here criticizes England for its narrow Puritan ideals of ideal family life and absolute sexual purity set forth by
Queen Victoria. This ideal pattern does not make people more virtuous, Wilde points out; it only makes them
pretend. And then, as Mrs. Cheveley says, “You all go over like ninepins” with one scandal after the other, since no
one can live up to these Puritan ideals (Act I, p. 25). Arthur tells Robert to confess his past to his wife, but Robert is
afraid, because Gertrude threatens to withdraw her love if she finds out he is not an ideal husband that she can
worship: “when we lose our worship, we lose everything” (Act I, p. 35).
Sir Robert never seems to be sorry for his mistake of the past, only that it was found out. He claims it is unfair for
others to judge him when “each one of them, have worse secrets in their own lives” (Act II, pp. 40, 41). Lord Goring
agrees “Nobody is incapable of doing a foolish thing” (Act II, p. 54). He tells Gertrude “All I do know is that life cannot
be understood without much charity, cannot be lived without much charity” (Act II, p. 54). He tries to tell her that it is
human nature to have some weakness: “perhaps you are a little hard in some of your views on life” (Act II, p. 53).
1. Truth vs. Lying
Is society built on truth and trust as Lady Chiltern asserts in her idealism: “It can never be necessary to do what is not
honourable” (Act I, p. 35)? Gertrude claims that her husband has “brought into the political life of our time a nobler
atmosphere . . . higher ideals” (Act I, p. 37). Sir Robert admits to his friend Arthur, however, that he is not the ideal
husband his wife thinks: “I would to God that I had been able to tell the truth . . . to live the truth” but “The truth has
always stifled me” (Act II, p. 51). He claims that his wife’s insistence on his ideal behaviour has ruined him by making
him have to refuse the blackmail deal of Mrs. Cheveley, thus exposing himself to scandal.
It is a typical Wilde paradox that leads to the moral conclusion that lying is what makes society run and truth leads to
disaster. Sir Robert tries to tell his wife “truth is a very complex thing . . . There are wheels within wheels . . . one has
to compromise” (Act I, p. 34). Ironically, Sir Robert tells Arthur that he cannot tell his wife the truth about his past
because she is too perfect herself to understand the failings of others. Mrs. Cheveley echoes this paradox by telling
Gertrude that there are “chasms” between her and her husband because she is too honest. As his enemy, however,
Mrs. Cheveley is closer to him because “like meets with like” (Act II, p. 69). People who lie get along together just fine.
They know how to play the game.
Gertrude is so upset her life is falling to pieces that she actually begs her husband, “Oh, tell me it is not true! Lie to
me!” (Act II, p. 70). Lord Goring and Mabel Chiltern demonstrate the basis of society in lies in a lighter more
humorous vein, since they consciously lie to one another and expect it in return. Arthur may tell someone he is not at
home or swear on his honour nobody is in the other room, but his lies are for the purpose of keeping others happy.
He does not seem to believe in absolute truth since some truth is a lie, and some “falsehoods the truths of other
people” (Act III, p. 74). Sir Robert tells his wife “public and private life are different things. They have different laws”
(Act I, p. 33). He is comfortable with double standards. In the end, Gertrude has to learn to live with the idea that life
is not all truth and that it would be a very miserable business if it were.
2. Forgiveness vs. Moral Judgment
The question of forgiveness runs throughout An Ideal Husband. As Sir Robert angrily tells his wife that she has placed
him up on a monstrous pedestal, he tells her that it is when men are wounded that they are most in need of love and
forgiveness. As he puts it, love forgives. Much like the question, "Are you a pessimist or an optimist?" the decision to
forgive determines the quality of the characters' moral fortitude. Mrs. Cheveley stands as the one character beyond
forgiveness. In Act III, Lord Goring explains that Mrs. Cheveley's attempt to kill Lady Chiltern's love for her husband is
an unforgivable act. However, when Sir Robert appears at Lord Goring's house in desperate need of advice, believing
he has killed his wife's love for him, Lord Goring maintains that she will forgive him. Lord Goring understands that the
act of forgiveness is a crucial part of marriage, and through it we acknowledge universal human imperfection.
Therefore, love and forgiveness are inseparable throughout the play. When love is present, there is the possibility of
forgiveness. Human imperfection inherently requires love and forgiveness from others.
Mrs. Cheveley tells Sir Robert that Puritanism has ruined England with “our modern mania for morality” (Act I, p. 25).
Wilde here criticizes England for its narrow Puritan ideals of ideal family life and absolute sexual purity set forth by
Queen Victoria. This ideal pattern does not make people more virtuous, Wilde points out; it only makes them
pretend. And then, as Mrs. Cheveley says, “You all go over like ninepins” with one scandal after the other, since no
one can live up to these Puritan ideals (Act I, p. 25). Arthur tells Robert to confess his past to his wife, but Robert is
afraid, because Gertrude threatens to withdraw her love if she finds out he is not an ideal husband that she can
worship: “when we lose our worship, we lose everything” (Act I, p. 35).
Sir Robert never seems to be sorry for his mistake of the past, only that it was found out. He claims it is unfair for
others to judge him when “each one of them, have worse secrets in their own lives” (Act II, pp. 40, 41). Lord Goring
agrees “Nobody is incapable of doing a foolish thing” (Act II, p. 54). He tells Gertrude “All I do know is that life cannot
be understood without much charity, cannot be lived without much charity” (Act II, p. 54). He tries to tell her that it is
human nature to have some weakness: “perhaps you are a little hard in some of your views on life” (Act II, p. 53).
