Duplicity in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband
Mrs. Cheveley
Mrs. Cheveley is the embodiment of duplicity. We only see her as a charming Englishwoman but soon learn
her to be the villain of the plot who is willing to ruin Sir Robert’s career. Mrs. Cheveley is not what she
appears to be at first and definitely not what she usually presents herself to be. Her serious, more
dangerous villainess side only comes out a few instances in the play when she finds it utterly necessary.
Apart from these, she likes to pose to be something entirely different. She poses as a silly, modern
somewhat sexist English woman who is living aboard but in reality she is cunning, sly, powerful and ready to
do whatever she must to get her way.
One of the attributes that differentiates Mrs. Cheveley from the rest of the characters in the play is that she
is does not see duplicity as a fault. She believes that everyone is just posing and wearing a mask. To her,
only posing is natural and so she does not feel there is anything wrong with her behavior and the masks she
wears on a regular basis.
Mrs. Cheveley’s name itself is another way that her duplicity can be seen. It is not the name that Lady
Chiltern knows her true nature by, it is another. This name is even what allows Mrs. Cheveley to enter their
home without Lady Chiltern knowing it was really her. Much like this, Mrs. Cheveley moves about society
without people really knowing her true nature as an immoral woman who is corrupt and blackmails Sir
Robert and Lord Goring.
The brooch is also a symbol comparable to Mrs. Cheveley. It appears to be a red brooch but it can also be
used as a bracelet just as Mrs. Cheveley appears to be a normal silly woman but is actually a dangerous and
powerful enemy. The bracelet compliments her duality as it too is more than meets the eye. It is also in the
form of a snake, which is a creature that in itself sheds its skin periodically which is like the masks Mrs.
Cheveley wears. Ironically Mrs. Cheveley is later trapped by the bracelet. She also degrades to the form of
snake as her mask is forced to be shed.
Lord Goring
Lord Goring’s character in Ideal Husband is not the usual negative type of duplicity as shown in other
characters (e.g. Mrs. Cheveley) but rather more of just a façade that he kind of puts up (the façade being
that he is uncaring and useless in society though he really isn’t). In certain acts (especially Act 1) Wilde
portrays him to be a man of great wit and comedy, one that goes against the normal Victorian views of
society. For instance, he does not wish to be the ideal husband nor does he want a perfect wife. Although in
the first act he seems to be irresponsible, uncaring, and “heartless,” (as Lord Caversham calls him), useless,
and “the most idle man in London,” Goring is actually essential to the play and turns out to be quite useful
to his friends Gertrude and Robert by turning out to be the hero.
Although Goring on the outside is shown to and “heartless” he is actually the one who both Sir
Robert and Lady Chiltern confide in and look to for help throughout the play. For instance, in act 3 when he
reads Lady Chiltern’s letter it states, “I need you. I trust you. I am coming to you.” He acts like morals are to
be taken light-heartedly, but on the contrary, he really does know how to handle a problematic situation
Mrs. Cheveley
Mrs. Cheveley is the embodiment of duplicity. We only see her as a charming Englishwoman but soon learn
her to be the villain of the plot who is willing to ruin Sir Robert’s career. Mrs. Cheveley is not what she
appears to be at first and definitely not what she usually presents herself to be. Her serious, more
dangerous villainess side only comes out a few instances in the play when she finds it utterly necessary.
Apart from these, she likes to pose to be something entirely different. She poses as a silly, modern
somewhat sexist English woman who is living aboard but in reality she is cunning, sly, powerful and ready to
do whatever she must to get her way.
One of the attributes that differentiates Mrs. Cheveley from the rest of the characters in the play is that she
is does not see duplicity as a fault. She believes that everyone is just posing and wearing a mask. To her,
only posing is natural and so she does not feel there is anything wrong with her behavior and the masks she
wears on a regular basis.
Mrs. Cheveley’s name itself is another way that her duplicity can be seen. It is not the name that Lady
Chiltern knows her true nature by, it is another. This name is even what allows Mrs. Cheveley to enter their
home without Lady Chiltern knowing it was really her. Much like this, Mrs. Cheveley moves about society
without people really knowing her true nature as an immoral woman who is corrupt and blackmails Sir
Robert and Lord Goring.
The brooch is also a symbol comparable to Mrs. Cheveley. It appears to be a red brooch but it can also be
used as a bracelet just as Mrs. Cheveley appears to be a normal silly woman but is actually a dangerous and
powerful enemy. The bracelet compliments her duality as it too is more than meets the eye. It is also in the
form of a snake, which is a creature that in itself sheds its skin periodically which is like the masks Mrs.
Cheveley wears. Ironically Mrs. Cheveley is later trapped by the bracelet. She also degrades to the form of
snake as her mask is forced to be shed.
Lord Goring
Lord Goring’s character in Ideal Husband is not the usual negative type of duplicity as shown in other
characters (e.g. Mrs. Cheveley) but rather more of just a façade that he kind of puts up (the façade being
that he is uncaring and useless in society though he really isn’t). In certain acts (especially Act 1) Wilde
portrays him to be a man of great wit and comedy, one that goes against the normal Victorian views of
society. For instance, he does not wish to be the ideal husband nor does he want a perfect wife. Although in
the first act he seems to be irresponsible, uncaring, and “heartless,” (as Lord Caversham calls him), useless,
and “the most idle man in London,” Goring is actually essential to the play and turns out to be quite useful
to his friends Gertrude and Robert by turning out to be the hero.
Although Goring on the outside is shown to and “heartless” he is actually the one who both Sir
Robert and Lady Chiltern confide in and look to for help throughout the play. For instance, in act 3 when he
reads Lady Chiltern’s letter it states, “I need you. I trust you. I am coming to you.” He acts like morals are to
be taken light-heartedly, but on the contrary, he really does know how to handle a problematic situation
