An Ideal Husband (eBook) Oscar Wilde

Description

First performed in 1895, Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband is a brilliant comedy of manners set in the glittering world of London high society. The play combines Wilde’s signature wit with a sharp look at politics, morality, marriage, and the dangerous power of secrets.

Sir Robert Chiltern is widely admired as the perfect public figure: an honorable politician, a devoted husband, and a man whose reputation appears beyond reproach. But when the cunning and manipulative Mrs. Cheveley arrives in London, she brings with her evidence of a long-buried scandal from Sir Robert’s past. With this secret in hand, she threatens to destroy his career and reputation unless he supports a corrupt political scheme.

As the web of intrigue tightens, Sir Robert’s wife, Lady Chiltern, must confront the uncomfortable truth that the man she believes morally flawless may not be the “ideal husband” she imagined. Meanwhile, the charming and cynical Lord Goring—one of Wilde’s most delightful characters—steps in to untangle the plot with wit, insight, and impeccable timing.

Filled with dazzling dialogue, memorable characters, and Wilde’s trademark epigrams, An Ideal Husband explores the tension between public virtue and private imperfection. Beneath the comedy lies a surprisingly modern message: that true love requires forgiveness, understanding, and the acceptance of human flaws.

Today, the play remains one of Wilde’s most celebrated works, frequently performed on stage and adapted for film and television.