An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Genre: Plays
Blurb (on back of book): Although Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) created a wide range of poetry, essays, and fairy tales (and one novel) in his brief, tragic life, he is perhaps best known as a dramatist. His witty, clever drama, populated by brilliant talkers skilled in the art of riposte and paradox, are still staples of the theatrical repertoire.
An Ideal Husband revolves around a blackmail scheme that forces a married couple to reexamine their moral standards — providing, along the way, a wry commentary on the rarity of politicians who can claim to be ethically pure. A supporting cast of young lovers, society matrons, an overbearing father, and a formidable femme fatale continually exchange sparkling repartee, keeping the play moving at a lively pace.
Like most of Wilde's plays, this scintillating drawing-room comedy is wise, well-constructed, and deeply satisfying. An instant success at its 1895 debut, the play continues to delight audiences over one hundred years later. An Ideal Husband is a must-read for Wilde fans, students of English literature, and anyone delighted by wit, urbanity, and timeless sophistication.
MY OPINION: ****
In my Oscar Wilde era!
If you know anything about me, you know I love this man and his work with my whole heart. While I am not the biggest fan of reading/listening to plays instead of seeing them, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected. It's funny and witty, exactly as you would expect from Wilde.
It also is a social commentary on the world Wilde lived in and the classic marriage institution that remains the subject of so many pieces of literature to this day. It also focuses on social status, reputation, and political blackmail, which I would not have expected from a play with this title.
I went into this with no idea what it was about and came out of it feeling renewed and invigorated to read more Wilde. I just cannot get over this man's writing and how gorgeous he manages to write short sentences.
The play follows politician Robert Chiltern, who has a loving wife and perfect life. Well, until it is revealed that his entire status and wealth and success is built on a lie. The sophisticated Mrs. Cheveley carries with her a letter that can unearth and ruin Robert's entire life unless he joins her in an Argentinian construction plan that will lead to her financial success and his escape from public censure. Along the way, his perfect wife finds out about Robert's secret and suddenly it seems like his entire marriage is falling apart because of one mistake from his past.
There are a lot of really interesting and unique side characters besides these three who I really loved. Lord Goring especially piqued my interest and he was definitely my favorite out of the cast. I would love to see this play come to life on the stage so that I can better see what Wilde's vision was, because there were times I got a little confused (though this may be because I listened to it on audiobook.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this play to Wilde lovers, though I will say he definitely has written better.
Main Character: Robert, etc
Sidekick(s): Mrs. Chiltern, Lord Goring, etc
Villain(s): Lying, Mrs. Chaverly(?), etc
Play Elements: This is a theatrical play.
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