Relevant quotations chosen from Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband for the A Level English Literature exam. These notes present meanings of quotes and the cross examination and further analysis in comparison to John Milton's Paradise Lost. These notes can be used to help analysis of An Ideal Husband al...
Quotation Meaning Comparison
About Lord Goring: “an idle life” He does nothing with his life/ relaxed intro of Adam and Eve = calm before the storm
character
Mabel Chiltern: “beautiful idiots” Priority of beauty over what is beneath = Beaty of the forbidden fruit vs danger it poses
aestheticism movement
Description of Mrs Cheveley: “scarlet” Associated with rebellion and scandal Foreshadowing of sin/ trouble
Description of Mrs Cheveley: “A work of art on Too many impressions upon her and possibly
the whole, but showing the influence of too confusing character?
many schools”
Description of Sir Robert Chiltern: “separation of Able to separate his heart from his head = Adam eats the fruit using his free will in order to
passion and intellect” emotion and thought can be separated be in the same position as Eve = chooses feelings
for Eve over his better knowledge to stay loyal to
God
Mrs Cheveley: “Lady Chiltern always getting the Hints at Lady Chilterns need for perfection and Adam and Eve = held to perfection by God and
good conduct prize” her high standards for herself and those around they ruin this by eating the fruit like Lady
her Chilterns image of her husband is ruined
Mrs Cheveley: “politics are my only pleasure” Non-stereotypical for a woman of the time = Eve going to farm the wider garden alone
does what she wants not what is expected of a regardless of what Adam has to say to her
woman
Mrs Cheveley: “think it such a pity he never Foreshadowing the fall of Sir Robert and Lady Mrs Cheveley can be compared to Satan in a way
wrote his memoirs” Chilterns marriage = Mrs Cheveley has the power as she has all the power to ruin the perfect
to ruin the perfect image of Sir Robert marriage as Satan has the power to ruin perfect
man kind
Description of Lord Goring: “A flawless dandy” Aestheticism movement = focus on external Serpent = disguise for intelligent Satan
appearances to hide intelligence
Mrs Cheveley: “I know the real origin of your Blackmail from Mrs Cheveley to get Sir Robert to Serpent = convinces Eve to eat the fruit through
wealth” convince government to invest in the Argentine corrupt means
Canal (which she has invested in and if govt don’t Adam = arguing with Eve when she wants to
invest she will lose money) if he doesn’t, she will leave but he eventually gives in = difference
expose his secret
Sir Robert: “Don’t go. I consent” Agrees to convince govt to invest in the Successful manipulation of Eve and then the fall
, Argentine Canal. He has been successfully of Adam as a result by Satan
manipulated by Mrs Cheveley = beginning of the
fall of his perfect image
“Now you can get my carriage for me” Mrs Cheveley = gets what she wants from men Like Eve = gets Adam to let her leave to farm
wider and then Adam eats fruit as well (can
argue last one both ways)
About Lady Chiltern: “very highest principles” Set up for the fall of perfect image of Sir Robert Adam and Eve = initially present perfection of
mankind as created by God fall
Mrs Cheveley: “I converted him in ten minutes” Weak character of Sir Robert Mrs Cheveley = comparable to Satan again
(about Sir Robert to his wife) Mrs Cheveley = knows more about Lady Chilterns enjoyment out of corrupting something
husband than she does as his wife seemingly perfect
Enjoyment out of playing with other people Eve = manipulated easily by Satan
Lady Chiltern about Mrs Cheveley: “evil Knows her intentions and is sceptical of her Adam = knows there is something in the garden
influence” trying to corrupt mankind
Eve = manipulated by evil influence and it is the
cause for their downfall as it is in Wilde’s play
Lady Chiltern: “one’s past is what one is” Sir Robert = has done bad in his past but she God = can forgive them but cannot reverse what
does not know this yet sold insider govt info they have done what is done is done
for personal gain = career is built off this. God = more chance of forgiveness than Lady
Only way for Sir Robert to keep loving his wife is Chiltern
to keep being dishonest Eve = encourages Adam to eat fruit like Lady
Chiltern she sets her partner up to fall
Sir Robert Chiltern: “we all make mistakes” Trying to excuse what he has done to prepare Eve = tries to convince Adam to eat the fruit so
(See page 41) Lady Chiltern for the fall of his perfect image she doesn’t feel alone in sin he cannot blame
her solely and they fall together
Sir Robert Chiltern: “Circumstances alter things” Lady Chiltern has led a very protected life and Eve = lives a protected life and wants to farm
doesn’t understand how her husband could be wider but Adam knows that there is something
tempted by corruption to tempt her not until she is tempted does she
understand what Adam is saying
Lady Chiltern: “all very well for other men” Makes it impossible for Sir Robert to actually tell Eve gives Adam practically no choice than to eat
her what he has done as she has created such an the fruit makes their partner feel obliged to
ideal of him not say anything or to eat the fruit
Lady Chiltern: “don’t kill my love for you” Makes it impossible for Sir Robert to ever say the Eve gives Adam practically no choice than to eat
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