robert chiltern is as bad as mrs cheveley

very helpful. yet, the writer makes us readers to think double standards of this era. it looks as if robert chiltern is a good husband yet, he had a dark secret in the past, to climb up the ladder, in this sense, i think, he is as bad as mrs. cheveley. he conceals his evil conduct to his wife. this page helps us insinuate that there might be a misunderstanding against robert, who considers to be an ideal husband, yet, real ideal hubby is a party goer, lord goring, i assume. there are thousands of ways of critiques on this play. thanks for sharing a hint in terms of writing a paper on this subject. thank you very much. A student

[Lycaon]

That seems a very ungenerous thing to say. When reading Wilde one must take into account his own views, which are normally represented in one character. In this play Lord Goring is that character. So, in response, I will quote him: "It was an act of folly done in his youth, dishonourable, I admit, shameful, I admit, unworthy of him, I admit, and therefore . . . not his true character."
In my view, Robert Chiltern made a mistake but mistakes are human. He did not allow that way of thought and that lifestyle of mistakes to consume him as Mrs. Chevely did. Robert Chiltern has tried to be the best man he could after his mistake but Mrs. Chevely allowed herself to sink into the mire of a mistaken life. I do not see how that is at all the same. The road to Hell may be paved with good intentions but I feel intention is all we really have.

[Scheherazade]

Originally Posted by vickie

it looks as if robert chiltern is a good husband yet, he had a dark secret in the past, to climb up the ladder, in this sense, i think, he is as bad as mrs. cheveley.

Why does a career mistake make Chiltern a bad husband? He is always loving and caring towards his wife. There is no evidence that he has been negligent or abusive either.

[Nightshade]

I think what she could be getting at is lying by omission. Basically he hould have told her.
But frankly who would want to know that I mean really? ignorance is bliss and alll that. Anyway whats her name ( I havent read the play in ages) Gwen----(??)Lady chiltron is plain annnoying I enjoyed watching her suffer (I think).
but I agree with Lycaon I think Ive said thiis before that in most stories you can see the authors favouirte charcter or at least the charcter that is the author and Lord Goring is him.
But as to that particul;r stament IVe always felt it sort of absolves Chiltron from balme, dont you?
Baiclly Oh its alright he "was not himself"
Actually on ther whole I think the entire play actually justifies making mistakes and in a way cheating, when I think about of it. Which in away would fit in with Wildes life wouldnt?