An Ideal Husband Summary

Oscar Wilde's play An Ideal Husband, published in 1895, is a comedy that explores themes of morality and marriage. The title refers to Sir Robert Chiltern, who initially appears to be the perfect husband but is soon revealed to have flaws. Wilde revisits the title humorously in the final lines when Lord Caversham warns his son, Lord Goring, that he must embody the ideal husband or face disinheritance. Through this, the play satirizes societal expectations and questions the true nature of virtue in both personal and public life.

The story begins at a party in the home of Sir Robert Chiltern, a respected politician. Lady Markby arrives with her friend, Mrs. Cheveley, who has come to see Sir Robert. Lady Chiltern realizes that she and Mrs. Cheveley went to school together. Lord Goring, a bachelor, is also at the party, along with his father, Lord Caversham, and Sir Robert's sister, Mabel Chiltern.

Mrs. Cheveley speaks to Sir Robert alone and reveals her reason for coming. She has invested a lot of money in a project to build the Argentine Canal, based on advice from her former lover, Baron Arnheim. However, Sir Robert tells her it is a scam and that he plans to speak against it in front of the British government. Mrs. Cheveley insists that he must support it. She then threatens him, saying she knows that years ago he made his fortune by selling government secrets to Baron Arnheim. She has proof—a letter he wrote at the time. She tells him she will give him back the letter if he publicly supports the canal. He agrees. Before leaving, Mrs. Cheveley tells Lady Chiltern that Sir Robert is in favor of the canal.

Meanwhile, Mabel Chiltern and Lord Goring talk privately. Mabel finds a diamond brooch in the sofa. Lord Goring takes it and asks her not to say anything about it.

Afterward, Lady Chiltern and Sir Robert talk. She asks him about the canal and tells him that Mrs. Cheveley was expelled from school for stealing. Sir Robert admits he has changed his stance on the canal. Lady Chiltern pressures him to refuse Mrs. Cheveley’s demand, so he writes her a letter rejecting her request.

Lord Goring advises Sir Robert to tell his wife the truth. Sir Robert admits that he broke the law by selling government secrets in the past. The Baron had convinced him that power could only be gained through wealth. If his crime is exposed, it will ruin him. Lord Goring urges him to fight Mrs. Cheveley and promises to help.

Lady Chiltern speaks privately with Lord Goring about Mrs. Cheveley. He hints that Sir Robert’s career may not be entirely honest and suggests that she might be too hard on her husband. She disagrees, believing that her husband is completely virtuous.

Mabel Chiltern enters and flirts with Lord Goring. After he leaves, Mabel complains that a man named Tommy Trafford keeps proposing to her. She and Lady Chiltern talk about marriage. Soon, Lady Markby and Mrs. Cheveley arrive, asking if anyone has found Mrs. Cheveley’s diamond brooch. They discuss the roles of men and women in society before Lady Markby leaves.

Lady Chiltern and Mrs. Cheveley express their dislike for each other. Lady Chiltern proudly says that she convinced Sir Robert to refuse Mrs. Cheveley’s request. Mrs. Cheveley warns that Sir Robert must honor their agreement or she will destroy him. Sir Robert enters and orders his butler to throw Mrs. Cheveley out. After she leaves, Lady Chiltern asks him to deny Mrs. Cheveley’s accusations. Sir Robert confesses that they are true. Lady Chiltern is horrified and asks him to leave. Alone, Sir Robert reflects that women wrongly expect men to be perfect.

Lord Caversham visits Lord Goring and insists that he should get married. He then goes into the smoking room. Lord Goring instructs his servant to let Lady Chiltern in but no one else. Then he goes to join his father. However, the servant mistakenly allows Mrs. Cheveley inside. She finds and reads a letter Lady Chiltern wrote to Lord Goring.

Lord Goring and Sir Robert enter. Lord Goring tells Sir Robert that his wife now knows the truth but will forgive him. Sir Robert hears a noise in the drawing room and investigates. He discovers Mrs. Cheveley hiding there and becomes furious.

Mrs. Cheveley offers to sell Lord Goring the blackmail letter. She wants to return to England and demands that he marry her in exchange for the letter. They discuss their past engagement, which Lord Goring ended after seeing her with another man. He refuses her offer. She then asks about her lost brooch. He gives it to her, but instead of pinning it on, he locks it around her wrist as a bracelet. She realizes she cannot remove it. Lord Goring accuses her of stealing it from his cousin years ago. To avoid being reported to the police, Mrs. Cheveley gives him the blackmail letter. However, she has stolen Lady Chiltern’s letter and plans to use it to suggest an affair between Lady Chiltern and Lord Goring. She intends to make the letter public to ruin the Chilterns’ marriage and reputation.

The next morning, Lord Goring is at Sir Robert’s house. Lord Caversham arrives and once again pressures his son to get married. He also praises Sir Robert’s speech from the night before, in which he denounced the Argentine Canal. The Prime Minister has now offered Sir Robert a place in the cabinet. Lord Caversham suggests that Lord Goring marry Mabel Chiltern.

Mabel enters and speaks with Lord Caversham, ignoring Lord Goring. Eventually, Lord Goring interrupts, unable to stay silent. Lord Caversham leaves, and once they are alone, Lord Goring proposes to Mabel. She accepts. Lady Chiltern enters, and Mabel leaves. Lord Goring tells Lady Chiltern that he has destroyed the blackmail letter. However, there is a new problem: Mrs. Cheveley stole Lady Chiltern’s letter and plans to use it against her. Lord Goring advises Lady Chiltern to tell her husband the truth. She refuses and decides to try to retrieve the letter herself.

Before they can act, Sir Robert enters. He has the letter and believes it is a love note from his wife. He asks if she truly loves him. She says she does, and they reconcile. Lady Chiltern also tells him that Lord Goring burned the blackmail letter.

Sir Robert says he should retire from politics. Lady Chiltern agrees. Lord Goring enters, and Sir Robert thanks him for his help. Lord Caversham enters and congratulates Sir Robert on his speech. He tells him that the Prime Minister has offered him a cabinet position. Sir Robert is happy but says he must refuse because he is leaving politics. Lord Caversham is shocked and asks Lady Chiltern to change her husband’s mind. She refuses, believing it is the right decision. She asks her husband to write a letter declining the position. Sir Robert agrees, and they leave the room.

Lord Caversham complains to his son and then leaves. Lady Chiltern returns. Lord Goring points out that she is doing exactly what Mrs. Cheveley wanted—forcing Sir Robert to leave politics. Lady Chiltern insists that her husband truly wants to retire. Lord Goring explains that Sir Robert is actually making this sacrifice for her. He advises her not to let him.

Sir Robert comes back with his resignation letter. Lady Chiltern tears it up. Sir Robert is deeply moved. Lord Goring asks for Mabel’s hand in marriage. At first, Sir Robert refuses, saying that he saw Mrs. Cheveley in Lord Goring’s home the previous night. Lady Chiltern explains that Lord Goring did not expect her to be there. Lord Goring says he was actually expecting Lady Chiltern. She admits she had written the letter to Lord Goring, not her husband. Sir Robert, now understanding the truth, gives his blessing for Mabel and Lord Goring’s marriage. Mabel and Lord Caversham enter. Lord Goring tells them about the engagement, and Sir Robert decides to accept the cabinet position.

Everyone goes to lunch except Sir Robert, who stays behind to think. Lady Chiltern returns to check on him. He asks if she pities him or loves him. She says she only loves him, and they prepare to start a new life together.