An Ideal Husband

By Oscar Wilde

Life

• Born Dublin 1854• London 1880’s-1890’s• Became famous for his wit and artistic style• Published many children’s books and Irish folk tales to

become famous• Married and had two children• Traveled around Europe and USA promoting his work• Had homosexual relationships that caused him to be jailed

for two years from 1896-1898• Spent rest of his life traveling Europe, addicted to drugs, and

died in 1900

Famous Works

• The Picture of Dorian Grey (1891) • Lady Windemere's Fan (1892) • A Woman of No Importance (1893) • An Ideal Husband (1895)• The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)

Victorian Age

• Stressed conservative values• Family devotion and duty• Focus on appearance more than substance• England at the peak of its industrial and imperial

power• English Ladies and Gentlemen• Wilde made fun of these values because he saw

people as fake and untrue to their true selves• “Naughty Nineties”

Comedy of Manners

• Melodrama• Dandy vs. Ideal Characters• Stock Characters: Virtuous Wife, Man with a

Secret Past and Other Woman• Happy Endings • Undying love is celebrated• Making fun of the behaviour of people during

that era• Ironic endings using popular formula

WHAT ARE YOUR IDEALS?