An Ideal Husband - Students' Worksheet

An Ideal Husband
Director: Oliver Parker
Year: 1999
Category: Feature
Genre/Type: Social Comedy
Soundtrack: Music by Charlie Mole

About the book
An Ideal Husband premiered in London, England, on January 3, 1895, and was published in 1896. It was the third of Wilde’s four comedic plays to be staged, and it was as big a success with audiences as the previous two. However, critics of the time were not as appreciative as audiences, which was the case for all of Wilde’s social comedies. Critics thought these plays more flippant than substantive; audiences were delighted by the wonderful wit of the dramas.
A romantic and sentimental comedy set at the turn of the 19th century, An Ideal Husband delves into themes of love, passion, and betrayal among the aristocracy. Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam), a brilliant politician and a perfect gentleman, is the ideal husband for the charming Lady Chiltern (Cate Blanchett). They have a widely envied marriage until charming Mrs. Cheveley (Julianne Moore) appears with the intention of revealing a dark secret from Chiltern's past. When his world seems to be falling apart, Chiltern turns to his lifelong friend Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett), the most eligible bachelor in town. Goring soon finds himself caught up in a web of lies, temptations, and secret liaisons. Furthermore, the persistent charms of Sir Robert's sister Mabel (Minnie Driver) are becoming a serious threat to his much-cherished bachelorhood. Using political intrigue and clever wit, An Ideal Husband draws a picture of a society struggling with issues still valid today.
Wilde and his play are by now firmly established in the English-language canon of literature, and most libraries hold volumes of the individual or collected plays. The Modern Library editions of Wilde’s collected comedies are the most widespread.
Main Characters
Sir Robert Chiltern - Sir Robert is the play's "tragic" hero, a government official who owes his success and fortune to secret scandal. Extremely ambitious, Sir Robert remains tied, even at present, to his mentor Baron Arnheim' s gospels of wealth and power, gospels that emphasize the domination of others over all else. On the other hand, love has driven him to hide his past in the desperate hope of remaining the ideal husband to his wife. Conscious of what his success has cost him, Sir Robert suffers from a decidedly nervous and harried temperament.
Lady Gertrude Chiltern - A woman of grave Greek beauty and twenty-seven years of age, Lady Chiltern embodies the Victorian new woman: upright, virtuous, educated, politically engaged, and active in her husband's career. She is the play's sentimental heroine, a sort of moral absolutist who worships her ideal husband and cannot brook the revelation of his secret past.
Mrs. Cheveley - One of the play's wittiest and most well-dressed characters, Mrs. Cheveley is the vicious and opportunistic villainness, a disciple of the deceased Baron Arnheim who values wealth and power above all.
Lord Goring - Of impeccable dress and inimitable wit, Lord Goring is the play's thirty-something dandified philosopher, an idle aristocrat who serves as a thinly veiled double for Wilde himself. Irreverent, wry, and dangerously clever, Goring "plays with the world" and in doing so rejects ideals of duty, respectability, and responsibility. Expounding a philosophy of love and forgiveness, Goring also figures as savior and helpmate to the Chilterns, teaching Lady Chiltern in particular of the dangers in idealizing one's husband.
Mabel Chiltern - An exemplar of English prettiness, Mabel, Sir Robert's younger sister, embodies what Wilde describes as the "fascinating tyranny of youth" and "astonishing courage of innocence." Pert and clever, Mabel flirtatiously matches Lord Goring's wit.
Lord Caversham - Father to Lord Goring, Lord Caversham, is a stuffy, serious, and respectable gentleman who is firmly opposed to the excesses of his dandified son. Continually he urges his son to marry and adopt a career, posing Sir Robert as model. Caversham appears as a figure for the old-fashioned against a son who makes and masters the art of modern living.
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1. Study the following words and phrases that would appear in the film:
a leading figure in women's politics – ключова фігура у жіночій політиці
English public life – англійське громадське життя
sloth or idleness – лінощі чи ледарство
personable man – вродливий чоловік
honesty and integrity – чесність та порядність
I owe everything to my wife. – Я всім завдячую своїй дружині.
a serious shake-up in the government – серйозне кадрове переміщення в уряді
attaché - аташе
the idlest man – най ледачіша людина
ambassador – посол
bachelor - холостяк
a great political and financial scheme – гарна політична та фінансова схема
Argentine Canal Company – Кампанія з підтримки будівництва аргентинського каналу
a tedious, practical subject to talk about – нудний та практичний предмет, щоб його обговорювати
splendid undertaking – чудова угода/ справа
Stock Exchange swindle – шахрайство на фондовій біржі
speculation – спекуляція, гра на біржі
Her Majesty's government – уряд ЇЇ Величності
the House of Commons – Палата громад британського парламенту
аmend thе report – внести зміни до доповіді
You are standing on the edge of a precipice. – Ти стоїш на краю прірви.
infamous – що має недобру славу, ганебний
assumption – припущення
It is a great nuisance. – Як прикро!
palm tree - пальма
Prime Minister – прем’єр міністр
eloquence – красномовство appalling – жахливий, приголомшливий
exquisite taste – витончений смак
signs of triviality – ознаки банальності
I have a pressing engagement – В мене – невідкладна справа.
modern commodity – сучасний товар / продукт
personal secretary – особистий секретар
youthful folly – дурниця, вчинена в молоді роки
neighbourhood – сусідство
capacity for development – здатність до розвитку
in the hollow of my hand – в кулаку
the worst is yet to come – найгірше іще попереду
She is... scheming, devious and deceitful. – Вона – інтриганка, хитра та брехлива людина.
You are false as a friend...and treacherous. – Ти – несправжній друг… та зрадник.
word of honour – слово честі
blackmail – шантаж
Would you stake your liberty? – Чи поставиш ти на карту свою свободу?
accept wager – прийняти парі
genuine opportunity – слушна нагода
articulate contribution to the debate – внести свою пропозицію / викласти свою думку у ході дебатів
ramifications – відгалуження, паростки
a corrupt investor – корумпований інвестор
It is a fraud – Це – шахрайство.
money merely to beget more money – гроші, лише для того, щоб породити більше грошей
deceive – обманювати
presumption – припущення
It is my intention to retire – Я маю намір звільнитися з посади.
Idiocy? Hereditary, perhaps. – Ідіотизм? Це, мабуть, спадкове.

2. Describe the situations in which these phrases appear. Who says them?
• One mustn't believe everything one reads in the newspapers.
• An acquaintance that begins with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship.
• Nothing is the only thing I know anything about.
• You are a man of the world and you have your price. Everybody has nowadays.
• During the season I only talk seriously on the first Tuesday in every month...between noon and three.
• I've now realized for the first time in my life... the vital importance of being earnest!
• Oh, love me! Love me, Gertrude.
• That power.... power... over other men... is the one and only thing worth having. This is what I call the philosophy of power,...the gospel of gold.
• I can't help feeling that this disturbing new thing,... this higher education of women,...will deal a terrible blow to happy married life.
• There's a great deal of difference between looking and seeing,...
• It is not the perfect but the imperfect who have need of love.

3. Answer the questions based on the film:
1. We are told in this film that lady Chiltern’s character has changed and will not act corruptly in the future. In real life, can we make that assumption about a person whose ambition is so strong that at one time it overwhelmed his moral sense? Or do you agree with Lady Gertrude's comment early in the film that "a person who has once been guilty of a dishonest and dishonorable action may be guilty of it a second time, and should be shunned"? Lady Gertrude later abandons this position. Which do you agree with? Why?
2. Do you agree with the statement mentioned in the film that “no man should have a secret from his own wife”. Should there be secrets in families? If yes, what kinds? Can secrets ruin families?
3. The film and O.Wilde's play are called An Ideal Husband, however neither Robert nor Lord Goring appear to be ideal. Why do you think this very title was chosen? What makes an ideal husband/ wife, in your opinion? Would you like to be an ideal husband/wife in future? Why?
4. Comment on Lord Goring’s words: “All I do know... is that it takes courage to see the world in all its tainted glory... and still to love it.”

4. Learn the dialogues, and be ready to act them:
1.
- Good morning, dear Gertrude.
- Good morning, Lady Markby.
- Allow me to introduce my friend Mrs Cheveley. Two such charming women should know each other.
- How do you do?
- Mrs Cheveley and I have met before.
- Of course.
- Gertrude. And to think you married Sir Robert Chiltern. You know, I was so hoping to meet your clever husband.
- Really?
- Yes, but I have to return to Vienna on Friday.
- Oh, dear, what a shame.
- Well, perhaps I might bring her this evening?
- Yes, by all means.
- What can I say? I'd be delighted.
- Well... We'll see you tonight.
- See you tonight.
2.
- So... you've come here to sell me Robert Chiltern's letter.
- To offer it to you on condition. How did you guess?
- What is your price for it?
- My price. I've arrived at the romantic stage. When I saw you the other night at the Chilterns', I knew you were the only person I'd ever cared for, if I've ever cared for anybody, Arthur. So on the morning of the day you marry me, I will give you Robert Chiltern's letter. That is my offer.
- Are you quite serious?
- Yes. Quite serious.
- My dear Mrs Cheveley, I'm afraid I should make you a very bad husband.
- I don't mind bad husbands. I've had two. They amuse me immensely. Here is a chance to rise to great heights of self-sacrifice. I think you should. The rest of your life, you can spend contemplating your own perfections.
- I do that as it is.
- For the privilege of being your wife, I am ready to sacrifice the greatest prize in my possession.
- I'm honoured.
- Arthur,...
- Mmm?
- You loved me once. You asked me to be your wife. Ask me again. Ask me now.
- My dear Mrs Cheveley...
- My dear Lord Goring.
- I'm going to give you some good advice.
- Never give a woman anything she can't wear in the evening.
- I don't seem to be able to stop myself. I'm going to tell you that love about which, I admit, I know so little... Love cannot be bought, it can only be given. And I sense it is not in my power to give to you nor is it in yours, I suspect, at all.
- Dear boy, you underestimate us both.
- To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love. I fear, though, the notion is a stranger to us both. And yet, if we are honest, it is something we both long for. Something that it takes great courage to do. Yes, that is our dark secret. Your coming here tonight is the first whisper of it. And for that, I admire you. Give me the letter. Prove your affections to me and give me the letter.
- And surrender my position of power?
- The future of a great man is in your hands, Mrs Cheveley. Crush him and your power dies with him, as will any feeling I've ever had for you. If you ever loved me...
- I did love you.
- I know, I know.
- But not that much.
- I know. I must admit I never thought you did. Even so, I felt it worth a try.
- I understand and respect you all the more for the attempt. And I take it you reject my offer?
- I fear I must..... when, tempting as it seems,..... in truth,... it's little more than blackmail.
- True.

5. Translate Robert’s speech into Ukrainian.
Since I last addressed this House on the subject,... I have had the opportunity... to investigate this scheme more thoroughly... and to grasp fully the ramifications of our lending it support.
I have to inform the House... that I was... mistaken... in my original perceptions..... and that I have now taken a rather different view.
I find that now I must agree with my Right Honourable friend... that this is indeed an excellent scheme. A genuine opportunity. An opportunity,...particularly if you happen to be a corrupt investor...
A corrupt investor with nothing but self-interest at heart. Now it is my utter conviction that this scheme never should have had... or should ever have any chance of success. It is a fraud, an infamous fraud at that.
Our involvement would be a political fraud of the worst possible kind!
This... great nation... has long been a great commercial power. Now it seems there exists a growing compulsion to use that power... merely to beget more power, ...money merely to beget more money,... irrespective of the true cost to the nation's soul. And it is this sickness,... a kind of moral blindness, commerce without conscience,... which threatens to strike at the very soul of this nation!
The only remedy that I can see is to strike back and to strike now!
As we stand at the end of this most eventful century,... it seems that we do, after all, have a genuine opportunity. One honest chance... to shed our... sometimes imperfect past. To start again,... to step unshackled...into the next century...and to look our future... squarely and proudly... in the face.

5. Write a film review using the following outline:
Part 1. Credits
As an introduction you should write:
• title and year of a film release
• genre
• director,
• screenwriter
• music or soundtrack
• main actors
Part 2. Plot
Write a summary of the plot: A summary is a brief retelling of what you have watched, like a few sentences you tell your friend on the phone. Make sure that your summary makes sense to a reader who does not know the movie. Do not refer to specific scenes and do not try to explain everything.
You must also include the next items, but not as different parts (they may be included in your description of the story):
• Place and time: Where does the action take place? When does the action take place? (present time, 19th century…) Is the story chronological (according to the order of time ) or flash back.
• Background: society, country, kind of people (age, culture social class...), historical time...
• Genre: horror, comedy, drama, adventure film, thriller...
Part 3. Characters
Main characters:
• physical description
• pshychological description
• age, nationality social/personal background
• relations between them
Part 4. Conclusion
In the last part of your review you are asked to think and write about the next questions:
• What is the message of the film? What was the director's purpose or intention or the theme of the film?
• Compare with other realities you know (your country, historical fact or event, other film from the same director or genre…)
• What's your opinion?

Consider the following example. Pay attention to and use in your film review the phrases in italics:
Titanic Film Review
To blend a fictional romantic story in with an undeniably tragic event such as the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic is a difficult task. Writer/director James Cameron achieved the impossible by bringing two distinct and parallel tragedies to the big screen.
Titanic opens aboard an exploratory ship looking to recover any treasures they can from the 85-year-old wreck of the famed, unsinkable luxury liner of the R.M.S. Titanic. As they slowly plumb the depths of the wreckage, an elderly woman (Gloria Stuart) recounts to them the story of her voyage aboard the famed steamship and her encounter and relationship with a third-class passenger in the days leading up to and including the fateful evening of April 14, 1912.
Playing that third class passenger Jack Dawson is heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio. Coming aboard the Titanic hoping to seek a new life of possibilities in America, Jack falls in love with young Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) who is engaged to the loving, but somewhat tyrannical Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). While the ship sails across the ocean, Jack and Rose form a bond that threatens to tear Rose’s wealthy world apart.
Though the human tragedy of Titanic is in the sinking of the ship, which is stunningly compiled in some of the film history’s most impressive visual effects, we are drawn into the romantic relationship between the two stars thanks to DiCaprio and, especially Winslet’s terrific performances. Their love transcends space and time and when further embodied by Stuart in the film’s latter scenes, we are fully hooked into a story that could have actually taken place aboard the ill-fated ocean liner despite being entirely fictitious.
Joining the dazzling performances mentioned above is the inimitable Kathy Bates whose work as the “unsinkable” Molly Brown is delightful. Though she is only in the film briefly and as a historical point of reference, Bates manages to steal every scene in which she appears and helps to draw the audience further into the believable reality Cameron has created.
A number of other famous passengers are depicted in the film, including Thomas Andrews, Bruce Ismay, Benjamin Guggenheim and John Jacob and Madeleine Astor. These characters briefly interact with Rose as the film progresses. Aside from Andrews and Ismay, the historical impact of these characters is undeniably limited.
Universally faithful to the actual events on the night Titanic sank, Cameron put such loving detail into his script and into the production that it is easily one of the most visually pleasing and endearing romantic epics ever filmed.
Audiences made Titanic the highest grossing modern film in history and it certainly isn’t surprising why. It is difficult not to feel some measure of emotion while watching the film. Many were saddened by the never-to-be conclusion of the Rose and Jack storyline, while more would be moved by the stirring images contained in the background during the sinking. The most moving scene is one of a loving elderly couple clasped in each others arms on their bed as the water slowly flooded their chamber. And while this and other beautifully touching scenes were passing by, the haunting strains of “Nearer My God to Thee” playing over this sequence enhanced the sadness of the event.
Titanic isn’t a perfect film, though it is an entertaining, moving and rewarding experience for anyone who watches it with an open mind unclouded by the hype that surrounded the film at its opening.
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