An Ideal Husband

Introduction + Context

Detailed Summary & Analysis

Act 1, Part 1 Act 1, Part 2 Act 1, Part 3 Act 2, Part 1 Act 2, Part 2 Act 3, Part 1 Act 3, Part 2 Act 4, Part 1 Act 4, Part 2

Themes

All Themes The Natural and the Artificial Romance, Boredom, and Delight The Trivial and the Serious Wit, Charm, and Contrariness Love, Morality, and Forgiveness

Characters

All Characters Lord Arthur Goring Sir Robert Chiltern Lady Gertrude Chiltern Mrs. Cheveley Baron Arnheim Lord Caversham Lady Markby Mabel Chiltern Phipps

Symbols

All Symbols The Stolen Brooch The Buttonhole

Literary Devices

All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Pathos Personification Satire Setting Similes Style Tone Verbal Irony

Download Teacher Edition

Sign In Sign up for A⁺

AI Tools

Ask LitCharts AI
Discussion Question Generator
Essay Prompt Generator
Quiz Question Generator

Guides

Literature Guides
Poetry Guides
Shakespeare Translations
Literary Terms

Sign In Sign up for A⁺ Sign up

An Ideal Husband

by

Oscar Wilde

Upgrade to A⁺

Introduction Intro

Plot Summary Plot

Summary & Analysis

Act 1, Part 1
Act 1, Part 2
Act 1, Part 3
Act 2, Part 1
Act 2, Part 2
Act 3, Part 1
Act 3, Part 2
Act 4, Part 1
Act 4, Part 2

All Themes
The Natural and the Artificial
Romance, Boredom, and Delight
The Trivial and the Serious
Wit, Charm, and Contrariness
Love, Morality, and Forgiveness

All Characters
Lord Arthur Goring
Sir Robert Chiltern
Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Mrs. Cheveley
Baron Arnheim
Lord Caversham
Lady Markby
Mabel Chiltern
Phipps

All Symbols
The Stolen Brooch
The Buttonhole

All Literary Devices
Allusions
Dramatic Irony
Foreshadowing
Genre
Hyperbole
Imagery
Irony
Metaphors
Mood
Pathos
Personification
Satire
Setting
Similes
Style
Tone
Verbal Irony

Theme Wheel Theme Viz

Download this Chart (PDF)

Download the Teacher Edition

Download this Chart (PDF)

An Ideal Husband Literary Devices

Company

About Us Our Story Jobs

Support

Help Center Contact Us

Connect

Facebook Twitter

Legal

Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request

Home About Contact Help

Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Terms Privacy Privacy Request

Save time. Stress less.

AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 47,322 quotes.
PDF downloads of all 2,129 LitCharts guides.
Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account

You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in

Complete your free account to request a guide

Already have an account? Sign in

Get your answer with a free account

You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.

or

Already have an account? Sign in

Last step: complete your free account

Already have an account? Sign in

Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.

You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in

Complete your free account to access notes and highlights

Already have an account? Sign in

Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account

Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in

Complete your free account to save guides

Already have an account? Sign in