Activity 1. Characters: geometric shapes
Introduction: in this task you’re going to consider how Wilde makes his characters rich and lifelike, by identifying the contradictory points of view they have.
Student guidance:
Your aim is to find all the contrasting points of view a character has. Fill in the table below with quotes that represent the different sides to a character. There are some suggestions already filled in. When you’re happy that you’ve found them all, count them up and make the appropriate geometric shape. For instance if you find that a character has four points of view on a subject, construct a pyramid, and write a line on each face.
You can find 3D shape templates here
Activity 1. Extension activity.
Student guidance:
In the final row of the table below, argue which quotation best represents the characters’ true beliefs/nature at the end of the play. For instance, you could write in the ‘true beliefs’ row: Lord Goring is justified in saying Chiltern’s act was one of ‘folly’. Sir Robert calls it the same thing: ‘Is it fair that the folly… should wreck a life like mine…’ (2:80). The Times article is supposed to sound ironic, and although Sir Robert probably still relishes having power (he asks Gertrude ‘anxiously’ (4:488) if he should ‘retire from public life’ (4:487)), he uses it for ‘moral’ ends now, as he proves when he denounces the Argentinian canal plan and risks ‘disgrace or punishment’ (4:455). Mrs Cheveley, therefore, doesn’t know his ‘real character’ for it is one of ‘mark’. You could give the side of the shape with the quote representing the character’s true nature a different colour.
Version 1 1 © OCR 2016
Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband
Sir Robert Chiltern / Lady Chiltern / Mrs Cheveley / Lord Goring‘A personality of mark. Not popular – few personalities are. But intensely admired by the few…’ (Stage direction; 1:175)
‘I know his real character’ (Mrs Cheveley; 3:763)
‘What you know about him is not his real character. 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.’ (Lord Goring; 3:765) / ‘Has my good-for-nothing young son been here?’ (Lord Caversham; 1:62)
‘Brilliant orator… Unblemished career… Well-known integrity of character… Represents what is best in English public life…’ (Lord Caversham, reading from The Times; 4:82) / ‘A man’s life is of more value than a woman’s’ (4;686 – echoing Lord Goring’s words at 4:650)
‘…that money gave me exactly what I wanted, power over others.’ (Sir Robert Chiltern 2:199) / ‘I only war against one woman, against Gertrude Chiltern. I hate her.’ (Mrs Cheveley 3:774)
Version 1 3 © OCR 2016
Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband