Activity 4. Moments of truth
Introduction: In this task, you’re going to consider the structure of the play. You are going to pick out key moments and then identify the lines that feed into that moment.
Student guidance:
Find the lines in the play that you consider to be the most dramatic. A moment when a secret is revealed; a moment when issues come to a head, for instance. Write the line in the second column of the table below. Then find the lines that lead up to, explain and generally feed into that moment. Be prepared to explain your choices to the class.
Lines that explain the key moment / Key moment / Explanation‘Oh! she goes everywhere there, and has such pleasant scandals about all her friends.’ (Lady Markby about Mrs Cheveley; 1:215) / ‘You have done your worst now.’ (Sir Robert Chiltern to Mrs Cheveley after she reveals his past to Lady Chiltern; 2:1034) / Mrs Cheveley enjoys scandals and she hates Gertrude Chiltern.
She has told Sir Robert in no uncertain terms that he must back the Argentinian canal scheme. When he reneges on his promise it is obvious that she will retaliate. Sir Robert knows this; it’s why Act 1 ends with him in despair. Mrs Cheveley has an opportunity to hurt the woman she loathes, and warn Sir Robert that she means business at the same time: the next step will be public disgrace is the implication of Mrs Cheveley telling Gertrude.
‘You must make it possible.’ (Mrs Cheveley to Sir Robert; 1:843)
‘…you must write to her at once, now, this moment, and let your letter show her that your decision is quite irrevocable!’ (Lady Chiltern to Sir Robert; 1:1205)
‘SIR ROBERT CHILTERN walks up and down for a moment; then sits down and buries his face in his hands.’ (1:1238)
‘I only war against one woman, against Gertrude Chiltern. I hate her.’ (Mrs Cheveley; 3:774)
Version 1 2 © OCR 2016
Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband
‘I set him up too high.’ (Lady Chiltern to Lord Goring about Sir Robert; 4:668)Version 1 2 © OCR 2016
Oscar Wilde: An Ideal Husband