The theme of love occurs in the relationship between Robert Chiltern and Gertrude, Gertrude loves Robert with a disarming lack of guile. Robert loves Gertrude so much, he would wreck his whole career, make any sacrifice for her love. Love is also present between Lord Goring, Mabel and lady Cheveley. Lady Cheveley and Lord Goring were in love before, they were engaged at a time but now lord Goring is in love with the free spirited Mabel Chiltern, so he refused the proposal of Mrs. Cheveley.
Betrayal is the main theme of the play, the start of the play is based on the theme betray. If Baron Arnheim did not betray Robert Chiltern and gave the letter that Robert wrote to him 18 years ago to Mrs. Cheveley, the whole play wouldn’t have started. Betray also exist between Robert and Gertrude, Robert tried to hide his past from Gertrude because he knew Gertrude is going to leave him. Mrs. Cheveley betrayed Lord Goring when they were engaged. Lady Cheveley pretended to love Lord Goring just because he was rich and she was poor, she also had a violent flirtation with Lord Mortlake at Tenby behind Lord Goring’s back.
The theme trust is needed the most in this whole play. Trust is developed at the end of the play. Trust of lady Chiltern and Robert Chiltern was strong but later on it turned weak because of Robert’s past, later on the trust rebuilt again through all challenges they faced together. The trust between father and son appeared in the family tie of Lord Goring and Lord Caversham.. Lord Caversham has no trust at all to his son’s ability, he was really worry about Lord Goring’s future, whether he could marry a wife or not. Lord Caversham did not realize his son is actually the ideal husband. The trust between friends is shown when Gertrude wrote the letter to seek for help and whenever Robert talks to Lord Goring about his problems.
The examples for the theme ethical compromise are the agreement of Baron Arnheim and Robert Chiltern 18 years ago, what Baron asked Robert to do was dishournable. Robert became the center of a political scandal involving a Central American property the offer that Mrs. Cheveley suggested to Robert is an ethical compromise too.
‘An I deal Husband’ is a piece of interesting, and melodramatic comedy. We will luxuriate in Oscar Wilde’s elegant paradoxes and the elegant costumes, furnishing and the handsome irresponsibility of Victorian high society. I would like to do more of Oscar Wilde in the further.
