Dandyism and Moralism in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband

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Dandyism and Moralism in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal HusbandOscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband Oscar Wilde wrote An Ideal Husband in 1895, during the decade known as the "Yellow" or "Naughty Nineties", a movement with its roots in dandyism and decadence, the twilight years of England's Victorian era, reflecting decay and scandal . Some biographers suggest that Wilde might have been inspired by a number of events which occurred in his private life, to write this play , as it is the case for the dandified character of Lord Goring, which one could say is the double of Wilde himself, and who will maybe incarnate the figure of the ideal husband. As the stage notes from Act III indicate, Lord Goring is in "immediate relation" to modern life, making and mastering it. An Ideal Husband emphasizes Lord Goring's modernity by opposing him to his father, Lord Caversham, who is still living the old fashion way, in a number of dialogues, which appear to be comic, when we notice the radical opposition of thinking of the two characters. The meeting of the two produces a clash between the old fashioned and the modern thinking. This is seen in the first part of the third act, in which there is a conversation between Lord Gorging and his father, who came to speak about the importance of getting married, and the fact he can not go one living only for pleasure. LORD CAVERSHAM: […] Want to have a serious conversation with you, sir. LORD GORING: My dear father! At this hour? LORD CAVERSHAM: Well, sir, it is only ten o’clock. What is your objection to the hour? I think the hour is an admirable hour! LORD GORING: Well, the fact is, father, this is not my day for talking seriously. I am very sorry, but it is not my day. LORD CAVERSHAM: What do you mean, sir? LORD GORING: During the season, father, I only talk seriously on the first Tuesday of every month, from four to seven. LORD CAVERSHAM: Well, make it Tuesday, sir, make it Tuesday. LORD GORING: But it is after seven, father, and my doctor says I must not have serious conversations after seven. It makes me talk in my sleep. LORD CAVERSHAM: Talk in your sleep, sir? What does it matter? You are not married. LORD GORING: No, father, I am not married. LORD CAVERSHAM: Hum! That is what I have come to you to talk about, sir. You have got to get married, and at once. Why, when I was your age, sir, I had been an inconsolable widower for three months, and was already paying my addresses to your admirable mother. Damme, sir, it is your duty to get married. You can’t always be living for pleasure. Every man of position is married nowadays. Bachelors are not fashionable any more. They are a damaged lot. Too much is known about them. You must get a wife, sir. Look where your friend Robert Chiltern has got to by probity, hard work and a sensible marriage with a good woman. Why don’t you imitate him, sir? Why don’t you take him for your model? LORD GORING: I think I shall father […] This scene is ironic in the way that, on one hand we have Lord Caversham, who comes to talk of a serious matter to his son, whom he wants to convince that he has gained an age were he ought to get married, and on the other hand, we have Lord Goring, the bachelor in his thirties, whose intention of getting married, is apparently inexistent. He exemplifies the exact attitude of a dandy, not worried about anything, rebelled against what the society would want him to do or think, and led by his moral and personal liberty. These two opposite ways of thinking seem generate irony in the way Lord Goring answers, with rather unusual and sarcastic replies. Whereas most people would hope to have something
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substantial to talk about, Lord Goring loves to talk about non serious matters, which does not seem to make any sense, as when we speak we usually have something substantial to say of. This attitude makes us think that he is acting as if he was making fun of his father, without being rude, and by this he shows his non-interest in marriage. However, Lord Caversham has come to talk business, and is not led off by these nonchalant replies. He will indeed get to the point and be able to say what he has come to say, despite his ...

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