Sir Robert Chiltern

                             

Sir Robert Chiltern

After read this play, I have a deep impression about the man, sir Robert Chiltern. As a ideal husband, Sir Robert Chiltern has a successful career, a good reputation, and gentle manner. But nobody could be perfect including him. So, when the secret crisis attempt to destroy the everything he had, this ideal husband makes a strong struggle in his mind. Mr. Robert want to protect his power, but also try to be a scrupulous man. In addition, the author let me to rethink about human being's inherent nature.

First Act  P35

Sir Robert Chiltern" Don't go. I consent. The report shall be withdrawn. I will arrange for a question to be put to me on the subject."

He is shocked to hear his secret from another woman which should be the past forever. But when the first time Mrs. Cheveley intimidates Sir Robert Chiltern, and then Robert has compromised without a length fight. On the contrary, Mrs. Cheveley keeps holding a firm attitude. After his wife lets him write to Mrs. Cheveley that he will decline his support, he still insists to keep the secret. After this crisis, the ideal husband lives a nervous condition, and stays in a separate character. To him, it is not important to lose the treasure because he refused Mrs. Cheveley’s offer. Obviously, he shows more fear about the disappointment from his wife.

Second Act P52

Sir Robert Chiltern" Weak? Oh, I am sick of hearing the phrase. Sick of using it about others. Weak? Do you really think ,Arthur, that is weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptation that it requires strength, strength and courage, to yield to. To stake all one’s life on a single moment, to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake be power or pleasure, I care not- there is no weakness in that. There is a horrible, a terrible courage. I had that courage. I sat down the same afternoon and wrote Baron Arnbeim the letter"

  To Lord Goring’s disappointment, Mr. Robert capitulates to the temptation, while Robert indicates that he is proud of his courage. From my perspective, this is an angry sound from his deep mind as he wants to express how honest he is. Moreover, he is a person who had suffered from the poor and ignorance in a disordered society. To some degree, he realizes the honesty and other virtues belong to the people who have power. So, he makes a lot of excuses to glorify his behavior. Robert reflects a real character because he is both goodie and villain.

Second Act  P80

Sir Robert Chiltern" There was your mistake. There was your error. The error all women commit. Why can’t you women love us, fault and all?......Let women make no more ideals of men. Let them not put them on alters and bow before them, or they may rain other lives as completely as you. "

  After Lady Chiltern knows the truth, Mr. Robert finally explodes his unsatisfaction that He can not to be an ideal husband or an ideal human. His words seem to be angry argument but according to his words, we can find that he has the old value about the women. Because when the his moral value standard being doubted, he hopes that wife would support her husband without reason. He loves his wife deeply but sill in trapped in cage of traditional value.

Fourth Act  P118

The conversation between Lord Caversham and Lord Goring.

Robert makes his decision in his speech that he disagrees with the Canal business. Due to his brave behavior, we should admires his courage. All that we couldn’t make it clear the decision is made by his love for the wife or the justice in his nature. But one thing can be sure that he faces the past he want to forget, and the future he maybe ruin. The complex environment makes him learn to lie, but no one can avoid making mistakes. He is an ideal husband because he pursuits the hope in his life and also desires for the love. However, this character symbolizes the people who can find their own belief to do the right thing.

by 张牧琪