Context Flashcards
Elite’s duty to take care of society
Noblesse Oblige
When was it first performed?
1899
When was it set?
1895
Victorians had a strict set of…
… moral standards
How does the modern and contemporary audience differ?
Victorians pretended to be much better than they are, modern pretends to be a lot worse than we are
How did Wilde work his way into London’s upper-class social circle?
Intelligence and wit, shown by Lord Goring
Why were etiquette books published?
To help Victorians keep a good appearance, which Wilde mocked.
Define “Aesthetic Movement” and “Art for Art’s Sake”
Art shouldn’t be influenced by politics, science or morality, but an expression of whatever is wished to be.
Aesthetic movement = philosophy behind the Pre-Raphaelites LINKS TO ROSSETTI !!!! championed pure beauty and ‘art for art’s sake’ emphasising the visual and sensual qualities of art and design over practical, moral or narrative considerations.
Oscar Wilde’s quote on the topic of realism
“Realism is a complete failure”
Realism = plays that resemble real life
Wilde’s view point on art
“Art was superior to life”
What does the Victorian Era present?
Era for improvements, industrial revolution and a redesign of London
Example of female empowerment of the time (key theme of the play)
Sufragette movement (1890-1919)
Lady Chiltern forces Sir Robert to remain true to his public image, makes one wonder whether she is doing this to protect herself or her husband. Wilde’s language suggests that…
… marriage is a dangerous institution
Wilde himself couldn’t marry because he was a homosexual, imprisoned for this
Newspapers present a threat to Sir Robert’s public image, via the press in the first three acts, link this to context…
Newspapers will have exposed Wilde’s homosexuality, so he would have been against media for this, criticising their threat through his writing.
Wilde criticises the … aspect of society
… = corrupt
And he rewards the characters willing to learn from their moral imperfections
“We [women] have much more important work to do than look at eachother’s bonnets, Lord Goring”
Link to context…
Late 19th century, Women’s Liberal Association, women’s group that advanced social reform
When did the Women’s Liberal Association (women empowerment) begin?
1886
Who founded Women’s Liberal Association (female empowerment)
Sophia Fry
What contextual link is the opening scene of the play a reference to?
The London Summer Season:
Series of events, balls and parties, that members of the upper-class attended.
What did Victorian Morality suggest?
Sexual restraint; low tolerance of crime; and code of conduct
What did the Upper-Class value?
History, heritage, lineage and continuity of family line
What sort of view did Victorians have on society?
Paternalistic
Give two institutions Wilde believed in
Socialism and individualism
When did the feminist movement gain more pace?
During fin-de-siecle
Expectations of young girls in marriage
A girl would marry and therefore have no need for a formal education, as long as she could look beautiful, entertain her husband’s guests, and produce a reasonable number of children
MABEL? Stupid enough to love Lord Goring
What was the name of Wilde’s magazine that he published?
“Woman’s World”
Which mentioned how women should be able to manage their own time and independence
He altered the tone to suit the growing number of educated, thinking women, engaging them in series issues rather than just fashion.
What is the ‘Chiltern 100” ?
An ancient administration area (in Buckinghamshire), composed of three “hundreds” and lying partically within the Chiltern Hills .
What does “Taking the Chiltern Hundreds” refer to?
The legal rule used to resign from the House of Commons. (Chiltern 100)
Sir Robert pressured to do this?
How did Wilde advocate ‘Aestheticism’ ?
In 1882, Wilde toured America giving lectures on Aestheticism.
What was Wilde’s wife’s name?
Constance Lloyd
When did Wilde marry his wife?
29th May 1884
How did Wilde actually get accused of being homosexual? And when did this happen?
1895
An enemy of Wilde’s accused him of practicing homosexual acts.
His first trial was scheduled for 3rd April 1895
What date was Wilde convicted for being homosexual?
1895
How long was Wilde imprisoned for being homosexual?
2 years
What was the victorian period often described as?
“Era of improvements”
What did the late Victorians favour?
The increasing standards for men
What happened in the years preceding ‘An Ideal Husband’?
There had been a number of plays on London stages addressing the increasing standards of men.
Almost always, the plot began with a politician who seemed to be righteous but whose past held a guilty secret. Almost always, the plot ended with the politician killing himself in an agony of remorse or being reformed by his angel of a wife, and resigning from office.
What real life society was Lady Chiltern part of?
Women’s Liberal Association
What was the ‘Women’s Liberal Association’ ?
Women’s group that advocated social reform.
Wilde’s gay partner
Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas
Examples of social reform acts
- Factory Acts
- The Eight Hour Bill
- Female Inspectors
- Higher Education for Women
What did the ‘Education Acts of 1870 and 1878’ mean?
Working Class vs Middle Class?
Compulsory education for all girls
Working class girls = taught domestic skills Middle class girls = better education
What was the symbols of a girl becoming a woman?
Putting her hair up
Floor length skirts
Through which months did the ‘London Summer Season’ go through?
May to August
What was the official term for Wilde’s arrest?
Gross indecency
Who was Sir Charles Dilke?
Dropped from office because he became embroiled in a scandal over his divorce. Wilde took inspiration from this?
Define ‘dandy’
WILDE HIMSELF
A man who pays excessive attention to appearance and aesthetic
Define ‘The Decadent Movement’
Means ‘process of falling away’ or decline
Favored excess and artificality
N/A
N/A
How did Arthur Symons view the decadent movement?
‘the decadent movement in literature’ essay 1893 - described as…
‘new and beautiful and interesting disease’
Wilde’s scandal in full
He married a woman named Constance Lloyd; they had two sons. He then met a man named Alfred Douglas (Bosie) and Alfred’s father accused him of having an affair with him
Wilde took his father in court but was proven guilty; he was sent to prison for 2 years and when he got out he changed his named but died 3 years later.
Why did Wilde change his name? And what to?
Upon his release, Wilde was irrevocably marred by his imprisonment; his health was suffering and he was financially ruined.
assumed the name of…
Sebastian Melmoth (inspired by Melmoth the Wanderer)
Define a “Debonair”
confident, stylish, charming man
Define the act of “Propriety”
conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behaviours and morals
Who coined the term “new woman?”
Sarah Grand: ‘The New Aspect of the Woman Question’
What is the word used to reference the turn of the century? Define it.
Fin De Siecle (turn of the century)
A time of frantic excess in high society London, desperation as Victoria’s reign came to an end.
Define a ‘French well made’ play
Mechanical in form and concerned with complex plotting, copious letters and carefully timed revelations’
Define ‘Farce’
use of highly exaggerated and improbable events to create comedy
Wilde’s sympathy with the poor?
Wrote “The Soul of Man Under Socialism”
- Criticised acquisition of private property as perpetuates poverty further
- Father was an admired surgeon who founded St Mark’s Opthalmic Hospital with aim of treating poor in the city
Wilde’s father’s occupation
Father was an admired surgeon who founded St Mark’s Opthalmic Hospital with aim of treating poor in the city
N/A
N/A
Number of prostitutes in London in 1857
8600
Crisis of Faith
1859 Darwin origin of species - supported science and evolution over God - many lost faith and searched for new value system
When was the ‘Cleveland Street Scandal’?
1889
What is the Cleveland Street Scandal’?
- Prince Albert found at homosexual Cleveland street brothel
- No punishment
- Gov covered it up
Why was Aestheticism seen as bad?
Critic saw it as just self seeking and narcisstic
Why did Wilde’s imprisonment reflect badly on Aestheticism?
Proof that it was not about beauty and spirituality, merely an excuse for immoral and anti-social activities.
What is Lady Chiltern referring to in being in favour ‘the higher education of Women’?
This referring to a book written by Emily Davies in 1866.
Why is is important that Lady Chiltern is a member of the ‘Women’s Liberals Association’?
WLA fought for women’s suffrage
Define ‘Comedy of Manners’
A play, novel, or film that gives a satirical portrayal of behaviour in a particular social group
Quote from From ‘The Soul of Man Under Socialism’ (1891)
‘The private lives of men and women should not be told to the public.’ (relating to spheres)
What was the epithet given to the decade in which ‘An Ideal Husband’ was written?
The ‘yellow’ or ‘naughty’ nineties
What genre is ‘An Ideal Husband’ written in?
Victorian melodrama, or ‘sentimental comedy’, from the French ‘well-made play’ emphasising craftsmanship over content
What is a ‘raisonneur’?
A person in a play or book embodying an author’s viewpoint.
Which play has a similar scene to Mrs. Cheveley’s duel with Goring over Lady Chiltern’s letter?
Sardou’s ‘A Scrap of Paper’
What did two actors in the original ‘An Ideal Husband’ production do?
Testified against Wilde in his trial for ‘gross indecency’
What were contemporary caricatures of Oscar Wilde usually seen holding? What does this suggest?
Lilies (his femininity?)
Who introduced wilde to aestheticism?
Walter Pater
- He argued life had to be lived intently, with beauty its ideal.
Was the theatre censored? How did Wilde get around this?
Yes, by Lord Chamberlain - Could cut or refuse a license for plays which might bring scandal or indecency.
Wilde created an imbedded/hidden mockery to get around this
Scandals ruined careers of contemporary politicians - name two:
Charles Dilke and Charles Parnell (both adultery)
What was Wildes background?
- Anglo Irish, in many ways he was a political outsider
- Mother was a nationalist campaigner believing Ireland should be independent of England.
Who did Wilde have relationships with?
Constance (wife), Robbie Ross, then Bosie (Lord Alfred Douglas)
What were valued as feminist characteristics in Victorian times?
obedience and loyalty
