Set in the late 19th century, An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde emphasizes that individuals are imperfect, as introduced by the irony of the work's title. In this play, Sir Robert Chiltern is a rich and powerful man and is seen as an ideal husband by his wife, Lady Chiltern. Although it looks flawless, it actually has an imperfection. The spurious origin of Sir Robert's successful career and status can be traced back to his previous indiscretion, but this secret must be kept confidential, otherwise it will ruin his marriage and career. Sir Robert fears that his past will ruin everything he has achieved. Forced to obey Mrs. Cheveley's blackmail, Sir Robert must support Mrs. Cheveley's plan to make his fortune. Throughout this play, Sir Robert tries to satisfy every woman's needs because his wife has a strong idealistic view of him and Mrs. Cheveley, a morally flawed woman, pushes Sir Robert to commit further immoral tasks. In An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde comments that every individual has a flaw, be it a simple obsession with idealistic visions or moral imperfections, through his main characters, Sir Robert, Mrs. Cheveley, and Lady Chiltern; however, in the end, despite their flaws. Wilde portrays through the development of his characters that love endures and triumphs over all imperfections. At the beginning of the play, Oscar Wilde reveals Sir Robert's imperfection for the first time. Sir Robert is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and seems simply rich and successful, but he has a secret past that he wishes never to be revealed. Before he achieved his wealth, Sir Robert was a poor man and when given the chance to earn a fortune, he takes full advantage of the offer. He sells…half the paper…major factor that reconciles them, if only slightly in Mrs. Cheveley's case. This joy of love is amplified and concluded in the stage directions at the end of the first act: “The room becomes almost dark. The only light comes from the large chandelier that hangs over the staircase and illuminates the tapestry of the Triumph of Love” (370). Here Wilde emphasizes that when conflicts become so difficult to resolve that they are “dark,” “the only light” provides hope to the individual. In this play, each character's "dark" past and imperfections mean that the "Triumph of Love" is the "only light" that can help illuminate the problem through forgiveness and compromise, as demonstrated by Oscar Wilde through its main characters. Works Cited Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray and other writings. New York: Bantam Dell, 1982. Publican's original date: 1895.