domestic area, she plays role as a wife which can be seen when she tries to save her husband from doing dishonorable thing by helping Mrs.
Cheveley with her Canal scheme. A woman not only plays the role as the husband’s lover but also as friend, mother, and even protector in certain
situation for him Puspita, 1997: 202. From the dialogue below, Sir Robert takes her advice which can be called as appreciation towards wife.
LADY CHILTERN. … Robert, love gives one an instinct to things. I feel to-night that I
have saved you from something that might have been a danger for you, from something that might have made men honour you less
than they do. I don’t think you realize sufficiently, Robert, that you
have brought into the political life of our time a noble atmosphere, a finer attitude towards life, a freer air of purer aims and higher
ideals – I know it, and for that I love you, Robert. AIH Act I Page
30.
In public area, Lady Chiltern gives contribution in supporting higher education for women together with her husband so that the women
can have a better life. Supporting each other is essential in marriage life. She becomes the supporter of Higher Education of Women in which Lady
Markby does not support in it. She argues that the higher education for women can destroy the marriage because the ideal Victorian wife was not
supposed to be learnt many things like the men and the right role was taking care of the family and husband.
LADY MARKBY. Well, I must say it is most annoying to lose anything. I remember once at Bath, years ago, losing in the Pump Room an exceedingly
handsome cameo bracelet that Sir John had given me. I don’t think he has ever given me anything since, I am sorry to say. He
has sadly degenerated. Really, this horrid House of Commons quite ruins our husband for us. I think the Lower House by far the
greatest blow to a happy married life that there has been since that terrible thing called the higher Education of Women was invented
LADY CHILTERN. Ah It is heresy to say that in this house, Lady Markby. Robert is a great champion of the Higher Education of Women, and so, I am
afraid, am I. AIH Act II Page 47.
e. Analysis of Value of Marriage
In Victorian era, getting married was all Victorian women’s dream because marriage was the way of survival for the women
especially the lower class, because women at that time had limited freedom in participating in public area and making choices. Women were
called ideal when they could fulfill the society expectation such as to marry, to bear the children, and to support their husband. The wife is
expected to be passive and innocence which makes the women hardly got any freedom in the marriage life. The feminist seeks for the equality
between men and women in any fields including marriage. To have the long last marriage, The husband and wife need values of marriage such as
undying love, forgiveness, forbearance, loyalty, honesty, sacrifice, appreciation, and trust which prevent from marital conflict, the
dissatisfaction, and disappointment in marriage which can end up the marriage in divorce and to make it works, it must be done equally by the
two. Appreciation is essential in marriage. The disappointment of the
women towards their perfect husband is arisen because the husband never appreciates them; it is reflected in Lady Basildon and Mrs. Marchmont.
LADY BASILDON. Ah That accounts for so much in men that I have never understood, and so much in women that their husbands never
appreciate in them MRS. MARCHMONT. [With a sigh.] our husband never appreciate anything in us. We
have to go to others for that AIH Act I Page 15.
A happy marriage is built from undying love. It means that the spouses will love each other in good and bad situation. It can be seen
from Lady Chiltern and Sir Robert who love each other in any condition. Sir Robert loves his wife very much that he cannot lose her love and so
cannot Lady Chiltern. After the problem w hich reveals Sir Robert’s sin,
Lady Chiltern still loves him although she feels disappointed before.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Taking her hand.] Gertrude, is it love you feel for me, or is it pity merely?
LADY CHILTERN. [Kisses him.] It is love, Robert. Love, and only love. For
both of us a new life is beginning. AIH Act IV Page 93.
The equality of value of marriage can be seen in the dialogue below. Honesty and forgiveness are also shown by both Lady Chiltern
and Sir Robert. Lady Chiltern tells the truth about the woman whom Lord Goring expected that night, it was her. Knowing the truth, Sir Robert
forgives her. It shows that Lady Chiltern has the equal rights and position as her husband.
LADY CHILTERN. Robert, it was not Mrs. Cheveley whom Lord Goring
expected last night. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Not Mrs. Cheveley Who was it then?
LORD. GORING. Lady Chiltern
LADY CHILTERN. It was your own wife. Robert, yesterday afternoon Lord
Goring told me that if ever I was in trouble. I could come to him for help, as he was our oldest and best friend …
[SIR ROBER CHILTERN takes the letter out of his pocket.
] Yes, that letter. I didn’t go to Lord Goring’s, after all…
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. What Had I fallen so low in your eyes that you thought that even for a moment I could have doubted your
goodness? Gertrude, Gertrude, you are to me the white image of all good things, and sin can never touch you.
Arthur, you can go to Mabel, and you have my best wishes Oh Stop a moment. There is no name at the
beginning of this letter. The brilliant Mrs. Cheveley does not seem to have noticed that. There should be a name.
LADY CHILTERN. Let me write yours. It is you I trust and need. You and
none else. AIH Act IV Page 91.
This drama reveals that self-sacrificing character between men and women has the equal portion. It can be seen after Sir Robert sacrifices
his vacant seat in Cabinet to start a new life away from political life then Lady Chiltern sacrifices her dream and ambition in having an ideal
husband by accepting Sir Robert’s past in order to save the marriage.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. And you would be happy living somewhere alone with me, abroad perhaps, or in the country away from London,
away from public life? You would have no regrets?
