Monologue

Mabel Chiltern Monologue from An Ideal Husband

From An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde

female · comedic · 1:50 min

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Oh! I wouldn’t marry a man with a future before him for anything under the sun. (LADY CHILTERN: Mabel!) I know, dear. You married a man with a future, didn’t you? But then Robert was a genius, and you have a noble, self-sacrificing character. You can stand geniuses. I have no character at all, and Robert is the only genius I could ever bear. As a rule, I think they are quite impossible. Geniuses talk so much, don’t they? Such a bad habit! And they are always thinking about themselves, when I want them to be thinking about me. I must go round now and rehearse at Lady Basildon’s. You remember, we are having tableaux, don’t you? The Triumph of something, I don’t know what! I hope it will be triumph of me. Only triumph I am really interested in at present. (Kisses LADY CHILTERN and goes out; then comes running back.) Oh, Gertrude, do you know who is coming to see you? That dreadful Mrs. Cheveley, in a most lovely gown. Did you ask her? (LADY CHILTERN: Mrs. Cheveley! Coming to see me? Impossible!) I assure you she is coming upstairs, as large as life and not nearly so natural.

About this piece

Mabel Chiltern expresses her feelings about geniuses and her own lack of character while preparing for a social event, revealing her complex emotions and relationships.

20s · longing · identity · ambition · betrayal · power

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