Wilde Critics

Question 1

Eltis: love

Answer 1

‘[Robert Chiltern’s] love is conditional on her continuing support for his political ambition’

Question 2

Gale: High Society

Answer 2

‘Loud in portraying their goodness, but quiet about the self-interested pursuit of power and wealth’

Question 3

Bird: society

Answer 3

‘Basic hypocrisy of English society’

Question 4

Kaneda: gender

Answer 4

‘Supports and subverts the Victorian ideology’

Question 5

Powell: women and intelligence

Answer 5

‘Women were creatures of vast feeling but scant intellect’

Question 6

Walkley: Wilde and the audience

Answer 6

‘Wilde is practically of the same mind as his audience’

Question 7

Woodcock: Robert Chiltern

Answer 7

‘Chiltern is able to escape without punishment’

Question 8

Danson: Mabel Chiltern

Answer 8

‘Mabel is a new woman posing as an ingenue.’

ingenue = innocent young woman

Question 9

Bose: Cheveley

Answer 9

‘Mrs. Cheveley’s wrongdoing is obvious: she invades male power.’