Firstly, I would like to admit that the character who attracts me most in the movie is Mrs. Cheveley, and I think that Mrs.Cheveley in the film is far more charming and attractive than she is in the original drama—A Ideal Husband, which written by Oscar Wilde. In his work, Mrs.Cheveley seems to be more evil and greed, while in the film; I can see a different Mrs.Cheveley.
After finishing the movie, audience can perceive that the style of Mrs. Cheveley’s behaviors and conversation are quite capricious and arbitrary, and yet many of them are full of trick and elegance. First, Mrs.Cheveley has her own understanding toward the art of communication, and she is particularly good at extending her interpersonal relationship, especially to male. When the first time Mrs. Cheveley met the Sir.Vicomte on a political party, she had a short conversation with him. Sir. Vicomte asked her how did she manage her youth and beauty, and Mrs.Cheveley answered that is because she herself making a rule that just talking to charming people like him. And it is a perfectly communicative skill to flatter other which can keep a prominent position in London Society.
Mrs.Cheveley also processes a great talent to charge the whole direction of conversation, which can easily affect other’s emotion and attitude for attaching to her own purpose. For instance, nobody can realize that Mrs. Cheveley had her intentions, nor they can predict that she was well prepared when the first time she talked to Sir.Chiltern, At the beginning,Mrs.Cheveley pretend to appreciated a painting with Sir. Robert and told him that she knows an authority who has delightful Corots as well. By talking that,Mrs.Cheveley can mention that person—Baron Arnheim, who knows the entirely past of Sir. Robert, and she knows the name can pin down Sir. Robert so that she can talk more and deeper about the subject she desires to talk to. Without changing the direction of conversation, Mrs. Cheveley has little chance to talk to Sir.Robert personally.
Then the scene invert to a room which Mrs.Cheveley can make a further step to her topic. She comes straight to the point to that Argentina Scheme. Mrs.Cheveley deliberately lie that she has invested a large money on the scheme and pretends she has been deceived in order to provoke Sir.Robert’s superiority and lead him jump into her trap. At the very first of beginning, Sir.Robert control the conversation because as a political figure,he has confidence in possessing more information about the Argentina Scheme;however, his superiority and confidence is broke up for Mr. Cheveley has the crucial evidence that reveals his past and the origin of his wealth, andSir.Robert is completely tied up at last.
The conversation between Mrs. Cheveley and other main characters can also reflect other her nature. She always keeps a kind of airwith elegance and clam when she talks to other people, and no matter how dreadful words the other talk to her, she has ways to strike them back without losing her temper and attitude. For example, Mrs.Cheveley met Lord Goring onthat political party. Since that Mrs.Cheveley once abandoned Lord Goring for a pursuitto larger wealth, Lord Goring does not welcome her very much, and when Mrs.Cheveley asks whether he is please to see her, Lord Goring says: “My dearwoman, possibly less than that”. Although being faced with the sarcasm fromLord Goring, Mrs.Cheveley is not infuriated but responds him in a half-genuineand half-sham way instead. She tells Lord Goring that if he wants to entirelyavoid her, he should know that she will leave the London and go to Vienna onFriday.
There are also many remarks said by Mr.Cheveley thatpossesses pun and penetrating meaning as well. For instance, when she mentions about the political and financial scheme, she said that she like tedious andpractical scheme but what she doesn’t like are practical people. And I think this remark perfectly implies the scheme and the people who once had secretiveand illegal deal that connect with the scheme. In other word, Mrs.Cheveley isaim to demonstrate the dark side of Sir.Robert without directly pointing outit, but using a kind of vague tune.
What’s more, when Lady Chiltern, Lady Markby and Mrs.Cheveley sit and talk together, Lady Markby says that modern women know everything, while Mrs. Cheveley says: “Except their husband, that is the onething the modern women never understand”. The sentence seems be a quite fair comment to marriage, but indeed it implies that Lady Chiltern does not know the past of her husband, which is quite interesting. So the changing process of the two character’s position reflects that every sentence Mrs. Cheveley has said contains a step elaborately designed in every conversation. It exposes Mrs.Cheveley’s superior conversation skill, advanced intellect and prominent competence of manipulating the psychological activities of people.
The dealing style of Mrs. Chevely also reflects her crafty and cautious side. She makes a bet with Sir. Robert’s best friend—Lord Goring.She bets on that vital letter which is the only evidence of the past of Sir.Rober. Mrs. Cheveley says if Sir. Robert supports the scheme on the house debate which offends his own principal morality, Lord Goring will marry her. Though Lord Goring tries to seduce her, he fails anyway. And from that, we can see the thoughts of Mrs.Cheveley are far more complicate and exquisite. For Mrs.Cheveley, the bet that relates to four person’s future life and happiness just like a joke-liked game, and her arbitrary manipulation demonstrates us a kind of overwhelming power and scheme of this women.
As a main villain in the film, Mrs.Cheveley is widely regarded as a woman who has guilty of dishonest and dishonorable action.Nevertheless, although she is the most cunning and ambitious character in the film, yet she is clever and resourceful as well. Neither she does any harm virtually, nor does she ruin any happiness viciously. The purpose of all that she has done is not perceived yet, maybe for ambition, maybe for fun. But it is can’t be denied that as a key character, Mrs. Cheveley plays a vital role in promoting the development of the whole story, which also makes contribution to her personal magnetism. It’s obvious that many people get involved in Mrs.Cheveley’s game, however without the game; they can hardly gain such a joyful happy ending.
---1607 肖彤彤