Mrs.Cheveley（沈明月）
In the Oscar Wilde’s book “An Ideal Husband”,when Mabel Chiltern asked Lord Goring what Mrs. Cheveley is like, Lord Goringdescried her as “She was genius in the daytime and a beauty at night.” Mrs.Cheveley, a so-called “horrible woman” in the book, compared with other “good”female characters, is far more articulated. She is totally different from thosewomen that in Wilde’s eyes have “a life that resolves in curves of emotions.”She has ambitions as well as men that is to make herself a fortune. To reachher goal, she isn’t waved by a man’s love. Although she failed at last, as “awork of art that shows the influence of too many schools,” she unquestionablyimpresses me. I would like to analyze Mrs. Cheveley in the movie, since in themovie her remained smooth and slick, but she didn’t have a habit of stealing.Julianne Moore’s fitted acting made Mrs. Cheveley both hateful and cute.
The first characteristic of Mrs. Cheveleyis that she understands and applies the art of speaking well. She can always praisesomeone to the point without getting on someone’s nerves. (As Picture Oneshows.) She answered Vicomte De Nanjac’ praise and praised this man as well.Her talent also works when she threatened Sir Robert Chiltern. At first, shegreatly released her goodwill to confuse Sir Robert Chiltern. (Picture Two)Then she praised his house and asked for looking around. When they got space tostay alone from the crowd, Mrs. Cheveley threw out the important name with a commontopic. (Picture Three) Then she reminded him of his past, indicating that sheknew it. (Picture Four) Finally, she got the chance to have a personal talkwith him without annoying him but she actually made Sir Robert Chiltern fearedher. When they started to put all cards on the table, faced with Sir RobertChiltern’s solid attitude, she hit his soft spot accurately, which is that hewas afraid of his dishonorable past known by the public.(Picture Five and Six)Mrs. Cheveley always got what she want by using her words, which is one of herfortes to me.
The second characteristic of Mrs. Cheveleyis that she has ambitions and doesn’t live for man’s love. Mrs. Cheveley livedin Vienna and has divorced for two times, which apparently showed that she didn’tthink high of man’s love, not like Mrs. Chiltern that depended almost fully onhusband’s love. Mrs. Cheveley lived for herself and her own interests. When sheswore she would give Lord Goring the important letter as a condition of theirmarriage, what she spoke showed that she didn’t care love but what her husband’sfortune and status can bring to her. (Picture Seven) Also, what the two talkedabout early exposed that Mrs. Cheveley took marriage as a springboard to gainmore money and higher status, and that is why she left Lord Goring to marryanother Count in the former marriage. She didn’t live for emotions and love,which seems to be cruel but also makes her special from other femalecharacters.
The third characteristic of Mrs. Cheveleyis that she sticks to her goal and she wouldn’t be changed by other things. Shecould come up with a new plan in a very short time to reach her goal. When shereached Lord Goring’s house, she quickly found out that the Butler Phippsmistook her for others. She then found the letter that Mrs. Chiltern wrote andhid it. When Sir Robert Chiltern noticed her existence, she immediately liedthat she would marry Lord Goring to make him believe that they were togetherand they’ve planned this. Although everything happened out of her control, shehandled it in a very short time and stepped closer to her goal. Lord Goring isa charming man and he once fell in love with Mrs. Cheveley. When they had the personaltalk at his home, Mrs. Cheveley threated him to marry her while Lord Goringconfused her with their old love to save his friends. They had this sentimentalkiss, which is irresistible to every woman, especially woman like Mrs. Cheveleywho had two abortive marriages. However, she did keep rational and refused him.(Picture Eight) This doesn’t only showed her “heart of stone”, but alsoindicates that she is clever and clam enough to notice Lord Goring, who is apaly boy, was cajoling her. Also, when Sir Robert Chiltern won respect in thehouse, which means that Mrs. Cheveley lost her bet, she did make her promiseand give the letter back to Lord Goring, although she played a little trick tothem.
At the very end of the movie, when Mrs.Cheveley is about to leave for Vienna, she said to Lady Markby that “to love oneselfis the beginning of a lifelong romance,” leaving with a smile. It seems thatshe finally got nothing from her travel to London, but she surely didn’t loseanything. She is such a selfish and cunning villain that all she cares is herown interests. But do remember, there is also such a time for her to praise SirRobert Chiltern and warn Mrs. Chiltern to hold on to her husband. The lettershe sent to Sir Robert Chiltern brought them to a happy ending. She surelydoesn’t leave any love to anyone else, but she is the best proof to the wordsthat “to love oneself in the beginning of a lifelong romance.” She lovesherself and lives for herself, and I think that’s why she always wears apleasant smile and acts elegantly. She is a charming villain to me and I willalways remember her nifty smile. To love myself, to start a lifelong romanceright now.