# Lord Goring — An Ideal Husband character guide

> Lord Goring in An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Goring, Lord Goring Smiling, Lord Goring Ah, Lord Goring Oh, Lord Goring Gravely, Lord Goring Rising, Lord Goring Sacrificed, Lord Goring Youth, Lord Goring Good heavens, Lord Goring Bowing, Lord Goring Great heavens, Lord Goring Robert, Lord Goring Mabel, Lord Goring Miss Mabel, Lord Goring Phipps

**First appearance:** 0001-an-ideal-husband

## Snapshot

A dandy bachelor whose epigrams conceal genuine loyalty, he becomes the one man Sir Robert Chiltern can trust with a ruinous secret.

## Who they are

Lord Goring drifts through London drawing rooms armed with paradoxes, dodging his father's demands that he marry and Mabel Chiltern's teasing with equal grace. Beneath the pose of the idlest man in town lies real moral seriousness: he alone urges Robert to confess the truth to his wife, and he alone treats Mrs. Cheveley as the danger she is. His drawing room becomes the play's crossroads, where blackmail, friendship, and courtship all converge.

## Relationships

### [Sir Robert Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/sir_robert_chiltern)

_friendship_

Lord Goring is Sir Robert's loyal and wise friend, offering counsel and support during his crisis.

### [Lady Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/lady_chiltern)

_friendship_

Lady Chiltern and Lord Goring share a deep, platonic friendship built on mutual respect and trust.

### [Mrs. Cheveley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/mrs_cheveley)

_psychological_

Lord Goring and Mrs. Cheveley have a past romantic history, and he now opposes her schemes with clever manipulation.

### [Phipps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/phipps)

_professional_

Phipps is Lord Goring's impeccably formal and loyal butler, serving him with quiet efficiency.

### [Mabel Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/mabel_chiltern)

_romantic_

Lord Goring and Mabel Chiltern are engaged, sharing a playful and affectionate romantic bond.

### [Lady Basildon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/lady_basildon)

_social_

Lady Basildon is a society friend of Lord Goring, sharing witty banter and social circles.

### [Margaret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/margaret)

_professional_

Margaret is a maid in Lord Goring's household, performing domestic duties.

### [Sir Robert Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/sir_robert_chiltern)

_friendship_

Lord Goring is Sir Robert's loyal and wise friend, offering counsel and support during his crisis.

### [Sir Robert Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/sir_robert_chiltern)

_friendship_

Lord Goring is Sir Robert's loyal and wise friend, offering counsel and support during his crisis.

### [Lady Chiltern](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/lady_chiltern)

_friendship_

Lady Chiltern and Lord Goring share a deep, platonic friendship built on mutual respect and trust.

### [Mrs. Cheveley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/mrs_cheveley)

_psychological_

Lord Goring and Mrs. Cheveley have a past romantic history, and he now opposes her schemes with clever manipulation.

### [Mrs. Cheveley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/mrs_cheveley)

_psychological_

Lord Goring and Mrs. Cheveley have a past romantic history, and he now opposes her schemes with clever manipulation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters/lord_goring
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_ideal_husband_se/characters