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An Ideal Husband · Character

Mrs. Cheveley

A brilliant, orchid-like adventuress from Vienna who arrives in London with a letter that can destroy Sir Robert Chiltern's career.

major

Also known as that Mrs. Cheveley, Mrs. Cheveley Smiling, Mrs. Cheveley Rising, Mrs. Cheveley Baron Arnheim, Mrs. Cheveley Arthur, frightening Mrs. Cheveley

First appearance: an ideal husband

As a major figure in An Ideal Husband, Mrs. Cheveley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Mrs. Cheveley is a woman of restless gray-green eyes and scarlet lips, a work of art showing the influence of too many schools, who trades in other people's secrets and calls it society. She offers Sir Robert a bargain:…

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The fuller portrait of Mrs. Cheveley sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

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Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Cheveley sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

SRSir Robert Chi…LCLady ChilternLGLord GoringMAMasonMAMargaretMCMrs. Cheveley

Relationship types

  • Psychological
  • Rivalry
  • Professional
  • Other

Character groups

  • Protagonist
  • Central characters in scandal
  • Peripheral society and family

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupClimax
  • Setup
  • Breaking point

In this scene, the dramatic climax occurs because Lord Goring’s casual, evasive banter with his father masks t…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

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See Mrs. Cheveley in an ideal husband
See Mrs. Cheveley in an ideal husband