An Ideal Husband · Character
Phipps
Lord Goring's butler, so perfectly impassive that Wilde calls him the Ideal Butler — a mask with a manner, representing the dominance of form.
supporting
Also known as Lord Goring Phipps, Enter Phipps, Exit Phipps
First appearance: an ideal husband
As a supporting figure in An Ideal Husband, Phipps is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Phipps presides over Lord Goring's Adam-style library, receiving hats, presenting buttonholes on a salver, and answering every epigram with a level 'Yes, my lord.' His deadpan composure is the perfect foil to his…
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The fuller portrait of Phipps sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Phipps in an ideal husbandCharacter Web
8 connectionsA slice of how Phipps sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Professional
- Other
Character groups
- Peripheral society and family
- Central characters in scandal
- Protagonist
+3 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Breaking point
In this scene, the dramatic climax occurs because Lord Goring’s casual, evasive banter with his father masks t…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Lord Goring
professional · positive
Phipps is Lord Goring's impeccably formal and loyal butler, serving him with quiet… How this plays out →
- Sir Robert Chiltern
professional · neutral
- Lord Goring
professional · positive
Phipps is Lord Goring's impeccably formal and loyal butler, serving him with quiet… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Phipps in an ideal husband