Episode 253: "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde, Acts 2 & 3
The Literary Life Podcast
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Ambition, Aspiration, and the Absurdity of Fashion
This chapter engages in a deep discussion about ambition, exploring its potential as a vice through examples from classical literature, particularly Shakespeare. It contrasts ambition with the more positive notion of aspiration while also humorously critiquing 19th-century fashion and the moral complexities within Oscar Wilde's characters. The chapter culminates in a dramatic confrontation highlighting themes of idealism, betrayal, and the imperfections inherent in love.
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