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What is wilde exploring in the play the importance of being earnest
Critical analysis of the importance of being earnest by Oscar Wilde
Compare algernon and jack characters
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In the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde reveals the personality of two protagonists: Jack Worthing, an honest legal judge from Hertfordshire , and Algernon, a witty gentleman belonging to Victorian society. The diction of the passage shows that Jack and Algernon are best friends; Algernon calls Jack as his “old boy”, “my dear boy” (Wilde 90). They also have some similar personalities: humorous, ironic and satiric. The passage starts with the scene Algernon enters cheerily (Wilde 90); he asks Jack about Jack’s proposal to Gwendolen. Jack replies with a sincere exclamation about Gwendolen, and also her mother, Lady Bracknell. He claims that Lady Bracknell is “perfectly unbearable” (Wilde 90); furthermore, Jack compares
her as “a Gorgon” (Wilde 90), which is a female creature in Greek mythology with snakes for hair. A Gorgon (Wilde 90) is also an image of fierce, frightening and repulsive woman. In fact, in the previous scene, she ridicules Jack’s background and in her opinion, Jack does not match her only daughter: “You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter—a girl brought up with the utmost care—to marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel?” (Wilde 90). It is undeniable that Jack has some deep psychological wounds after hearing Lady Bracknell’s complaint. Algernon immediately agrees with Jack, he would “[loves] hearing [his] relations abused” (Wilde 90) and his idea about relations is “simply as a tedious pack of people”(Wilde 90). The tone of the previous sentence describes Algernon as a young man who is irreverent and disrespect for the society he will inherit. Relatives are his embarrassment and they never know when to leave and overstay their welcome.
Irony in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde The play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is full of irony. Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, the protagonists in the play, get themselves into a complicated situation called Bunburyism (as Algernon refers to it). They pretend to be someone that they are not to escape their daily lives. They lie to the women they admire, and eventually the truth is revealed.
Oscar Wildes ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’’ is believed by many to be his most genius work and certainly has withstood the test of time. The play is set in London during the 1890’s in which time frame aristocracy and upper class held the majority of the countries wealth. Many of the comical aspects question the morals of the upper class in which he satirises throughout the play. One method of this, for instance is through one of the main protagonist, Algernon Moncrieff. Algernon is an upper class individual who is oblivious to the world around him in such an exaggerated manner that it makes his character comically adjusted for Wildes own views. Many aspects of the time period are made a mockery through puns and witty remarks from the main protagonists, most if not all are portrayed in a sense that makes them undoubtedly a laughing stock. Wildes methods are not discrete; nor are they obvious, many of the comical comments made are by none other than the protagonists themselves. This furthermore enforces the corrupted morals of the time periods prestigious upper class by showing their sheer inability to acknowledge hypocrisy. For example, in act one; Algernon states “ Lane's views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility.” This is especially amusing as Algernon believes that the lower class have a duty to set an example when in reality the matter of fact was quite the contrary. Algernon states that he believes the lower class are lacking in morals, he being arguably one of the most morally distorted characters Wilde created makes the double standards more prominent.
What is love? Love is that thing that we all yearn for. Love is that deep connection that you have with someone. Love is a fundamental force that we all want to obtain but few of is every truly reach. What is marriage? Marriage is a promise between two people who has that deep love for one another make, stating that no matter the circumstance they will stick by each other side. Marriage is a union between two lovers who feel like they have founded their other half. Marriage is a partnership between two people, and no matter what events may occur they will find a way to work it out because they love each other. Sometimes love can be mixed up with lust. Sometimes people feel like they have that love and figure marriage is the next step, but if that true love isn't there the marriage won't last. Marriages are mainly business deals in these times, set up for the sole purpose of money, power, and prestige. Throughout Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the themes of love and marriage occur several times throughout each piece of literature.
In conclusion, The Importance of Being Earnest strongly focuses on those of the upper class society and the vanity of the aristocrats who place emphasis on trivial matters concerning marriage. Both Algernon and Jack assume the identity of "Ernest" yet ironically, they both are beginning their marital lives based on deception and lies. Lady Bracknell represents the archetypal aristocrat who forces the concept of a marriage based on wealth or status rather than love. Through farce and exaggeration, Wilde satirically reveals the foolish and trivial matters that the upper class society looks upon as being important. As said earlier, a satiric piece usually has a didactic side to it. In this case, Lady Bracknell learns that the same person she was criticising is actually her own flesh and blood.
Irony is a literary device that involves ‘“a contrast between what is said and what is meant” (Kennedy & Gioia 192). However, some writers that incorporate irony into their narratives rely heavily on the reader to comprehend what they are trying to critique. Wilde uses two forms of irony into ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, situational and dramatic. Situational irony refers to “a contrast or incongruity between what we expect and what a character might hope to happen and what actually occurs” (Farner 223; Currie 148). Furthermore Wilde displays this form in the first act with Lady Bracknell refusing to let her daughter Gwendolen marry Ernest (Jack) due to being unsure about his family background, even though he is wealthy; … ‘to marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel. Good morning, Mr Worthing’ (Wilde, 311). However she accepts the engagement of Algernon and Cecily knowing that Cecily is wealthy and with full knowledge that she is Jack’s (Ernest’s) ward. ‘Dear child, of course you know Algernon has nothing but his debts to depend on… When I married Lord Bracknell I had no fortune of any kind’’ (Wilde,
This chat was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Algernon's friend, Ernest Worthing Worthing was pleased to hear that Lady Bracknell - and her beautiful daughter Gwendolen - would be appearing for tea. But Algernon warned, "I am afraid Aunt Augusta won't quite approve of your bein here." Mildly insulted, Ernest demanded to know why. "My dear fellow," Algernon answered, "the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful. It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you." At this point Worthing announced that he intended to propose marriage to Gwendolen, but was taken aback by Algernon's response: "I don't give my consent." Worthing, would first have to explain a certain "Cecily" in his life. As evidence of this relationship, he produced a cigarette case left behind by Worthing on an earlier visit - devotedly inscribed from "Cecily" to her loving "Uncle Jack."
The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. Oscar describes his play as A Trivia comedy for serious people. The protagonists in the play maintains being fictitious in order to escape burdensome social obligations. The play is lighthearted with flippant comments and offhand jokes, however the play contains serious undertones and social commentary about marriage and the society. Oscar Wilde in his plat portrays marriage in the Victorian Era as arranged for the upper class. Lady Bracknell is not ready to give her daughters hand in marriage to Earnest because of his social class and because he told her that he was found in a Victorian railroad station and has no idea who his biological parents are. Oscar Wilde explores the topic of marriage at length in his play. Marriage is a primary force motivating the plot of the play and a subject of speculation. The debate in the play is to whether marriage is pleasant or unpleasant.
The Importance of Being Earnest appears to be a conventional 19th century farce. False identities, prohibited engagements, domineering mothers, lost children are typical of almost every farce. However, this is only on the surface in Wilde's play. His parody works at two levels- on the one hand he ridicules the manners of the high society and on the other he satirises the human condition in general. The characters in The Importance of Being Earnest assume false identities in order to achieve their goals but do not interfere with the others' lives. The double life led by Algernon, Jack, and Cecily (through her diary) is simply another means by which they liberate themselves from the repressive norms of society. They have the freedom to create themselves and use their double identities to give themselves the opportunity to show opposite sides of their characters. They mock every custom of the society and challenge its values. This creates not only the comic effect of the play but also makes the audience think of the serious things of life.
Throughout the course of the play, Wilde portrays each of the main characters in a way that reflects his views of the English aristocracy. Algernon Moncrieff and Jack(Ernest) Worthington represent the prototypical male bachelors. In the opening act, set in Algernon's flat, the two meet and display what appears to be their usual daily activities. Neither is employed, and it is apparent that their only occupation is the pursuit of leisure activities and social matters, subjects of major importance to them. When Algernon inquires as to the purpose of Ernest's visit to town, Ernest replies, "Oh pleasure, pleasure! What else should bring anyone anywhere? Eating as usual, I see Algy!". Algeron and Ernest are characterized by their extravagance, a luxury affordable only because of the money accrued from family inheritance. Neither displays any notion of an appreciation for money. In fact, when Algern...
Throughout the late nineteenth century, Oscar Wilde wrote plays such as Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest- his most famous play. Earnest is a comedic work that focuses on a pair of wealthy men. They have been leading double lives so that they can go off for periods of time and enjoy living without responsibility while still maintaining their aristocratic reputation. Because of Wilde’s invlovement in the aesthetic movement, it is not uncommon (or unfair) to believe that his work, Earnest included, is nothing more than fluff. That being said, it is also fair to argue that this particular play does have meaning in it. Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest as a commentary on the hypocrisy of the ideal Victorian character. Earnestness is sincerity- which most Victorians believed themselves to be- and so Wilde uses the word ironically. In his eyes, people who considered themselves sincere were actually smug, self-righteous, and pompous. He expresses these opinions clearly through the play’s over-the-top and frustrating characters.
In Wilde’s play, The Importance of Being Earnest, Algernon is a shallow man with no principles and no conscience.
In Oscar Wilde’s satire, The Importance of Being Earnest, he engages the audience with a profound amount of conflicting dialogue starting with the title. The importance of being Ernest is quite a different meaning than the importance of being earnest. Wilde demonstrates a considerable amount of wit to unfold the importance of being both Ernest and earnest.
Being able to provide for a wife and family meant that a was successful in his career and an attractive wife who manage the household and was attentive to her husband suggested true success within the male sex. Gwendolen and Cecily both grew up subscribing to the idea that women were meant to dream of marriage and had little other prospects, which caused them to over-romanticize and essentially fall in love with the name Earnest. The only condition these women have for their future husband is that he must be named Earnest, and idea which Wilde uses to in order to show how quick society is to judge and assign value to a person based off of trivial ideals. Jack, although his familial origin is originally unknown, is well-off due to his inheritance and earns money through investments (a respectable method of income), clearly loves and could certainly provide for Gwendolen, but, because his name is not Earnest, she would not consider him a potential suitor. Cecily frequently hears of the troubled exploits of Jack’s (admittedly invented) brother, Earnest yet she creates an imaginary relationship with the man, and keeps an extensive diary detailing their relationship. By presenting the folly of these two girls, Wilde suggests that Victorian relationships are not built on substance but rather societal
Both Algernon and Jack assume the identity of "Ernest" yet ironically, they both plan on starting their married life with a lie. Lady Bracknell represents the typical aristocrat who focuses the idea of marriage on social and economic status. She believes that if the men trying to marry these girls are not of proper background, there is to be no engagement. Through this major exaggeration, Wilde satirically reveals the irrational and insignificant matters that the upper class society uses to view
Wilde expresses the upper class’ desire to escape the social conventions. In the case of the Importance of Being Earnest’s characters, the same desire leads to a refusal to conform by their creation of another parallel life. Both Jack and Algernon use a n imaginary identity to escape their responsibilities. Jack has “always pretended to have a younger brother of the name Earnest, who lives in the Albany, and gets into the most dreadful scrapes” (Wilde 18). Jack uses his double identity to escape from his “position of guardian, [where] one has to adopt a very high moral tone of all subjects” (Wilde 18). By inventing himself another identity, Jack attempts at escaping his reality and responsibilities that come with his status, which reveals the hypocrisy of the upper class during the Victorian era. The privileged were only willing to act according to their standards when they felt like it. The same attitude of the higher class is represented in Algernon’s actions, who invented himself a sick friend, Bunbury, in order “to go down into the country whenever [he] choose[s]” (Wilde 19). Algernon, just like Jack, uses his double-life, to get away from his responsibilities. During the Victorian era, the upper class expected high social standards from its own people, but found ways to escape the same responsibilities associated with heir social