Importance Of Being Earnest Hyperbole

Wilde uses satire especially with the idea of marriage. In the society that he lived in, marriage is seen as a business arrangement. When Lady Bracknell questioned Jack to determine if he is suitable for her daughter, she

In an age of social registers, Lady Bracknell laments that even the Court Guides have errors. In the next breath, she discusses bribing Gwendolen's maid to find out what is happening in her daughter's life. In Act III she also reveals that her aristocratic brother's family entrusted their most precious possession — Jack — to a woman who is more interested in her handbag and manuscript than in what happens to the baby in her charge. Wilde seems to be

During the mid 1800’s, commonly referred to as the Victorian Period, social hierarchy was an enormously profound aspect of European societies. Therefore, arranged marriage and the desire to “move up” on the social ladder was a common pursuit. Throughout the text, it becomes apparent that Wilde strongly opposes this concept, as he includes several power-struggles between Lady Bracknell and the younger generation based on their conflicting desires. To expand, Lady Bracknell insists that “An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself” (Wilde 16-17). This quotation reinforces the fact

This play criticizes marriages in Victorian society and the aristocratic norm that marriage is more of a business than for love or happiness. Through these characters Wilde is not only commenting on the nature of love and marriage, but the place marriage holds in society. During this time in Victorian society and throughout history, many women married for financial security and social standing. It was only through their husbands that woman could hope continue living in the lifestyle to which they were privileged to gain political power. Lady Bracknell’s marriage was one of the marriages that was clearly for business and not for love. Wilde shows how Lady Bracknell has no emotions for Lord Bracknell; she doesn’t even really care about him but only uses him to increase her own social standing. Similarly, Lady Bracknell also does the same when she tries to “arrange” for an eligible suitor for her daughter Gwendolyn, not considering whether Gwendolyn loves the man or not. He must be in the same social standing as they are and must also belong to an aristocratic family. Lady Bracknell tells Jack, “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?” Although Jack is rich, he doesn’t have that name and social standing that Lady Bracknell wants rather she is dissatisfied when she finds out that he was found at a train station inside “a handbag!’’ Jack being found inside a handbag suggests that he was an abandoned baby out of illegitimacy which carried a huge social stigma in the Victorian era. Such babies were often delivered in secret and abandoned in a public place, like train stations as Jack’s situation perfectly

“That is satisfactory.  What between the duties expected of one during one’s lifetime, and the duties exacted from one after one’s death, land has ceased to be either a profit or a pleasure.” (I) She sees marriage as an alliance for property and social security but love or passion is not part of it. Since she had prodigious marriage, her primary goal in life seems to be to see her daughter doing the same. She wants her daughter, Gwendolyn to marry an upper class noble in order live a pleasant life. She tells her daughter quite explicitly, "Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone. When you do become engaged to someone, I or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact." (I) She sees marriage as a business deal because she insisted about Jack’s parent as the most vital thing. Knowing the parents are crucial for Lady Bracknell because they are the ones who are going to share the money and do the business with her. Another example of Lady Bracknell favoring money could be seen from Algernon and Cecily’s marriage. In the beginning, she opposed Cecily and Algernon’s marriage but Jack mentions that she has hundred and thirty thousand pounds in the funds. In a matter of second, she changes her mind and approves their marriage. Lady Bracknell surprisingly and excitingly responds “A moment, Mr. Worthing.  A hundred and thirty thousand pounds!  And in the Funds!  Miss Cardew

Every line, every character, and every stage direction in The Importance of Being Earnest is set on supporting Oscar Wilde’s want for social change. The Importance of Being Earnest was written during the late period of the Victorian era. During this period social classification was taken very seriously. It could affect working and living conditions, education, religion, and marriage. Wilde explores the issues of social class and turns it into a comedic play. He humorously criticizes Victorian manners and attacking the society of the luxurious life. The audience becomes self-aware as the characters reflect on themselves. Plays such as this become successful because of the backgrounds the writers come from and the experiences they have had.

The means of how they marry the women does not matter as long as Jack and Algernon keep up appearances. Through marriage, wealth and lying, Wilde uses thoughtful laughter to satirize the superficiality of the Victorian Era. Thoughtful laughter is used as marriage is not seen as a way to show love but rather as a boost to an individual’s ranking within society. Wilde satirizes the superficiality of the Victorian Era as Lady Bracknell interviews Jack to see if he is fit to marry Gwendolen. It is important that Jack has a high income and houses in rich neighbourhoods if he wishes to marry Gwendolen because it will improve Gwendolen’s social standing.

Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest (.1993.) is an enlightening epitome of social class in the Victorian era. The satire is driven by the frivolous behaviour, superficial lives and artificial norms within the Victorian aristocracy. Incorporating his own opinion into the play, Wilde continually attacked and mocked their hypocrisy, views on marriage, and their mannerisms. Throughout the play, Wilde used an abundant range of literary techniques to reinforce his opinion. Irony, paradox and hyperboles, as well as witty epigrams and aphorisms were used astutely and were ubiquitous throughout the play. This contributed to the satirical style and tone of the text, and enabled Wilde to effectively communicate his critical perspective on social class in Victorian England.

Lady Bracknell is the most authoritative character in the book, and has a fair amount of the jurisdiction over her household, such as when she states that when Gwendolen is engaged she or her husband will “inform [her] of the fact”, which is odd as the male head of the household is usually the one who decides these decisions back in Victorian England. Lady Bracknell is also shown to be ambitious, a trait commonly associated with men, as she views marriage as nothing but a means of gaining social standing, and states that she “had no fortune of any kind” when she married Lord Bracknell, suggesting that she seduced him into marrying her. Gwendolen is also an authoritative figure in the play, shown when she essentially demands that Jack must propose to her properly. Gwendolen also states that her father outside of his family’s social circle is “entirely unknown” and that is how it should be as “the home seems to be the proper sphere for a man. And certainly, once a man begins to neglect his domestic duties he becomes painfully effeminate”.

Later, when Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen enter, two more ideas of marriage are brought to the forefront. Lady Bracknell portrays the aristocratic Victorian view of marriage but to a more extreme extent. According to Ziegenfuss, marriage in the Victorian era was not romanticized or fairytale-like. Love actually played a very minor role in the majority of matrimonies that took place. Engagement was entered into as one would approach a business deal, with rules and guidelines (Ziegenfuss). This is blatantly obvious when Lady Bracknell interviews Jack to see if he’s fit to marry Gwendolen. She attacks Jack with questions about family, fortune, and even place of residency and his answers need be appropriate for a union between the two families. (Kupske, Souza, 122). Even when Algernon wants to marry Cecily, Lady Bracknell voices, “I think some preliminary inquiry on my part would not be out place.” (Wilde, 46). Gwendolen, however, has the same view of marriage as Jack but, still has strong ideals about social protocol. This is seen when Jack tries to propose, she replies, “Of course I will darling…I am afraid you have had very little experience in how to propose!” (Wilde, 11)

More shared opinions between Lady Bracknell and the aristocracy are revealed when she interviews Jack about his intended engagement to Gwendolen. After Jack tells her that he knows nothing, Lady Bracknell responds, “I am pleased to hear it. I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. [...] The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound” (Act 1, 587-591). This response indicates her agreement with the aristocracy’s disregard for education.

For, Lady Bracknell married a very well off man. As a result, she wants Gwendolen to do the same thing. To show more of her bossy and judgmental character, Lady Bracknell has birthed a list of “eligible young men” for Gwendolen. Just as Algernon is a humorous character, Wilde uses Lady Bracknell’s seemingly serious interviews with the suitors for humor. Most of her comments are witty and unintentional on her part.

"What is your income" (pg. 17), "What number in Belgrave Square" (pg. 18), "Where did the charitable gentleman, who had a first-class ticket for this seaside resort find you" (pg. 19). Even when asking where he was found as a baby, she still adds in "first-class ticket" just because the man would have had a lot of money and that intrigued her. With stage directions like "sternly" (pg. 18) and "with a practised smile" (pg.51), it can be concluded that she is a strict and proper lady who isn;t always sincere in her actions. Jack and Lady Bracknell eventually get over their dispute when they discover that Jack is her nephew and she says he is worthy to marry

At this point, lady Bracknell makes his appearance. After being told about both engagements, she does not approve of them, until Cecily's abundant inheritance is mentioned.

The upper classes of society had strict guidelines for their marriages. In the play, Lady Bracknell had some specific requirements for a potential husband of her daughter. When Gwendolen told her mother, Lady Bracknell, she was engaged to Jack,