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Importance of being Earnest: Lady Bracknell

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Powerful, Pompous and Pontifical According to the Bible, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” There is fine line between loving the money or character of a person. The root of all evil starts when one doesn’t notice the difference. Lady Bracknell, an antagonist in The Importance of being Earnest, is a powerful, pompous and pontifical person who values money more than love and comprehends marriage like business deals in terms of allusions, connections and irony. Lady Bracknell’s character is revealed by allusions throughout the play. One can tell that she is very powerful and pompous from few examples of allusions in the text. Without a doubt, Algernon says “Ah! That must be Aunt Augusta. Only relatives, or creditors, …show more content…

“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

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