Satire In The Importance Of Being Earnest

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

Gwendolyn and Cecily act as friends until they learn that they are supposedly engaged to the same person. Then they learn neither of them are engaged to anybody named Ernest, and are friends again. In act three, we discover Jacks history, including that he is Algernon's elder brother. In the end, despite several lies, arguments, and much turmoil, everybody gets married.

From the surface, Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen seem to have a typical mother-daughter relationship. But as the play progresses we see that this is not at all the case. Lady Bracknell is a narrow-minded and authoritarian type mother. Because of this she is very protective when it comes to her daughter. She believes that since she married well, her daughter deserves the same. Her idea of marriage includes the attainment of social security and property. In her mind it has nothing to do with love or passion. Gwendolen, however, wants to make her own decisions and live her life as she pleases, not having to worry about whether or not her mother will approve. She is intellectual sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. The overprotectiveness from her mother is first seen when list of eligible men are mentioned. This list is composed by Lady Bracknell herself and includes the names of all the men who she believes are good and worthy enough to be with her daughter. With this list is a set of interview questions about a variety of topics ranging from his smoking habits to his family origins. This is her way of manipulating the situation and getting it to turn out the way that she wants it to. Lady Bracknell was born into the lower class but was a social climber who was determined on marrying into the aristocracy, which is exactly what she did. She wants her daughter to be able to do the same. She even goes as far as to tell Gwendolen that she is not engaged until her mother or father informs her that she is. Even after all this pressure and control coming from her mother Gwendolen decides to rebel. Gwendolen is sure she wants to marry the man

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

Algernon’s stances on marriage, relationships, and self accurately describe his selfishness. Not only does Algernon destroy his own sense of reality, he destroys everyone else’s concept of the truth. The Importance of Being Earnest is meant to make people laugh; unfortunately, Wilde’s characters are so rude and condescending that the reader can have trouble finding the humor. This play is so full of unhealthy relationships that one has to assume that nothing will work out in the end. Algernon is an egomaniac, and there is no doubt that his attitude will rub off on Cecily, Jack, and

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

Cecily and Gwendolen were perfectly happy to become attached to something that appears to be true and real rather than taking a closer look to expose the genuine nature of Jack and Algernon proves that the two young women were more attached to the name of both men, and did not consider their actions and words to verify them not being earnest – exposing both women as superficial. Algernon’s occupation with his outer appearance and Lady Bracknell’s need to look good in the eyes of others proves them both to be superficially committed to their external manifestations. It is possible that Wilde was revealing what the upper class life resulted in, and that as one rises higher in status one loses themselves, becoming preoccupied with what others want and what others think, forgetting one’s true

Lady Bracknell who beliefs in the social reproduction, forbids Jack to marry her daughter for she wants her bloodline to have a stable social class and thinks that because Jack was found in a bag as a baby he is unworthy to marry her daughter. This also demonstrates social inequality. Due to Jacks background Lady Bracknell does not see him as an equal and there fourth deprives him what she feels he does not

Before this direct reference, the theme has only been alluded to when we notice how keen Algernon is in keeping Lane at his proper social ‘place’- a servant who does not discuss his domestic issues with their boss or social betters. Romance is clearly a theme that the play deals with and is introduced by the caustic reference to the relationship between his cousin and Mr. Worthington- ‘My dear fellow, the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful.  It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you’- clearly this cannot be anything else but love. The play is also very concerned about the issue of extravagance. Algernon is an extravagant young man, a fact Mr. Worthington does not appreciate and tries again and again to discourage when they discuss Algernon’s culinary tastes. Through the various comments by the characters the play reveals the authors cynicism towards the marriage institution which he relentlessly attacks as the flippant ‘in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand’ and through such play with words as ‘divorce was made in heaven’ rather than ‘marriages were made in heaven’.

One begins to see this contrast based on how they interact with others and then each other. In her interaction with Jack as he proposes she finds no issue in critiquing the way he delivers his inquiry. She is afraid he's had "very little experience in how to propose. A proper lady wouldn't criticize such a proposal or may have done so, in a subtle way. Then Lady Bracknell intrudes upon

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.

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)

“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. 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, 622). Lady Bracknell’s harsh criticism and stubborn ways are customary of upper-class mothers in the era. Ironically enough, Algernon later develops a kind of forbidden love. The object of his affection is young and being taught to be unimaginative and serious.

At the start of the play, Algernon perceives Jack’s interest in marrying Gwendolen to be a business deal and have nothing to do with any interest in love. As Jack comes into the city with the intention of proposing to Gwendolen, Algernon believes that Jack “had come up for pleasure?... I call that business” (297). Algernon perspective of love are demoralizing and dull in the sense that he views marriage with a glass half empty mentality. He does not believe that love truly exists in marriage, it is only something that has been made up to make the idea sound more inviting.

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,