The Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde

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

The life of the Victorian people was a time in which people were prude because of their repression. Many of the people of that time had a lot of pent-up emotions, there was a time and a place for something and it solemn did any good for anyone, depending on your class you had to have a curtain way of carrying yourself, many of which was not the must enjoyable of ways and lacked some fun that many need in their life. This forced many to split their Public life from the Private one. Written in the Victorian Era, the works of The importance of being earnest by Oscar Wilde, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson ,and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley displays how

Throughout much of the play and especially the beginning, Wilde satirizes the setting in which both the characters as well as his audience live in. This satirization specifically requires that the audience be thoughtful whenever Wilde makes a joke, resulting in the thoughtful laughter which makes a true comedy. “The Importance of Being Earnest” is set during the late 20th century in Britain, a time period known as the Victorian Era, in which the British Empire was at its absolute peak. The dominance of Britain in world affairs resulted in a sense of

There is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence". She basically told Jack that if his true name isn't Earnest she will not love him due to his name. So therefore, to keep the love of his life Jack has to keep the persona of Earnest. Even once Gwendolen and Cecily find out that Jack and Algernon names aren't Earnest they can find their love again and forgive them only if Jack and Algy christen themselves as Earnest.

In the play, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, there is a lot of humor that can be found. Specifically, developed behind the characters in this play that display many instances of irony and how important it was to fit into the “status quo” of this time period. There are specific behaviors from the characters of Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen, and Algernon that portray Wilde’s opinion of society during the Victorian Age. The attitude of these characters is snobbish and their manners display double standards and superiority. The play’s use of mockery and irony of these satirical situations is meant to publicly ridicule the self- loving attitude of the upper class while exposing their true absence of intelligence which causes their absurd social behaviors

Wilde presents a very resourceful platform for public criticism and debate through the clever use of is characters’ personalities and opinions. Friends Jack and Algernon represent a second then triviality through their acts and notions of a desire to be christened in the name of Ernest to gain the affections of two likewise paradoxical women; Gwendolyn and Cecily. On page 40, Jack asserts, “I would like to be christened myself…” before obviously claiming that he has no recollection any previous christening like that of every other infant at the time (Wilde, 40). Later on page 47, Algernon enquires about ten very same rectors and expresses his urgency to be christened the same name of this Ernest (Wilde, 47). The hand-in-hand involvement names and christening an excessive need to display one’s 'public’ nature as good, honest men, which,

The play, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde was written in the Victorian Age of England. During this time morality was connected with sexual restraint and strict codes of conduct in public. This play hilariously critiques Victorian moral and social values while the characters in the play try to figure out the meaning of “earnestness”. Wilde uses humor and irony to publicly ridicule the self-aggrandizing attitude of the Victorian upper classes, as well as to expose their duplicity and hypocrisy in regards to their social behaviors.

Upper classes are expected to act a certain way. And the world, even today, judgemental to those in higher classes acting out a certain way. Aunt Augustus is the prime example of the putting appearance first. When Jack asks for Gwendolyns hand, Aunt Augustus questions Jack about his money, family and estates. She is almost convinced he would be a perfect match, but When she discovers that his was abandoned in a train station. She says no , “ You can hardly imagine that i and lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter- a girl brought up with utmost care- to marry into a cloak room, and form an alliance with a parcel?” (Wilde, 27.) Even though he was brought up by a distinguished individual, if society were to find out that Jack could be from anywhere, the Bracknell family would be seen as terrible family that lets their only daughter marry whoever. This was a huge deal for all families with daughters and sons. The family appearance was to come

While Algernon is talking to Jack about marriage Algernon states “there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal” (Reinert,15). Wilde satirizes the traditional ways of a marriage proposal. While Gwendolen and Jack are talking Gwendolen states that it’s “ideal to marry a man named earnest” and when she found out Algernon had a friend named earnest she said “I knew I was destined to love you” (Wilde, 1,945) Wilde satirizes love in association with the name Earnest.

Although the two wanted to marry, Lady Bracknell refuses to allow it given Jack’s social status. Wilde treats the subject of marriage with plenty of humor and hypocrisy, especially among the male characters.

Do you smoke?” (Wilde 20) In these lines, exaggeration is placed in a way that makes the reader pause to question what was just said. As the reader, it is anticipated that Lady Bracknell will begin asking a series of difficult questions, but instead she voices a more straightforward question. During the Victorian Era, the mothers had a certain criteria that they wanted their daughter’s courter to be compliant with.

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)

In the satirical play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the playwright, Oscar Wilde mocks the ideas that Victorian society had about marriage. The scene in which Jack, one of the main characters, attempts to persuade Lady Bracknell to allow him to marry Gwendolen, her daughter, is over dramatic and humorous in order to show how the Victorian society treated marriages. Oscar Wilde subtlety argues, through comedy, that most marriages are for financial and social gain instead of love, emotions, and personality. Wilde creates the outrageous character, Lady Bracknell, to represent the traditional Victorian ideals. He hyperbolizes her ideals and manners, that she is incredibly stubborn about, so much so that they are no longer polite or

In Act 3 of the play, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, the author develops humor through three recurring factor throughout the act: clichés, irony, and paradox. These factors are further perpetrated throughout the dialogue between Algernon and Cecily in order to satirize love and relationship between young adults, as well as the morals of Victorian Age.

The story is about Victorian society in the late 1800’s when the fashionable trends were at their peaks. Wilde himself was shunned and imprisoned because of Victorian social standards and beliefs. “Wilde was convicted on May 25, 1895 and sentenced to two years in prison.” (biography.com). He wrote “The Importance of Being Earnest” to make fun of these stiff and uptight rules and try to loosen them up a bit. Wilde may see his characters as the manifestation of Victorian society and the social behavior it labels as important. For example, Gwendolyn and Cecily see the name “Ernest” as one of the qualifications for a suitor. “…my ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest.” (Wilde, Gutenberg.org). Even though Wilde may not really like his characters, he does seem to think that they are funny, and it is shown through Gwendolyn and Cecily’s over-exaggeration. “Cecily: A gross deception has been practiced on both of us. Gwendolen: My poor wounded Cecily! Cecily: My sweet wronged Gwendolen!” (Wilde,