Wilde succeeds in criticizing the Victorian era by using satire to show the reality of the society of the time. Throughout the movie, we can clearly see the characteristcs of the Victorian period. For example, the desire and pressure of marriage for young women of the time and always focused on the financial side. The characters are also part of a group that seems to be somewhat distinguished from English high society, which is relevant to why the movie is…...
The author Oscar Wilde, wrote The Importance of Being Earnest in 1894. The story takes place around 1894 about the English upper class. It focuses on Algernon and Jack who lives two separate lives as they go under the name of Earnest to sport the women they are in love with and wish to marry. Marriage in the play is a valuable theme as it focuses on people's thoughts towards love and marriage and how it is valued in the…...
Queen Victoria revolutionised many aspects of everyday life for workers, middle and aristocratic classes. Victorians strived for the patriarchal structure of a family, showcasing the perfect wealth and relationships, faking their proper behaviour, morality and values, when actually they were hiding and distorting their true selves. Oscar Wild rebels against the prim and proper behaviour of upper-class society, „business“ marriages, dishonesty and mocks the whole Victorian period and the era's followers. Using satire, he makes fun of human shortcomings and…...
Oscar WildeThe Importance Of Being Earnest
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The play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a brilliant satirical work by Oscar Wilde that highlights the hypocrisy of Victorian morals and priorities. In Act 1 most of the main characters (Jack Worthing, Algernon Moncrieff, Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax) are introduced to the story, along with major conflicts between them and a major plot point: Jack and Algernon’s bunyburing, which is the practice of creating a fictitious relation who lives elsewhere with the intention to use them as an…...
Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a play which was first performed in London on February 14th, 1895. Wilde describes this work as “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” Even 124 years later, the playwright's title still holds; This play could make even the most serious or stubborn theatregoer laugh. The jokes are clever and carefully crafted, the characters are interesting and engaging, but perhaps most notably, the creative plot devices and ridiculous consolidation of the storylines are…...
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest takes place in the Victorian Era and follows Jack Worthing, a man who creates a fake identity named Earnest in order to escape his home life and win the heart of Gwendolyn Fairfax, an aristocrat from London. It also follows Jack's friend Algernon Moncrieff, who later also pretends to be named Earnest in order to marry Jack's ward Cecily Cardew. Both Gwendolen and Cecily have a silly belief that they are destined to…...
The Importance of Being Earnest A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is regarded as one of the most popular works of Oscar Wilde not only because of the fact that his career came to a scandalous and tragic end following the weeks of play being published, but also the way he alluded the Victorian values in the play. The play was published at the end of the nineteenth century, also known as “Victorian Era”, named after the Queen Victoria’s reign…...
It is this year that Oscar Wilde’s trivial comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, celebrates its 120th anniversary since the play’s premiere on February 14th, 1895. The play uses humour to reveal the ridiculous and absurd hypocrisy of the Victorian Era. Although this text being 120 years old, its relevance remains significant to today’s society in relation to the rising number of homosexuals that are freely able to express their sexuality. The Victorian Era is famous for it’s rigorous standards…...
The Importance of Being Earnest appears to be an ordinary 19th century travesty. False identities, denied commitments, overbearing moms, lost youngsters are typical of pretty much every travesty. Even though, this is just the surface in Wilde's play. His farce works at two dimensions from one perspective he disparages the habits of the high society and on the other he mocks the human condition in general. The characters in The Importance of Being Earnest assume false personalities to accomplish their…...
The Importance of Being Earnest is a play written by Oscar Wilde. The story is about Jack, a man who lives a double life in pursuit of pleasure that he lacks in his own life. Jack is a guardian to Cecily Cardew, an eighteen-year-old granddaughter of the late Thomas Cardew, the man who had found him and adopted him as a baby. Jack has several responsibilities in the community; as a major landowner and justice of the peace, with tenants,…...
GenderMarriageOscar WildeThe Importance Of Being Earnest
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a play completely focusing on the satire in it. In some parts it is extremely obvious and transparent while in some it is harder to notice but still, it is present. The name of the play itself is a pun seeing that it could refer to a man named Ernest but it could also refer to someone being sincere and serious. Both main characters have invented new people who do not exist just for…...
The movie “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a film adaptation with a comedic role, stimulating the escape of social obligations. There is fictitious portrayal of characters that depicts a real-life scenario, indicating the significance of having a conventional way of dealing with social challenges. The main issue is to prevent social problems that usually affect an individual, affecting their social and psychological welfare. In this position, the reviews from this movie adaptation gained popularity in modern literature for depicting…...
In the Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde takes place in the late 1800s in London, an estate in Hertfordshire. Characters, Jack/Ernest, Algernon/Ernest, Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen and Cecily say and do opposite of what they mean, contradicting the Upper-Class Victorian Era. One can argue that the views and behaviors demonstrated from these characters are more so hypocritical than authentic that the Victorian Era is supposed to up hold. In this essay I will use quotes that Wilde uses throughout…...
Philosophical TheoriesThe Importance Of Being Earnest
However, critics mmay argue that it is likely that Wilde is not satirising the concept of marriage, as he himself was married, but in fact the upper class Victorian attitudes towards marriage with the protocol to analyse wealth, ancestors and political connections to determine the suitability of a marriage partner, as is reflected in the subtitle and Wilde’s own commentary on the play. “It has a its philosophy that we should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and…...
ComedyMoralitySatireThe Importance Of Being Earnest
Algernon's remark in the first act, 'if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? ' is a humorous depiction of class tensions and is funny at the same time because again, it is not the expected viewpoint for the upper class to take. Though both Algernon and Lady Bracknell are both Wilde's way of portraying the pompous rich characters of the time, Lady Bracknell would take the opposite view, which…...
Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy that used the figure of the upper class dandy to critique the narrow-mindedness of the middle class in the 1890s. What makes this play so funny is that the upper class is illustrated as silly when they try to mock the earnest middle class. Proud characters who were bred in high society, such as Lady Bracknell and her daughter Gwendolen, may think that they are making particularly nasty snubs, but…...
D In Earnest, mere characterization is used to convey a significant theme in this play. Two of the main characters, Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax are characterized similarly by Wilde. This can be seen when Gwendolen says "we live in an age of ideals...says in expensive monthly magazines." She basically tells Jack, her "lover" that ideals come from magazines and not society itself. This makes her seem quite foolish and superficial, Wilde demonstrates the same superficiality with Cecily, where she…...
The movie "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a film adaptation with a comedic role, stimulating the escape of social obligations. There is fictitious portrayal of characters that depicts a real-life scenario, indicating the significance of having a conventional way of dealing with social challenges. The main issue is to prevent social problems that usually affect an individual, affecting their social and psychological welfare. In this position, the reviews from this movie adaptation gained popularity in modern literature for depicting…...
AdolescenceChildFilmPsychologyThe Importance Of Being Earnest
The play "The Importance of Being Earnest" which was written and set in 1895 (Late Victorian Era) is heavily influenced by the patriarchal society of the time; this society valued men more than women. A central theme in the play is focused around the social roles of men and women and how they interact with each other during this time. Gwendolen is seen to be a typical Victorian woman on the surface, although she does not conform to typical Victorian…...
The play The Importance of Being Earnest,' which was written and set in 1895 (Late Victorian Era), is heavily influenced by the patriarchal society of the time; this society valued men more than women. A central theme in the play is focused around the social roles of men and women and how they interact with each other during this time. Gwendolen is seen to be a typical Victorian woman on the surface, although she does not conform to typical Victorian…...
The Victorian age is considered to be one of the most prudent ages throughout of history. It is mainly based on your appearance. This means that the most important thing back then was to present as much as perfect as you can. It is crucial for them to be very appreciated by other people. This age can be described as very hypocrite because no one is perfect so lying and pretending in order to present as a “saint” is absurd…...
P: Earnest Earnest/John/(Jack) Worthing G: To win the hand of Gwendolyn in Marriage. Earnest/John/(Jack) Worthing F: Protagonist. Example of what one must do to be "earnest" in such a repressive society as Victorianism. Earnest/John/(Jack) Worthing P: "City" sophisticated Gwendolyn Fairfax G: To marry someone by the name of Earnest. Gwendolyn Fairfax F: Goal of Earnest"s affection. Gwendolyn Fairfax P. Sweet "country" sophisticated. Cecily Cardew G. To marry "Uncle" Jack's younger brother (Earnest). Cecily Cardew F. A second goal for young…...
How is Wilde making fun of the Victorian rules for entertaining guests? [Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once interferes.] [Algernon.] Please don't touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta. [Takes one and eats it.] Jack. Well, you have been eating them all the time. Algernon. That is quite a different matter. She is my aunt. [Takes plate from below.] Have some bread and butter. The bread and butter is for…...
ComedyMannersManners Make A ManThe Importance Of Being Earnest
Which of these are features of a comedy of manners? Check all that apply. 1. witty wordplay 2. scientific explanations 3. concern with appearances 4. differences between social classes 5. differences between country and city life 1. witty wordplay 3. concern with appearances 4. differences between social classes 5. differences between country and city life Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest. [Algernon.] [Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once…...
ComedyMannersManners Make A ManSandwichThe Importance Of Being Earnest
In the Victorian times respectability was very important and you were only really respected if you were in the Upper Class. An example of this is in Act 1 when Lady Bracknell is questioning Jack Worthing about his life, upbringing and income. She starts off by telling Jack that she has "the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton", so she is instantly trying to make Jack respect her and almost worry that he isn't good enough for Gwendolen…...
In Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest reflected the changing role of Victorian women. The character Gwendolen Fairfax was most like the women of the time. She is much like her mother, Lady Bracknell, who seemed very strong and independent. The women of the Victorian age were interested in educating and improving themselves. Both intellectually and cosmetically, women wanted to be better and have more rights. Gwendolen was a pretentious women who was obsessed with the name of…...
Act III offers happy resolution to the problems of identity and marriage that drive much of the humor in the previous acts. Wilde continues to mock the social customs and attitudes of the aristocratic class. He relentlessly attacks their values, views on marriage and respectability, sexual attitudes, and concern for stability in the social structure. Wilde attacks social behavior with the continuation of speeches by his characters that are the opposite of their actions. While Cecily and Gwendolen agree to…...
The desperate need to be moral within society contributes to the motivations, choices, and actions made by people everyday. It is society which defines what morality is and applies the necessary pressure to force individuals to conform. Often, failing under these societal pressures, individuals are forced to use deception to escape the oppressive nature of their society. Oscar Wilde, in The Importance of Being Earnest and Christopher Marlowe, in Dr. Faustus, venture into nature of society and how it effects…...
Oscar Wilde is remembered today for his use of epigrams and his plays. Wilde wrote ‘The Importance of Being Ernest’ in which many people argue that it appears Wilde subverts the typical Victorian gender role. Gender roles are cultural and personal, they determine how males and females should think, speak, dress, and interact within the context of society. Masculinity and Femininity refer to the dominant sex role pattern in the vast majority of both traditional and modern societies: that of…...
GenderOscar WildeThe Importance Of Being EarnestVictorian Era
Throughout the play, Oscar Wilde portrays several binary opposites using the characters and themes of the play, such as the town and country, class, age, gender and morals. However I don’t think that the binary opposites are the main source of comedy in the play. The reason I find it comical is from the fact that the play is a comedy of manners as well as Wilde’s satirising of the Victorian morals. Wilde’s depiction of Victorian caricatures also creates amusement…...
The Importance of Being Earnest’ is used to represent a contradictory and hypocritical society. Oscar Wilde uses the text to reflect his own experience with an ignorant society; Oliver Parker does not replicate this in the 2002 film version of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ as he does not have the emotional influences that Wilde had. Therefore Parker does not produce an accurate representation of Wilde’s play; he only provides a comical historical representation of the milieu for a modern…...
Making use of funny assists bring books, movies and plays to life. In some cases, it is even written around the idea of comedy itself. The play Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde slams the element of the stylish life in the Victorian period by teasing them with a term called satire. In the play, Wilde artistically utilizes three various kinds of paradox. These being: verbal, significant and situational forms of paradox. Each type of irony is utilized…...
To an extent, this statement can be agreed with and disagreed with in both texts, as both have elements of underwriting and insignificance within the female characters.. However, we see the subversion of this statement more in The Importance of Being Earnest due to Lady Bracknell's strong female presence and her dominance over the two main male characters Jack and Algernon. Through the different genres of the texts we are able to establish the differences in presentation of the female…...
The Importance Of Being EarnestThe Picture of Dorian Gray
Satire is defined to be the use of humor to ridicule faults and vices. The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde is a social satire, using irony and paradoxes to insinuate the problems and faults found in the Victorian society. The Importance of Being Earnest is set in the late Victorian Era during a social reform. The class system was defined by the animosity between classes, the upper class treating the lower class with disdain and disgust. The…...
IronySatireThe Importance Of Being EarnestVictorian Era
"The Importance of Being Earnest" was written by the famous Irish author Oscar Wilde. The play represents Wilde´s late Victorian view of the aristocracy, marriage, wit and social life during the early 1900's. His characters are typical Victorian snobs who are arrogant, overly proper, formal and concerned with money. The women are portrayed as sheltered, uneducated, and some as dominating figures over the men in their lives. There is no sense of identity for Cecily and Gwendolen, the only woman…...
Numerous aspects of comedy can be found in pages one to ten of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. The aspect of servants and masters is one that presents itself immediately in the play, through the relationship that exists between Algernon, the ‘master’, and Lane, the servant. The first thing that is spoken about between these two characters, is Algernon’s piano playing. Upon being asked “Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?” Lane replies, “I didn’t think it polite to…...
In The Importance of Being Earnest, the question of each gender’s role in society often centers on power. In the Victorian world men had greater influence than women. Men made the decisions for their families, while women worked around the house. Wilde raises interesting questions about gender roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, by putting women (like Lady Bracknell) in positions of power and by showing that men can be irresponsible and bad at Decision-making The traditional view of…...
Dramatic comedy originated in Ancient Greece in 5th century BC, centred around loose plot lines and exploiting certain situations through parody, farce and mockery. Comedy started developing in 4th Century BC where intricate plot lines were introduced, commonly based around love and romance and usually culminating in a satisfactory and happy resolution. This is much like the structure of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ as the play revolves around the growing relationships of both Jack and Gwendolen and Algernon and…...
With the definition of a satire being, ‘the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity’, it is ludicrous to even propose that The Importance of Being Earnest is anything other than a satirical play, as the characters relishing in the upper class of the Victorian period unknowingly mock their own habits acquired to them due to the luxury they are spoilt with. Despite this, it is evident that the use of satire is feckless…...
"Every word and every part of an individual was expected to be in accordance with the rigid ethical and habits rules, and each, even the smallest discrepancy from the rule was considered an offense which made the delinquent openly disgraced. Even literature and art had its cannons which were to be appreciated" (Mathews, 2009). In Oscar Wilde's satirical funny, The Value of Being Earnest, Victorian hypocrisy is presented within the lines of the play as it unfolds a story about…...
Social Commentary ExamplesThe Importance Of Being EarnestVictorian Era
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