What Literary Device Does Oscar Wilde Use In The Title Of His Play The Importance Of Being Earnest?

Oscar Wilde employs a pun as a significant literary device in the title of his play "The Importance of Being Earnest." The word "earnest" is used to create a double entendre, functioning both as a proper name ("Ernest") and a quality of sincerity. This clever wordplay sets the stage for the play's exploration of social pretensions and the contrast between appearance and reality, embodying Wilde's satirical critique of Victorian society's obsession with superficiality and moral rectitude.

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