'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde

'The Importance of Being Earnest'

This blog is in response to Presentation Practice activity that were assigned by Yesha Ma'am. I've uploaded a YouTube video on the Theme of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde.

For better Understanding of Theme, Character studygives help to understand story line.

(This are general Element of Literature,  It's also helpful to better understanding.)

Jack Worthing  :

Jack in the country.

Ernest in the city.

In love with Gwendolen Fairfax.

Identity crisis.

Algernon Moncrieff :

Friend to Jack.

Pretends to be Earnest when visits Jack Falls in love with Cecily Cardew.

Gwendolen Fairfax :

Daughter of Lady Bracknell.

In love with Ernest ( Jack ). 

Infatuated with the name Earnest.

Cecily Cardew :

Lives with Jack.

Creates fantasy with Ernest. 

Instantly falls in love with Ernest.(Algernon).

Lady Bracknell :

Epitome of high class.

Tries to marry off Gwendolen.

Does not approve of Ernest. (Jack) 

Miss Prism :

Cecily's governess.

Enforces education.

Writer 

Lost the baby 

Dr. Canon Chasuble :

Almost performs Christening.

Secretly in love with Miss Prism.

Click here to visit my blog on 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

Victorian Era :

• The Importance of Being Earnest was produced at the end of the Victorian era and the end of Queen Victoria's reign.

• The Victorian era was marked by its emphasis on class and order.

During this time period , the middle class of the Victorian English Society was growing and aspired to join the ranks of nobility . 

• This drive for social advancement had a large influence and is evident in much of the literature of that time.

Historical Implications :

• The 19th century was a time period of peace under the rule of Queen Victoria which lasted for over 63 years.
•  The British economy was growing and relied heavily on colonialism.
• Great Britain had colonized most of the continent of Africa and India in the 1800's. 
• For example the amount of imported tea and coffee doubled by the mid - 1800's . Made Afternoon Tea time even more popular . 
• Women's role in society.
• Homosexuality was still a crime.

Controversies :

• While The Importance of Being Earnest was being produced Wilde was battling legal allegations of accusations of his sexual relationship with Alfred Douglas! 

• "The Importance of Being Earnest depicts a world in which the best kept secrets are the ones that everyone knows; a world in which everyone knows very well that their world is not as stable, as exclusive  or as moral as it pretends to be; and a world in which everyone appreciates the vital importance of maintaining at all cost what they know to be the fictions of everyday life."

Societal Issues :

• The purpose of marriage.
• Afternoon tea became popular throughout the 1800's and was a major part of the customs in accommodating guests.
• Issues with identity : Bunburying 
• Superficial identity.

Reoccurring Themes :

Role of Women:

• Less educated than men 
• Eager for marriage Household tasks.
• Dinner parties Reoccurring Themes.

Value of Literature :

•  Jack's alter ego
•  Miss Prism

The Importance of Being Earnest :

• Victorian mindset 

• Bunburying 

• Actor portrayal

Criticisms :

 "It's tone is that of satire, but a satire which , for lack of a moral point of view, has lost its sting and degenerated into g banter of PG.Wotehouse"  - Eduoard Roditi 

"The world of Earnest is the world of nonsense! "  -Trilling

"What can a poor critic do with a play which raises no principle, whether of art or morals, creates its own canons and conventions, and is nothing but an absolutely willful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality?"

 -William Archer

Conclusion :

• The whole play is a satire on values held by the Victorian people.
• Truth behind Joe Brady's take on the ending of the play : Was everyone really happy at the end of the play? Did they truly get what they wanted? 
• The play is timeless because it represents the ongoing issues with how superficial society is and have always been.
• Wilde uses humor to get people to think about the harsh truths about the way that people are perceived. 
• Wilde appeared to have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy much like the characters in his plays. 
• Wilde all the characters had motives to reach their achievements, they acted against those with honest moral ground.