The Influence of Oscar Wilde’s Sexuality | English Literature Dissertation, Lord Henry Is the Root of Dorian Gray’s Corruption, Internal and External Conflicts in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Aesthetic Principles in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, New Hedonism in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Satire in the Importance of Being Earnest, Khan Amin T. Social Classes in Victorian Era. Basil is portrayed as the good influence because he always […], The novel The Picture of Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde during the late 1800s is a story that follows the life of Dorian Gray who is described as a […], In the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde, the main character Dorian Gray is corrupted by his acquaintance Lord Henry, who ultimately leads to Dorians demise. His characters represent the victorian era and have twisted views on issues regarding intense emotions such as love and marriage. The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde.First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to … Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. So to arrest the love of an urban lady Jack took another fictitious name Earnest and went to London. For instance, the adherence to the Victorian ideals led the people to live dual lives whereby they tried to exhibit the socially acceptable behaviors in public but at the same time breaking the social norms to meet their desires like Jack and Algernon. Although a majority of the readers, critics, and reviewers agree that The Importance of Being Earnest is pretty funny, it justly castes a satirical limelight on the Victorian era (Wilde also wrote during the Victorian era). Similarly, when Blacknell learns about Cecily’s engagement to Algernon, she opposes their union by arguing that the latter does not belong to Cecily’s social class. Furthermore, Wilde’s play acts as an eye opener to the audience about the insincerity of the Victorian ideals and how they had been duped into living the ideals. Therefore Jack engaged in the cult of Bunburying. These evils persisted in Victorian society. Wilde mocks Victorian people who have no better ways of breaking away from the cocoon of the slim social ties and ideals than living deceptive/double/duals lives. FreeBookSummary.com Oscar Wilde's satirical depiction of Victorian Society in The Important of Being Earnest comments on the absurdity of their inability t... Oscar Wilde‘s satirical depiction of Victorian Society in The Important of Being Earnest comments on the absurdity of their inability to recognize the difference between the important and unimportant. On one hand, the people lived a double life to maintain the respect of the conventional Victorian society while on the other hand, they choose to live frivolously to satisfy their desires. In other words, people were expected to demonstrate proper behaviors approved by the society. There are short and long essays written to […] Wilde's play on the name of "Ernest" with the quality of being "earnest," turns this Victorian obsession with names and their social meaning on its head. These are the very ideals that Wilde satirizes in his play. Satire, in the time and context of the novel The Importance of Being Earnest, refers to a comedic style in which the behaviors and beliefs of a particular social class are made fun of. However, the reader knows that possessing the name does not guarantee the individual of such qualities. In The Importance of Being Earnest, author Oscar Wilde criticizes the Victorian society. International Journal of Advance Engineering. The importance of being earnest is referred to as a comedy of manners because it ironically describes the conduct of the Victorian upper class. We are ashamed to hear such a declaration of love. It is also deducible from Algy’s words to Jack You are one of the most advanced Bunburyists I know (Wilde 11) that it is not only Jack and Algy who secretly deviate from the ideals. It was artificial and hollow within. In this direction of obeying the sovereign tyranny of the fashion she lost even a remnant of courage to assert her will. Jack's hypocritical style of living in town by the fictitious name earnest made him a double dealer. Appearances being deceiving is an idea that permeates both plays. The importance of being earnest by Oscar Wilde uses satire to ridicule the cultural norms of marriage love and mind-set which were very rigid during the Victorian Age. Satire in the Importance of Being Earnest The surface overview of Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest paints the image of an amusing comedy merely for entertainment purpose. The Victorian era was commonly known for the strict moral codes that guided how people behaved in the public (Phegley 3). According to Gwendolen, ” my ideal has always been to love someone of the name Earnest” (Wilde 17). He is critical about the marriage of convenience which also intrinsically related to the concept of earnestness. In the play we find Gwendolen following the dictates of the fashions. Because Victorian society permitted youths to lead a double life, Jack chose that name. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. About This Quiz & Worksheet Quiz questions will test what you know about the Victorian values and society depicted in The Importance of Being Earnest.Key topics include the … Later in the play, Blacknell consents to Jack’s proposal to Gwendolen when it is revealed that Jack is Algernon’s elder brother. The play describes their behavior in a hypocritical manner. Victorian Upper-Class Society Sans irony, the title of the play, The Importance of Being Earnest - A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, by Oscar Wilde probably would have been called “The Insignificance of Being Earnest.” This is Lady Bracknell arrogantly dismisses Jack's proposal to Gwendolen. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. The lady appreciates that there were some social possibilities for Algernon’s proposal to Cecily (Wilde 73). Jack and Algernon portray less than ideal manners when they both fake their identities as Earnest so as to attract the attention of the city girls who are obsessed by the name. The Victorian morality is slightly hinted at by Wilde in a satirical manner. What can be more ludicrous than the statement of Gwendolen, who says, “I love you because your name is Ernest?” What kind of love, it is whose foundation is not devotion on the part of lower but a mere verbal charm of name? He knows it clearly that modern Victorian lady in urban society falls quickly in love with a man named Earnest. In Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde uses satire to ridicule the strict expectations of marriage and the Victorian aristocracy.