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Oscar Wilde
Ian Ho
Gavin Lee
Neil Chen
Band 6
Plot Summary
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde centers upon two men who manipulate their identities to escape
the constraints of society. Jack Worthing, upon whom the play centers, is viewed by the Victorian community as a
respectable and responsible individual; as such, he maintains the persona of Ernest, a fake relative who represents
the apparent moral opposite of Jack. Jack finds companionship in the Wilde-like character of Algernon Moncrieff,
who also leads false life as Bunbury. Romantic involvement between both men and their relatives leads to multiple
scenes in which both the integrity of the characters and the society in which they live come into question. Lady
Bracknell, mother of Jacks love interest Gwendolyn, disapproves of their relationship after having discovered
Jacks questionable origins; Gwendolyn herself is satisfied only when involved with the name Ernest. Algernons
situation is somewhat similar. The unraveling of identities leads to the final acknowledgement of the vital
importance of being Earnest, concluding the social commentary which unites Wildes characters and plot.
Memorable Quotes
I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and
the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate,
education produces no effect whatsoever. - Lady Bracknell
Well, I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live
or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. - Lady Bracknell
I hope it did not end happily? I dont like novels that end happily. They depress me so much. - Cecily Cardew
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature
a complete impossibility! - Algernon Moncrieff
A handbaaaaaaguh? - Lady Bracknell
Quotation
The truth is rarely pure and never
simple.
Significance
Algernons epigram follows a lengthy explanation by Jack Worthing as to his
duplicity and intentions. In eight words, Algernon not only criticizes the duplicity
and hypocrisy of Victorian society, but of society and perhaps human nature as a
whole. The truth, often portrayed in physical manner (such as mythology) as pure
and untainted, is as vulnerable to Algernons observation as anything else.
This statement highlights the absurdity with which Lady Bracknell conducts her
everyday business, and is punctuated by Bracknells own remark about the
absurdity of an inability to decide between life and death. That such a critical issue
as death could be replaced by a Victorian interference in petty concerns marks the
ridiculousness which Wilde highlights in Jacks community, if not society as a
whole.
Cecily Cardew is, as the love interest of Algernon, a character who overturns the
Victorian model. Throughout the story a simplified mind and a surface morality are
the facets of Lady Bracknell; Cecily, however, has open disregard for expectations
of society, especially given her young age.
Characters
Name
Significance
Adjectives
Jack
Worthing
Respected,
righteous,
deceptive,
hypocritical
Merriman
Algernon
Moncrieff
Lane
Lady
Bracknell
Gwendolen
Fairfax
Cecily
Cardew
Miss Prism
Reverend
Canon
Chasuble
Impartial,
objective
Witty, amoral,
honest, idle,
hedonistic
Witty,
pessimistic
Manipulative,
amoral,
pompous,
prudish
Self-conscious,
artificial,
idealistic,
strong-minded
Realistic,
innocent,
critical
Pedantic,
prudish
Objective
Setting
The Importance of Being Earnest takes place in late-19th
century England. Jack specifically mentions the cities of
London and Hertfordshire, where his city and country
homes are located, respectively. Algernons flat is located
on Half-Moon Street. The setting plays significantly into
Jacks behavior; in the city, he finds himself immersed in a
society he represents yet is disillusioned with, and so
creates an alternate identity which resides in the
countryside . The countryside, then, is a form of escape,
where societal influence is less powerful and, as a result,
where his freedom is more possible. At the same time, the
setting doesnt modify the key components of each
character; Jacks questionable morals and Algernons
outright disregard for them, for example, continue
between locations, and contribute to the development of
themes across the story.
Symbols
Duplicity, food, and literary fiction itself within the story serve as
the most notable symbols. Duplicity is clear in Algernon and
Jacks characters, who respectively lead alternate lives as
Bunbury and Ernest. The use of duplicity through another
individual symbolizes the desire, if not necessity, of escape from
Victorian society, and thus stands in (especially in Jacks case) for
the hypocrisy of Victorian society itself.
Food, from cucumber sandwiches to bread and butter to sugar
and cakes, is generally a comedic element; that it can be so
profound, barring some communion-like scene (which does not
take place in Earnest), seems absurd, especially in the context of a
greater social commentary. Nevertheless, food is at times
symbolic of sex; Algernon criticizes Jack for consuming bread
and butter with great appetite prior to being married, for
example.
Finally, writing and fiction within the fiction itself, practiced
explicitly by almost all characters either in the form of novels,
letters, or personal diaries, reveals some degree of duplicity in
almost every character; it serves as a device to escape from a
situation, especially in the case of a diary.
Works Cited
Harmon, William, and C Holman. A Handbook to Literature. Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006. Print.
Ingram, Eric. "Oscar Wilde." Oscar Wilde. CMG Solutions, 12 Aug. 2005. Web.
<http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/>.
Reinert, Otto. "Satiric Strategy in The Importance of Being Earnest." College English (1956): 14-18.