The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde

(1854-1900)

The Importance of Being Earnest Written in 1895 A Comedy in 3 Acts Is a satire Immediate hit when first performed Criticizes Victorian moral and social values Bridges Victorian period/literature with Modern Uses wit, puns, exaggeration, and wordplay to

create humor

Importance of Being Earnest The title of the play is a pun.

To be “earnest” means to be serious, and the main character (John/Jack) uses the name “Earnest” when he is in the city

“Bunburying” is using an alias to “get away with” avoiding social obligatioins

Main Characters John Worthing, aka

“Jack”, aka “Earnest” Algernon Montcrief,

Jack’s friend Lane, the butler for

Algernon Rev. Chausible, the

preacher in the country

Lady Bracknell, mother of Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn, wants to marry a man named “Earnest”

Cecily, Jack’s ward Miss Prism, Cecily’s

governess

Settings Time: Around 1890 Place(s):

London (“the City”)

Jack’s House in the Country (a very large estate)

The village church

Settings Jack’s

Country House

Settings Jack’s

Drawing Room

Settings Lady

Bracknell’s mansion in London

Victorian Period Named for Queen Victoria of England Was Queen from 1837-1901 Followed the reign of “Mad” King George The culture was very moral and serious Women were expected to be the “angel in

the house” - to take care of their husband and family

Victorian Period Manners were supremely important English society was divided into classes The Upper-class was well-educated, came

from a rich and respected family (“old money”), and having good manners mattered more than anything else

Considered bad manners to flaunt wealth

Victorian Period Young women were always chaperoned until they

were married Women’s clothing covered them from neck to

ankle; clothes had to be modest In the upper classes, people with a bad reputation

were outcasts no matter how much money they had

Good manners were extremely important

Victorian Fashion For the

Gentlemen

Victorian Fashion For the Ladies

Victorian Period People did not just “drop in” to visit - they

made formal appointments Refreshments were expected when visitors

came to “call” (visit) - usually tea and cake or tiny, elegant cucumber sandwiches

Men were expected to be well-educated Women were expected to marry well

Oscar Wilde - Author Born in Ireland; lived in England and abroad Attended Trinity College in Ireland and Oxford

University in England Very witty and funny Believed in the value of “art for art’s sake” - art

(literature) should not be concerned with political issues

Came from upper-class family “Bad Boy” of his time - The ‘Lil Wayne’ of his day

(but well-educated)

Oscar Wilde With other writers and artists, rebelled against the

prim, moral, religious culture of Victorian England Was known to be wild, flamboyant, witty Although homosexual, married and had children Being homosexual was illegal, and he served

time in prison for it

Literary Vocabulary Comedy - light-hearted literature with

humor and a happy ending Satire - literary writing that makes fun of or

criticizes the faults of people or groups. Purpose is to point out flaws

Wit - using words to be clever and funny with language

Pun - a play on words

Literary Vocabulary

Protagonist - the main character Foil - the character who contrasts the main

character (the foil “reflects” the traits of the main character)

Blocking figure - A character, often old and cranky, who interferes with the romantic desires or the other main characters and provides comic action

Literary Vocabulary Motif - a recurring character or element

repeated in a literary work. Food is a motif in The Importance of Being Earnest

Satire and Farce

Satire—using exaggeration to help humor make people laugh at their own weaknesses

Farce--a comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humor of varying degrees of sophistication

Four Main Topics Satirized

1. Class

2. Marriage / love

Four Main Topics Satirized

3. Art

4. Truth