The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde Born in Dublin, Ireland in

1854. Well educated (Trinity

College and Oxford University)

Traveled a lot Successful showman and

lecturer Shocked with

unconventional views and dress (sunflower in buttonhole, carrying a lily, knee breeches, flowing tie)

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.

Oscar Wilde Married, two sons Turned to theater because needed money Ridiculed Victorian ideas of respectability Served two years in prison for “immoral conduct” Ruined financially and socially—moved to France

with new name, few friends Died in Paris in 1900 at age 46. Supposed last words:

“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.”

“I am dying beyond my means.”

Wilde’s grave in Paris

The Importance of Being Earnest Exercise in manner and absurdity No attachment to characters What will he say next? (Wilde’s voice) What new ridiculous situation? Very serious over trivial things Painting a picture of an idle class—outgrown its

time Everyone and everything is ridiculous, but human Having fun with what he treated seriously before:

included standard Victorian melodrama (stolen letters, blackmail, “shocking” revelations, intrigue), but ridiculed Victorian ideas of respectability

One of the most influential comedies of 19th century

The plot Algernon and Jack may look

like proper young Victorian gentlemen. But each—unknown to the other—is

leading a double life.

Deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.

The plot Algernon has invented a sickly friend

named Bunbury. When Algernon wants to escape his social

obligations in London, he “goes Bunburying” (he he pretends to visit the ailing Bunbury in the country).

The plot Jack is a wealthy bachelor He lives an upright life in the country & wants to set

a proper example for Cecily, his 18 year-old ward. But Jack also wants to have some fun, so he invents

a wild brother named Ernest. When Jack wants to go to London, he pretends he

has to bail Ernest out of trouble. In London, Jack pretends to be the bad boy Ernest.

Are you confused yet?

The confusion and misunderstandings are all part of the fun.

Will Gwendolen marry Jack even though his name is not Ernest?

Will Algernon win the hand of the beautiful Cecily?

The plot

Wilde vs. Society Oscar Wilde liked to make fun of upper-class

Victorian society: strict Victorian social rules the shallowness of the idle rich Wilde also pokes a bit of fun at himself Like Wilde, Algernon and Jack are dandies

In Victorian times only men could be dandies. An authentic dandy enjoyed fine clothes and expensive habits used refined language spent most of his time socializing lived to have fun

A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.

Wilde vs. Society A well-bred Victorian woman, on the other

hand, was modest and reserved. Few kinds of enjoyment were open to her

outside the home.

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

Farce Highly exaggerated comedy Plot is everything: moves fast! No characters to probe No meaningful relationships What happens next?? Contrived

The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.

Common Humor Used Pun: play on words; deliberate confusing of

similar words/phases “for the pun of it” "Look deep into our ryes." (bakery ad)

Common Humor Used Epigram: concise and witty statement; usually

satirical; comic turn of thought “I can resist everything except temptation.” “One should always be in love. That is the

reason one should never marry.” “America is the only country that went from

barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.”

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”

About this play, Wilde wrote… “It is exquisitely trivial, a delicate bubble

of fancy, and it has its philosophy…that we should treat all the trivial things seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality.”

Lots of humor and clever language—look for it!

Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.