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
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