written in 1895 a play in three* acts genre: comedy of manners immediate hit when first performed...
TRANSCRIPT
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
A Trivial Comedy for Serious
People1895
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Written in 1895 A play in three* acts Genre: comedy of manners Immediate hit when first
performed Satirizes Victorian moral and
social values Bridges Victorian period with
Modern Uses wit, puns, exaggeration, and
wordplay to create humor
• Manners and Sincerity
• Idleness of the Leisure Class
• Dual Identities
• Critique of Marriage as a Social Tool
• Love
• Foolishness and Folly
THEMES TO IDENTIFY
Themes
Manners and Sinceri
ty
Idleness
Love
Critique of
Marriage
Dual Identiti
es
THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENTWilde was a leader of the
Aesthetic Movement, which professed a belief in “art for art’s sake.” Art shouldn’t merely look to life or nature for inspiration, for art that too closely imitates life is a failure, according to Wilde.
Plays with characters who spoke and acted just like they would in real life were utterly boring to followers of Wilde’s philosophy.
Characters in the play can be divided into two categories: aesthetes and non-aesthetes.
AESTHETE – ONE HAVING OR AFFECTING
SENSITIVITY TO THE BEAUTIFUL
Wilde's aesthetes are brilliantly witty, avoid work at all costs, and prize appearance above all else.
These are characters who can pull a perfectly phrased line right out of the air at a moment's notice and can do the same with a more material thing: a diary, for example.
NON-AESTHETES ARE BORING,
MUNDANE
They have no sense of the delicate beauty of life and it takes a lot of hard work for them to get what they want. There is none of the easy wit or graceful appearance that is characteristic of an Aesthete.
Even their dress reflects their toils: the colors are earthy and mundane in contrast to the jewel-toned Aesthetes.
John Worthing, aka “Jack,” aka “Ernest”
Algernon Moncrieff, aka “Ernest,” Jack’s friend
Lane, Algernon’s butler
Rev. Canon Chasuble, the preacher in the country
MAIN CHARACTERSLady Bracknell,
mother of GwendolynGwendolyn Fairfax,
wants to marry a man named “Ernest”
Cecily Cardew, Jack’s ward
Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess
SETTING
Time: Present, around
1890
Place(s): London (“the
City”), Jack’s estate in the
country,
the village church
VICTORIAN PERIOD
Named for Queen Victoria of EnglandQueen from 1837-1901Followed the reign of “Mad” King GeorgeThe culture was very moral and seriousWomen were expected to be the
“angel in the house” - to take care of their husband and family
QUEEN VICTORIABecame Queen as a
young girlMarried Albert, Prince
Consort and adored himAfter he died, she wore
black for the rest of her life
Had nine childrenCreated a culture that
valued family and stability
SOCIAL NORMSManners were supremely important; people
called on one another for formal visitsThe upper class was well-educated, rich and
respected families (“old money”); however, no amount of money can overcome poor manners
Modesty was key—women wore clothing that covered; young women were chaperoned until married, and it was considered bad manners to flaunt wealth
VICTORIAN FASHION
LITERARY VOCABULARYComedy – light-hearted literature with
humor and a happy ending (often a wedding or engagement)
Satire – literary writing that uses humor to expose something or someone to ridicule
Comedy of Manners – a popular form of satirical drama often directed at peculiar social behavior featuring witty and polished dialogue and plots that frequently involved illicit lovers and cases of mistaken identity
LITERARY VOCABULARYWit – using words to be clever and funny
with language
Farce – a broad comedy, dependent on overblown speech, unbelievable situations, exaggerated characters, and, frequently, sexual innuendoes
Epigram – a short statement or poem with a witty turn of thought or a wittily condensed expression
Pun – an expression that achieves emphasis or humor by utilizing two distinctly different meanings for the same word or two similar sounding words
Meet Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing.
Both characters are a type of character Wilde created called the “Dandy.”
Like Wilde, Algernon and Jack are witty, educated, effeminate, avid followers of the latest fashion and represent the Victorian upper class.
They both adopt a fictional identity named Ernest to shirk their responsibilities and escape to go on vacation in the city or the country.
A PUNNY TITLE
Neither the audience, nor the other fictional characters of the play can compliment either character as being honest,
serious or sincere.
Ironically, it just so happens that the word earnest means "serious" and "sincere." Earnest is used as a
pun for one of the lessons of the play.
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
Dramatic Irony – the audience knows something a character does not
Situational Irony – the opposite happens of what is expected