It is suggested by this then that the play holds no deeper meaning or message of morality; it is simply designed to fulfill a purpose through usage of traditional comedic techniques. However, some have interpretated themes of sexuality and a gentle mocking of Victorian customs ultimately leaving the play open to assumption. The Importance of being Earnest certainly maintains many traits of a great comedy of manners, "A comedy that satirizes behaviour in a particular social group"(dictionary.com). In fact many people have hailed it as "the greatest stage comedy of all time", this triumph supports the viewpoint that Wilde merely succeeded in entertaining his audience rather than channeling a deeper understanding. The use of slapstick by Wilde produces a contrived and absurd plotline that is in every way unrealistic.
The Importance of Being Earnest as Timeless Social and Political Satire [For All Generations] The Importance of Being Earnest was written in 1896 by famous playwright, Oscar Wilde, and is a timeless masterpiece that transcends time because it has satirical elements that target social and political issues that are still invariably controversial in today’s society. The play consistently parodies issues such as the relationship between romance and marriage and one’s socioeconomic status and marriage. In the traditional sense, romance and marriage probably should fall hand-in-hand, and though one’s socioeconomic status probably should not be the decided factor of a marriage, it is the play’s mission to satirically suggest otherwise. While romance and marriage should inherently fall hand-in-hand, looming faithfully overhead is the idea that romance suddenly disappears shortly after the wedding. Perhaps the inevitable experience of coming to terms with the thought of living together forever procures an uneasy feeling and puts an impression on newlyweds that marriage turns into a series of routines and monotony.
Gwendolen wants to marry a man called Ernest, not caring whether he possesses the qualities that comprise earnestness. This is evident as Gwendolen quickly forgives Jack’s deception and Lady Bracknell quickly forgets her earlier disapproval of Jack’s suitability for Gwendolen. Jack, the central character, is initially neither ‘Ernest’ nor ‘earnest’. Through forces at times beyond his control, he becomes both: a symbol of Victorian hypocrisy. Both Jack and Algernon lead a double life, known as ‘Bunburying’, the practice of creating an elaborate deception so as to misbehave whilst maintaining expected social standards of duty and responsibility, essentially, pretending to be earnest.
I think that this highlights 1920’s relationships in America with men being with several women despite whether they’re married or not highlighting the corruption in 1920’s America. I think in this chapter highlights and explores the theme of social class which is shown by illustrating the contempt with which the aristocratic habitants of East Egg regard Gatsby. We see this particularly well when Buchanan says; “Doesn’t he know she doesn’t want him?” This shows that Gatsby doesn’t realise the insincerity of the invitation causing Tom to be contemptuous of his lack of social grace making him critical of Daisy visiting Gatsby. It also shows that Mr Sloane doesn’t want him to accompany them because of his social status and I think that this shows the importance of social class in 1920’s America. It shows the clear segregation of the old and newly rich.
PARAGRAPH 1: Oscar Wildes’ ‘The Importance if being Earnest’ makes several references to contemporary historical events throughout the play, such as the threat of a revolution similar to the French Revolution. When ‘Bunbury’ theoretically dies during the play, Lady Bracknell is alarmed, saying, ‘Exploded! Was he the victim of a revolutionary outrage?’. The unease apparent in her remarks reflect the general social feelings of apprehension and unease towards social unrest in the 1890s, showing how a threat to the upper classes’ social power makes them downright morbid. The troubled society masked under Wildes exuberant characters demonstrates the hypocrisy and insincerity of the upper classes during the Victorian Era, concealing their doubts to ensure their social position does not
Of course MAAN follows Shakespeare’s traditional comedy structure but modern critics have their own agenda that a comedy, being such a complex genre, should conform to. Since the time of the ancient Greeks critics have struggled to define it, Plato described it as a series of events you would ‘blush to practice yourself’. Susan Snyder who writes for the Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare Company, states that - ‘Comedy involves men of middling estate, its perils are small scale, its outcomes peaceful’. This is an excellent summary for the majority of Shakespeare’s plays; however it is not necessarily accurate in relation to MAAN. It is true to say that a comedy involves ‘men of a middling estate’, in MAAN the protagonists share the company of the Prince Don Pedro, and are socially superior to the watchmen such as Dogberry and Verges.
The play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is full of irony. John (Jack) Worthing and Algernon (Algy) Moncrieff, the protagonists in the play, get themselves into a complex situation called Bunburyism. Jack and Algy pretend to be someone that they are not to escape their daily lives. They are dishonest to the women they admire and ultimately the truth is uncovered. Irony is first observed when Algernon (Algy) Moncrieff accuses the protagonist, John Worthing, of being a “bunburyist” (Act I).
The Great Gatsby Analysis F. Scott Fitzgerald’s creation of an immoral and corrupt American society in The Great Gatsby allows him to depict his belief that wealth can have a negative influence over people limiting their judgement of what is right and what is wrong. Fitzgerald describes Gatsby’s his transformation from a poor army soldier into a wealthy bootlegger trying to impress Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby’s old love before he was sent to war who marries a wealthy man, Tom Buchanan. It is theorized that Fitzgerald wrote this story as a tribute to the American Dream of the 1920’s that anyone could gain wealth, status in society, and obtain material possessions to improve their lives, but it has since been expressed that he in fact intended the opposite. Fitzgerald condemns the American Dream of
The effect of racism on Othello is quite evident and is one of the main causes for his insecurity about his marriage. However, Othello is not wholly the tragedy of racism. The theme of jealousy is also extremely important in Othello. Racism may play a large part in the tragedy, Othello, but it certainly does not adequately explain the entire play. Othello is a nobleman, a decorated soldier, very well respected by his men... ... middle of paper ... ...ortant.
Both Jack and Algernon are admired by two young ladies who mistakenly believe the men's names to be Ernest, and who adore the men for this very reason. In relating the story of mix-ups and mistaken identities, the ideals and manners of the Victorian society are satirized in a comedy where the characters "treat all the trivial things of life seriously and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality" (Wilde back cover), in the words of the author himself. Oscar Wilde’s comical scenes often take their source in social satire and non-conformism (Baselga 15). Throughout his play, In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde satirizes education, women, and morality. Oscar Wilde satirizes the British education by using Lady Bracknell.