The Importance of Being Earnest

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

Fun with words • Quip- Clever, witty remark or comment • 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

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

Queen Victoria • Became Queen as a young girl • Married Albert, Prince Consort and adored him • After he died, she wore black for the rest of her life • Had 9 children • Created a culture that valued family and stability

Victorian Period: What Wilde Was Not So Wild About • 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, but it was a common occurrence

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 • Gloves • Canes • Top hats are all commonplace among the wealthy

Victorian Fashion • For the Ladies • All ladies would dress “fairly” conservatively depending upon age / station / “new” money vs. “old” money

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 – About the 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 • Wrote several plays, but only one novel • Novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray

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

Oscar Wilde-in short: • Handsome • Loved clothes • Could be quite dramatic • Completely unique • Came from upper-class family • Brilliant writer • Loved to shock people • “Bad Boy” of his time • After prison, he was never allowed to see his family again • Spent the remainder of his life in Paris • Died alone and poor in Paris

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 or intensifies another character’s personality trait(s) (the foil “reflects” the traits of the main character) • Blocking figure - A character, often old and cranky, who interferes with the romantic desires of the other characters and provides comic action • Motif - a recurring character or element repeated in a literary work. [Such As. . .] • Food is a motif in The Importance of Being Earnest • Rules and Breaking the Rules is also a motif

The Importance of Being Earnest • Oscar Wilde created many amusing quotes

Oscar Wilde Quotes • “I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself. “ • “I can resist everything except temptation. “

Oscar Wilde Quotes • “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train. “ • “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

The Importance of Being Earnest • Even though this play was written more than 100 years ago, it continues to be very popular • More than one movie has been made of this play, the most recent in the past 10 years

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

Importance of Being Earnest • What have you learned so far? • Know the characters, the setting, the plot • Know the basic facts about the author • Know the basic facts of Victorian England • Know the literary vocabulary required • Understand that this play is a comedy

The Importance of Being Earnest