Earnest Essay: Double Life

The concept of a double life is the most significant element of the play as it allows Wilde to satire the Victorian hypocrisy through the characters of Jack, Miss Prism and Dr Chasuble. Firstly, the playwright introduces Jack Worthing as a seemingly respectable and responsible young man who lives in Hertfordshire and takes care of his young ward ‘I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility’ (Wilde,2012). In the country, he is known as a serious, dependable man who rescues his younger brother Ernest from constant mischief but in reality, he himself is the wicked Ernest. Wilde utilises Jack’s double life to mock the widespread false morality and hypocrisy among the Victorian aristocrats. The protagonist carries a reputation of a man who believes in the notions of honour and duty but at the same time ignores those values in his personal life. The identity of Ernest allows him to pursue pleasure, escape obligations and to upkeep an image of an important pillar of the community. ‘You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like’ (Wilde,2012). Jack’s lack of guilt portrays his elevation of appearance over reality, like most Victorian aristocrats he sees his reputation as of bigger value than virtue. Wilde uses the practice of Bunburying to satire Jack’s false morality and the general acceptance of hypocrisy during the Victorian period. Secondly, the
author uses the concept of double life to portray the characters of Miss Prism and Dr Chasuble and to expose their lack of morality. The characters have a reputation of honourable people who possess the knowledge of the strict social code of conduct but both fail to follow the proper moral standards. The minister is seen by the community as a wise, religious man who always gives advice. He is an important advisor to his parishioners but he is often absent-minded. In Act two when Jack asks him for to perform a christening he agrees to do it without any hesitation, his behaviour displays his trivial attitude towards religious ceremonies ‘Sprinkling is all that is necessary, or indeed I think advisable…At what hour would you wish the ceremony performed?’(Wilde,2012) His greatest vice is a secret desire to be with Miss Prism and his constant flirtation ‘That is strange. Were I fortunate enough to be Miss Prism’s pupil, I would hang upon her lips’(Wilde,2012). Wilde mocked the preacher’s hypocrisy and his moral judgements which mirror were common in the Victorian society. Similarly, Wilde uses Jack’s double life to present the character of Miss Prism and to expose her false morality. On the surface, she is Cecily’s educator and an intellectual woman. In her lessons, she teaches Cecily to follow the aristocratic values and to follow the ideals of the society but in moments of weakness her true nature comes to the forefront. Miss Prism gives constant moral judgements ‘As a man sows, so shall he reap’(Wilde,2012) but she herself flirts with Dr Chasuble and hides a dark past. ‘You are too much alone, dear Dr. Chasuble. You should get married’ (Wilde,2012). Overall, Oscar Wilde’s concept of the double life is the most important part of the play as it reveals the characters triviality and hypocrisy allowing him to mock the general Victorian society. The superb concept of a double life enables Oscar Wilde to express the negative influence that the Victorian societal ideals had on individuals and also gave him a platform to satire the widespread aristocratic hypocrisy.
The playwright’s skilful utilisation of a double life results in a pleasurable comedy but also comments on the societal morality by highlighting its gradual degeneration. The play’s powerful combination of humour and moral criticism leaves the reader with a new perspective of the Victorian
period.