Food as an Important Symbol in the Importance of Being Earnest
Answer 3: Food plays an important part in any situation; it can make or break the problems. In the Importance of Being Earnest, food plays a very vital role in helping create movement in the plot. The play, importance of being earnest by Oscar Wilde uses food as an essential motif /symbol of an act of working out problems. Set in the Victorian era the tea time custom is vastly a part of the play.
From the very beginning where Algernon is questioned about the “cucumber sandwiches” he claims “I believe it is customary in good society to take some slight refreshment at five o’ clock.”This custom that became increasingly popular in Victorian England was the tradition of taking afternoon tea. This practice was displayed predominately by the upper class. Further on in the play we are informed that the motive behind afternoon tea is not their hunger but it is fashion and society expectations that require them to have tea at five o’ clock in the afternoon. The theme of importance of trends and fashion. Keeping up with the trends of society is seen as only the aristocrats or the higher classes took refreshments. The character of Algernon seems to have greed towards any form of food, be it cucumber sandwiches or muffins. This is evidently seen when after his confession about bunburying he continues to eat “calmly”.
This represents two phenomena; the first one is the concept of eating in distress, as Algy claims it helps one calm down. ‘When I’m in trouble, eating is the only thing that convinces me” The theme of eating in distress is seen. People are seen eating more than usual when stressed. They look for comfort in food. Example: when people are upset or stressed they look for comfort in muffins and bread & butter. The second reasoning could be that food is most important to them and being in the Victorian era even while unhappy they have to maintain style, decorum and traditions (table manners) while eating. Even when they are furious their manners or their attitude is
From the very beginning where Algernon is questioned about the “cucumber sandwiches” he claims “I believe it is customary in good society to take some slight refreshment at five o’ clock.”This custom that became increasingly popular in Victorian England was the tradition of taking afternoon tea. This practice was displayed predominately by the upper class. Further on in the play we are informed that the motive behind afternoon tea is not their hunger but it is fashion and society expectations that require them to have tea at five o’ clock in the afternoon. The theme of importance of trends and fashion. Keeping up with the trends of society is seen as only the aristocrats or the higher classes took refreshments. The character of Algernon seems to have greed towards any form of food, be it cucumber sandwiches or muffins. This is evidently seen when after his confession about bunburying he continues to eat “calmly”.
This represents two phenomena; the first one is the concept of eating in distress, as Algy claims it helps one calm down. ‘When I’m in trouble, eating is the only thing that convinces me” The theme of eating in distress is seen. People are seen eating more than usual when stressed. They look for comfort in food. Example: when people are upset or stressed they look for comfort in muffins and bread & butter. The second reasoning could be that food is most important to them and being in the Victorian era even while unhappy they have to maintain style, decorum and traditions (table manners) while eating. Even when they are furious their manners or their attitude is