The Importance Of Being Earnest Women Essay

Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a play that epitomizes the Victorian age. “The Importance of Being Earnest” a man named Jack who goes by the alias Earnest, and Algernon who goes by Bunbury. These men are living double lives, and by them doing so, they would not be considered an ideal Victorian man. Earnest and Algernon come up with these names so that they can get away from their daily lives to be along in the country. During the Victorian age, it was common for women to be housewives unless the family was wealthy. The Victorian era made it clear what roles people held. Although it seemed like this era was very subtle, the Victorian era was also romantic. Women during the Victorian age were thought of being the perfect girl. They cooked, they cleaned, and they did everything that was asked of them. It was clear that women were housewives and the men worked. While men looked for their ideal women, women as well looked for the ideal man. Gwendolyn and Cecily are excited to find a man to marry.
Although the girls do not know that Earnest is living two lives, they both are in love with him because they are fascinated with his name. We find out that Earnest has feelings for Gwendolyn and he lets her know that. Ernest proposes to her and she accepts. In order to get married, the girls guardians must approve.
Gwendolyn’s mom, Lady Brackneil, did not approve of Earnest’s proposal to Gwendolyn. She has made this decision because she was informed that Earnest was an orphan. As the play continues, Algernon shows interest in Cecily and immediately proposes to her. Being that Earnest is Cecily’s guardian; he denies Algernon and Cecily getting married until Lady Brackneil lets him and Gwendolyn get married. Things begin to go south as Earnest and Algernon confess to living two lives. Both Earnest and Algernon have lost their trust from the girls. “…My ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Earnest. There is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence. The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he had a friend called Earnest, I knew I was destined to love you.” (Wilde 15) Gwendolyn and Cecily are highly disappointed because the men that they fell in love with are
liars. Men during the Victorian age were pictured to be loyal to their wives, trustworthy to their wives, and supportive to their wives. Gwendolyn and Cecily came up with the idea of forgiving the two guys if they were to be Christened by the name Earnest and Algernon. As men and women searched for their ideal mates, they encountered trouble as they tried to meet the requirements of society. The Victorian era made people fear being denied by their friends and family. Oscar Wilde in his play “The Importance of Being Earnest” uses the relationships to depict the requirements and fear of the Victorian society.