Summary The curtain opens on the flat of wealthy Algernon Moncrieff in London’s fashionable West End. While Algernon (Algy‚ for short) plays the piano‚ his servant (Lane) is arranging cucumber sandwiches for the impending arrival of Algernon’s aunt (Lady Bracknell) and her daughter (Gwendolen). Mr. Jack Worthing (a friend of Moncrieff’s and known to him as Ernest) arrives first. Jack announces that he plans to propose marriage to Gwendolen‚ but Algernon claims that he will not consent to their
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the question whether if it is better to be or not to be. The Importance of Being Earnest is a play that uses satirical comedy to analyze aspects of society. Jack‚ Algernon‚ Cecily‚ Gwendolen‚ and Lady Bracknell are all over dramatized representations of the shallow‚ pretentious British upper class. Characters trade smart remarks‚ but they seem oblivious to the humor and absurdity of their statements. In The Importance of Being Earnest‚ the satire of an upper-class Victorian society can also be interpreted
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‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ draws on components of absurdity and melodrama in order to provide humour and hence conceal the darker meaning of concepts. Wilde’s use of frequent comedic features‚ in addition to witty paradoxes stated by characters allows forms of deception to appear as amusing and superficial while still holding much darker alternate meanings and subtexts which allows him to draw upon and mock the flaws of Victorian society. The idea of deception through leading a double life
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morals and would also make a mockery out of the high prestigious people of the Victorian society‚ that play was entitled “The Importance of Being Earnest”. In Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest”‚ Wilde uses comical satire to describe the high society class of the Victorian era‚ were image and social status is important as breathing. “The Importance of Being Earnest” play brought about “light comedy” (Bastiat 53) and the satirical humor that allowed one the look of how marriage‚ the nature
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In Oscar Wilde’s play‚ “The Importance of Being Earnest‚” the traditionally esteemed values of duty‚ honesty‚ and hard work are tossed aside in favor of baser motivations. Pleasure‚ rather than morality‚ is the focus of every decision made by these less than admirable characters. As eloquently stated by Jack‚ “…pleasure‚ pleasure! What else should bring one anywhere?” (1735). The characters treat serious responsibilities such as marriage‚ family‚ and faithfulness as mere trivialities that can be
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The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a satire based on Victorian society in the late 1800’s. Everything about this play is a satire; from marriage to social class‚ and even the play’s name. Wilde criticizes these aspects of Victorian society with the use of witty puns and unusual‚ awkward situations. Wilde brings to light the fact that late Victorian society cared more about a person’s name and wealth than their personality. This debases the sanctity
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To what extent is gender the main comic creator in the play of ‘The Importance of being Earnest’? Comedy originated in the 6th century BC in ancient Greece at the Dionysian festival. Comedy was first designed to provoke laughter and to entertain the audience. The ancient Greeks used the word comedy to describe a play with a happy ending much the same as the play the ‘Importance of being Earnest’. The play uses elements of old comedy for example; it is a satire of the Victorian era that is most
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The Importance of Being Earnest‚ composed by Oscar Wilde is a comedic screenplay set in the nineteenth century. Although the theme of the screenplay is comedic‚ the script does discuss some of the common issues that occurred during that time. Oscar Wilde portrays the concept of marriage‚ earnestness and …. Throughout his script. Marriage is one of the main messages portrayed in the dialogue‚ being mentioned numerous times throughout The Importance of Being Earnest. The topic of marriage is used to
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from genetic makeup to the way certain things are perceived. Men perceive matters in a different way than women do as shown in Wilde’s play‚ The Importance of Being Earnest. In The Importance of Being Earnest men have better relationships considering women are more likely to argue with each other‚ because men generally don’t see matters as being earnest like women do. Unlike Gwendolen and Cecily’s relationship‚ Algernon and Jack’s relationship remains positive throughout the play. In the beginning
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My topic of discussion is the humor and irony that is used in the play The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde. In the play the comedy and dramatic irony used made the plot and material engaging. By giving a description of comedy and dramatic irony‚ it is hopeful that you can see and understand why I felt his writing provided the characteristics of both in my analysis. The puns and paradox that were used created the comedic aspect within the play and the dramatic irony which was shown
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