not live without experiencing love. On the other hand though‚ love is just as often made a mockery of; it’s depicted as a useless feeling that only distracts people from logic and rational thinking. In The Importance of Being Earnest‚ a play by Oscar Wilde set in Victorian England‚ love is mocked which is evident in Cecily’s lust for Ernest‚ Gwendolen’s love for the name Ernest and Algernon’s ideas of marriage. Wilde’s parodying of love is obvious when Cecily falls in love with Ernest‚ Jack’s fictitious
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not been leading a double life‚ pretending to be wicked and being good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.” (IOBE P.24). Most people would not create another life in order to obtain happiness as their own should give them enough pleasure. In Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest‚ not one‚ but two characters end up leading a double life with the same name. Jack Worthing is an upper-class man who lives in the country being Cecily Cardew’s guardian. When not in the country but in the
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Chiderah Onyeukwu Professor Daniel Galvin English 213 18 April 2013 Role of Marriage in Importance of Being Earnest The Importance of Being Earnest‚ Oscar Wilde’s last and most famous play‚ debuted in London on February 14‚ 1895. Throughout the play‚ one major theme seems to override the others. That theme is the role of marriage; the question of whether marriage as an institution is “pleasant” or “unpleasant” comes up repeatedly. It seems as if every character has a strong stance on the role of
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artists on what art should be or do. Oscar Wilde argues in his preface to “The Picture of Dorian Gray” that art is beauty or a symbol‚ but beneath that is left to the interpretation of the spectator. In Gustave Courbet’s essay “Realist Manifesto” art is knowledge to draw from to inspire his own individuality and to create living art. Although both essays bear some superficial similarities‚ the difference between Wilde’s and Courbet’s definition of art is staggering. Wilde and Courbet recognized how critics
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Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde was one of the poets who‘s lyrics refused the problems of morality and philosophy which troubled the population during the Victorian era in the nineteenth century‚ and he found images for his own moods‚ loves and experience. His work as a dramatist and his legendary name‚ have given his verses a significant reputation. (Evans‚ I.‚ 1976‚ p.114) Wilde’s pleasure in provocation and his examination of different moral perspectives are
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says‚ “Throughout the Victorian period‚ there was a strict separation between the public and the private sphere. Men were to handle public affairs and women were to take charge of domestic life” (Meijers 7). In The Importance of Being Earnest‚ Oscar Wilde employs a reversal of gender roles‚ including a shift in power that predates this movement‚ effectively challenging traditional Victorian views. He does so by giving his female cast‚ notably Lady Bracknell‚ Cecily Cardew and Miss Fairfax‚ power
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After learning about the Victorian Era‚ we watched the film/play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The Importance of Being Earnest is a satire comedy where the main characters‚ John and Algernon‚ create fictitious people to escape from oppressive social obligations. Before watching the film‚ I had no clue what the play was about. I honestly had never really heard of the characteristics and social classes of the Victorian Era. After watching the play‚ I now have a better understanding
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The Canterville Ghost is not just a short story by Oscar Wilde about a haunted mansion with a ghost; it is also a comedy and a parody of British aristocracy. In this story‚ the author makes fun of American pride and love of wealth by having the American Ambassador who buys the mansion say: "I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. I have come from a modern country‚ where we have everything that money can buy". Oscar Wilde’s "The Canterville Ghost" is a story of a family’s relationship
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The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel written by Irish writer‚ Oscar Wilde. The main character‚ rich and beautiful Dorian Gray‚ owns his portrait‚ which instead of him becomes older and where are traces of sin and mistakes. While Gray becomes uncontrollable and ruthless‚ his appearance stays youthful and flawless. At the end‚ in his despair‚ Gray destroys the picture and himself. The novel gives us a very good lesson – we can do whatever we want
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Minor details are often considered insignificant or irrelevant and as a result they are rarely given the attention they deserve. In Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest‚” we see cleverly hidden details within the drama that‚ while serving significant roles‚ people may view as inhibitors to understanding the play. Cigarette cases and tea parties are two of the many details within the drama that contain background meanings; their most prominent purpose being to emphasize the importance of
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