Introduction The Importance of Being Earnest was Oscar’s fourth comedy‚ and it was to be his last and most outstanding play. ‘The Trivial Comedy for Serious People‘ (in earlier drafts‚ ‘serious comedy for trivial people’) was first produced by George Alexander at the St James’s Theatre on 14th February 1895 in London. The play was reduced from four to three acts (Raby 161-163). The Importance of Being Earnest contradicts banausic values in a utilitarian age (Varty 205). The comedy of manners
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The Importance of Being Victorian: Oscar Wilde “The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either‚ and modern literature a complete impossibility” (Wilde 14). As a brilliant writer of the 1800’s‚ Oscar Wilde devoted the majority of his works towards unveiling the harsh truths of the Victorian society. Leading a life of deception himself‚ he chose to showcase his distastes for the social injustice he saw around him with unrestrained humor. Being the first
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English 11-2 19 April 2013 The Importance of Being Earnest Pseudo-Relations Undertaking countless adventures‚ Shawn and Gus have built an unbreakable bond‚ symbolizing true friendship and the priceless benefits of companionship. The television show Psych‚ is the epitome of bonds built through time‚ as the main characters strive to save Santa Barbara‚ California from mayhem by causing havoc of their own. In the same way‚ Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest‚ introduces relationships
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English 1C 30 May 2018 An Interpretation of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde’s play‚ The Importance of Being Earnest allows the reader to question the value of morals and whether they are significant or not. His work may be argued to be “quite useless” to some‚ but may be impactful to others. In this sense‚ it may be both meaningful as a piece of art and entertainment. The “moral” of the play‚ if anything‚ suggests that one in fact can be rewarded by being less than earnest and presents itself at the end
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The dictionary definition of ‘being earnest’ is having a purpose‚ being steadily‚ and somberly eager in pursuing it or having determination. In the play‚ The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde‚ the author commences showing his audience the significance behind the title through his use of contrasting different ideas and manipulation of alluding to multiple concepts. The irony held the opposite intent of the title that Jack had named himself Earnest‚ who is neither earnest nor honest yet
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Oscar Wilde’s satirical depiction of Victorian Society in The Important of Being Earnest comments on the absurdity of their inability to recognize the difference between the important and unimportant. Characters in the play often make trivial matters into serious matters and vice versa‚ although there are times where issues are treated appropriately. However‚ the whole idea of what is important is subjective‚ and in a Victorian Era context‚ matters such as social status and proper etiquette were
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Another of Wilde’s plays‚ and perhaps his most famous‚ The Importance of Being Earnest‚ is a comedy‚ and so it is easy for the audience to become entranced by the humor of the show without examining the underlying symbolism and satire that makes it so funny. The play is‚ at its core‚ about the mischief that can ensure when names are given too much importance. The name Ernest‚ in particular‚ is coveted by the two main male characters‚ Jack and Algernon‚ but also by the two main female characters‚
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Oscar Wilde adds a unique style to his play The Importance of Being Ernest by contrasting the play’s different settings. The setting of a play can be a fundamental element in developing the plot. The Importance of Being Ernest is set in the late 1800s in the bustling city of London. The background of the play contrasts the differences in the characters Jack and Algernon as well as further developing the plot line. The Importance of Being Ernest is developed within two contrasting places. The
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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 propriety within their era. However‚ they also play substitute roles in accentuating
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What good does always being earnest do you if you are not "Ernest"? Oscar Wilde’s play‚ "The Importance of Being Earnest"‚ explores exactly this notion‚ following two men who readily abandon their namesakes in order to win the affections of their respective fair ladies. The play opens in London with a conversation held between these two men‚ Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff. However‚ at the play’s origin‚ Algernon only knows his friend as "Ernest". This rapidly changes with the aid of a cigarette
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