Essay – The Importance of Being Earnest – Topic #2
The people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower. As a comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde serves it’s purpose wholly. Although, amongst the witty remarks and ridiculous situations, there are times which indicate the deeper meaning within the author’s words. The characters whom are portrayed as shallow and ignorant indicates the true reflection of the Victorian Society at the time. The theme of sexism, lack of feelings for others, and marriage based on money and rank are exercised throughout the entirety of the play.
Generally, in the Victorian Era, women were treated drastically different as opposed to modern day. For instance, when Gwendolyn accepts a marriage proposal without her parent’s permission, her mother is livid and replies with “Pardon me, you are not engaged to any one. When you do become engaged to someone, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact. An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she should be allowed to arrange for herself.” (I.172) This is the ideal example of how women were not consulted with who they would marry and marriage was based on what the parents saw suitable, such as social status and rank. Men were also slightly condescending towards women in this time period as well. Namely, when Algernon is inquiring if Jack had revealed the truth to Gwendolyn, Jack replies in a patronizing manner “My dear fellow, the truth isn’t quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined girl. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman!”(I.236) Jack is insinuating that women are very fragile and that as men, it is their duty to use their discretion to protect them. This elucidates how men did not regard women with full equality.
The Essay on What Do Women Want From Men
Where did all those romantic fellas go? With all that can be, all that is within us, romance lives forever! So why not take advantage of it. Did you ever look around and wonder why a woman will chose another man over you? Maybe you are more handsome, intelligent, richer and so much more than that other plain fellow what's his name. But he's romantic and obviously knows how to treat a woman and ...
Furthermore, the lack of feeling and remorse for others is evident in many of the characters and scenarios. Lady Bracknell proves to be a prime example of someone who lacks feelings for others, particularly Bunbury. After hearing his current health condition, she explains that “it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the question is absurd. Nor Do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty of life. … I should be much obliged if you would ask Mr. Bunbury, from me, to be kind enough not to have a relapse on Saturday, for I rely on you to arrange my music for me.” (I.130) This illuminates how she is not concerned with his well-being but moreso how he is a hindrance and will interfere with her own trivial problems. Likewise she states “I am glad, however, that [Bunbury] made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action, and acted under proper medical advice.” (III.55) It is definite that she is content with his “decision” because he will not pose a threat to any of her future social engagements. In addition, this reveals how she does not feel grievance for Bunbury, and simply her lack of compassion and sympathy for Algernon after losing a close friend. Also, throughout the whole play, Jack and Algernon are constantly lying and deceiving their loved ones, but justify their actions by feeling like they are protecting others. Consequently, they do not feel the remorse that usually accompanies deceiving others. This holds true for the majority of the characters presented throughout.
The Essay on Victorian Satire Lady Bracknell
... and Algernon are those that represent the middle class; and characters Lady Bracknell, Cecily and Gwendolen act as the highest class or the ... need to visit his non-existent friend, "Bunbury" who had recently become ill. When Lady Bracknell heard of this news she stated: ... I ... fun at the actions made by this social class. Another satirical theme throughout this play of the brilliant Oscar Wilde is the ...
The play primarily stresses the need for social status and maintaining a respectable name. Marriage was seen as a foundation or stepping stone to improve social status, which was emphasized by Lady Bracknell. For instance, she states that Gwendolyn is a “girl brought up with the utmost care – to marry a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel?” (I.218) This encompasses Lady Bracknell’s views on marriage as just being an alliance between two families. Again, she goes on to say “To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which I think is never advisable.” (III.86) This clearly reveals how strongly Lady Bracknell feels against getting to know one another before getting married. Pursuing this further, she openly dislikes Cecily based off first impressions, but when she discovers she has one hundred and thirty thousand pounds in the funds, she completely changes her opinion. It’s evident that she is concerned with acquiring materialistic wealth through marriage. Algernos also centers his attention around money when he states “I love hearing my relations abused.
It is the only thing that makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die. (I.222)” It’s evident that he wants his relatives to die, so that he will be the sole heir to all the money and land his family owns. Pertaining to maintaing a reputable name, two of the characters develop an alter-ego which Algernon deemed “Bunburyism.” This enables the characters to escape their everyday social obligations without tarnishing their reputation. This act is mirrored in Oscar Wilde’s personal life, by using a mask to hide unwanted truths from getting out into the public. Due to Victorian societal pressures, he Wilde the need to create a façade of a heterosexual married life. He recognized that his homosexuality would not be accepted, therefore he could not reveal his true self.
The Importance of Being Earnest brilliantly uses comedy as a vehicle to showcase the serious problems of a troubled society. This play is the epitome of using comedic satire to capture the audiences attention, furthering the reader’s perception perhaps even moreso than a serious play. Keeping the plot light-hearted and humorous, ensures that the play will be enjoyed and respected by an audience of a large spectrum. Ultimately, it allows for the audience to grasp Wilde’s true message, while being entertained and educated simultaneously.
The Term Paper on Willy Russell in his play ‘Educating Rita’
Educating Rita by Willy Russell explores the relationship between the two characters involved in the play, Frank and Rita over a time span, of several months. A variety of themes are explored as Rita, a working class Liverpudlian, aspires to a higher social and academic level so that she may have choices, with Frank, a disillusioned and failed poet as her teacher. As Rita progresses, Russell uses ...