Analysis Of The Themes In The Importance Of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde
In “The importance of being earnest” Oscar Wilde portrayed the mixed use of comedy and social satire through the play, he creates absorb situations and characters which cause the response to such situations to be inappropriate. The play portrays different themes and comes at a period when England is experiencing social, political, and economic changes.
The Changing Status of Women
Oscar provided a lot of hint in the changing status of women in the society, this includes the feminist movement which had started to take effect. Women were being educated more than before, this one of the defining moments in determining the women’s freedom. This is portrayed when Lady Bracknell was talking about men’s’ position in the community. She states that “house is the proper place for man”. Lady Bracknell states that “I am glad to say, under the impression that she is attending a more than usually lengthy lecture by the University Extension Scheme on the Influence of a permanent income on Thought”. This is a clear example of how the women had become independent in the 19th century. On the other hand, Wilde portrays this theme in a unique manner. He talks about Miss Prism as a brighten woman who serves the governess of Cecily. Cecily and Gwendolyn discuss the social changes in the society. In their discussion, Cecily and Gwendolyn discuss the changing role in the community “home seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man”. The play portrays a changing society with women taking a different role in the society”.
Duty and Respect in the Community
The upper class in the Play cares about being respected in the society, this makes them do a lot of lying about it. Algernon and Jack create similar deception in the play but in the reality, they are not equal to their portrayed characteristics. The Victorian upper-class society has a different expectation of men and women. If a man or a woman comes from the poor families like Jack, it can be hard for him to find the perfect match. “You are nothing of the kind, sir. And now, as regards Algernon”. Lady Bracknell feels that Jack is inferior and he cannot match her class has he is from poor and infamous family. The tea ceremony in the second act exhibits how discipline and appearance dictate the society. In the scene, Gwendolen, and Cecily are having an argument. He is appalled when he finds out that Cecily cannot hear “Detestable girl” and furthermore she is living in Jack’s country home. The true character of each person comes out at the end of the play”.
Absence of Compassion
The community has a little compassion with each other, the only time Victorians showed sympathy to each other was during death and illness. When Lady Bracknell is told that Bunbury died in the hospitals after the doctors told him he could not live, she feels nothing and says that the doctors had given him the necessary medication. “I am glad, however, that he made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action, and acted under proper medical advice”. She does not sympathize upon learning the death of Bunbury. Just like the other Aristocrats, Lady Bracknell is busy about her own life. She does not follow about her daughter or even the nephew’s mistakes in judging the others. This changes later in the play has each person realized he has to contribute something to the well-being of the society.
The Victorians have also neglected their religion, chasuble who is the main symbol of the region in the area region. Cecily does not even respect the religious leader “Oh, yes. Dr. Chasuble is a most learned man. He has never written a single book, so you can imagine how much he knows”. Lady Bracknell in some instance states that religion does not bring anything in the community and it is a waste of time and money”.
Conclusion
At the end of the play, a lot of information is unveiled, Miss Prism turns out to be the governess who abandoned Jack has a baby. It turns out to be Jack is Algernon’s elder brother. “In a moment of mental abstraction, for which I never can forgive myself, I deposited the manuscript in the bassinette, and placed the baby in the handbag”. Jack seems to be perplexed by the revelation made by Miss Prism, “Is this the hand-bag, Miss Prism? Examine it carefully before you speak”. The happiness of more than one life depends on your answer. On the other hand, Cecily and Gwendolen find out that Algernon and Jack have been lying to them and their real names are not “Ernest”.
Work Cited
- Wilde, Oscar. The importance of being earnest. A&C Black, 2014.
