THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST By OSCAR WILDE 1895

Key Facts full title · The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People genre · Social comedy; comedy of manners; satire; intellectual farce time and place written · Summer 1894 in Worthing, England date of first production · February 14, In part because of Wilde’s disgrace, the play was not published until tone · Light, scintillating, effervescent, deceptively flippant setting (time) · 1890s (“Present”) setting (place) · London (Act I) and Hertfordshire, a rural county not far from London (Acts II and III)

Complete the character chart. Note relationships, characteriza- tions, and other essential information. Add Lane and Merriman

Settings and Their Effects Act 1: Effects of Setting Act 2: Effects of Setting Act 3: Effects of Setting

SUMMARY protagonist · John Worthing, known as “Ernest” by his friends in town (i.e., London) and as “Jack” by his friends and relations in the country major conflict · Jack faces many obstacles to his romantic union with Gwendolen. One obstacle is presented by Lady Bracknell (Gwendolen’s Mother), who objects to what she refers to as Jack’s “origins” (i.e. his inability to define his family background). Another obstacle is Gwendolen’s obsession with the name “Ernest,” since she does not know Jack’s real name. rising action · Algernon ( Jack’s friend in town) discovers that Jack is leading a double life and that he has a pretty young ward named Cecily. The revelation of Jack’s origins causes Lady Bracknell to forbid his union with Gwendolen. Identifying himself as “Ernest,” Algernon visits Jack’s house in the country and falls in love with Cecily. climax · Gwendolen and Cecily discover that both Jack and Algernon have been lying to them and that neither is really named “Ernest.” falling action · Miss Prism is revealed to be the governess who mistakenly abandoned Jack as a baby and Jack is discovered to be Algernon’s elder brother, and is in actual fact named Earnest.

A Private View at the Royal Academy (1883) by William Powell Frith

Victorian Period – Historical Context England ( ) Manners were supremely important English society was divided into classes The Upper-class was well-educated, came from a rich and respected family (“old money”), and having good manners mattered more than anything else Considered bad manners to flaunt wealth

Victorian Period Young women were always chaperoned until they were married Women’s clothing covered them from neck to ankle; clothes had to be modest In the upper classes, people with a bad reputation were outcasts no matter how much money they had Good manners were extremely important

Aestheticism: “art for art’s sake” Theory that spoke for the autonomy of art. Art was to exist for its own sake, for its own essence or beauty. The artist was not to be concerned about morality or utility or even the pleasure that a work might bring to its audience. This approach often contrasted with the strict application of morality, social mannerism, and politics.

Comedy – from komos - a story of the rise in fortune of a sympathetic central character. Optimistic Classical comedy can be thought of as the fulfillment of future generations – ends in procreation rites or marriages Therapeutic This allows humans to critically view what might be unbearable, or merely uncomfortable, and find solutions, comfort, or solace in situations that could otherwise be unfathomably heinous or merely humiliating. Inclusive Opposing forces and culturally different enemies can find common ground in laughter. Didactic comedy gives us the uncanny ability to humbly see fault within ourselves, and to change accordingly, without need for defensive repercussions. Comedy – Genre Contexts

Conventions of Comedy – Give example of each in Earnest Hyperbole: exaggeration, overemphasis, overstatement Incongruity: literary element out of place (time, space, character) Anticipation: looking forward to something funny Plant: idea, line, or action established early in the play that is repeated later on Parody: a composition imitating another, usually serious, piece of work designed to ridicule in nonsensical fashion an original work. Parody : Literature :: caricature : art.

Blocking figure: A character, often old and cranky, who interferes with the romantic desires or the other main characters and provides comic action Deus ex machina: artificial contrivance used to resolve comedic plots Ambiguity: double meaning, puns, vagueness; leads to misunderstanding. Conventions of Comedy – Give example of each in Earnest

Comedy of Manners Comedy of Manners is a term that is generally applied to Restoration Comedy 17 th Century), Neoclassical Comedy (18 th Cent.), and Victorian Comedy (19 th Century) – both forms existing in the post- Renaissance world of England and France. These plays include elements of Romantic comedy and satire. They tend to mock the relations and intrigues of people in the upper classes, rely largely on words and wit, and are often sophisticated and refined.

LANGUAGE & STRUCTURAL DEVICES cont FARCE ~ Broadly humorous play based on the exploitation of improbable or ludicrous situations. Humorous play using exaggerated physical action, slapstick, absurdity & improbability. Contains surprises where the unexpected is disclosed: Jack misidentifies Prism as his unmarried mother – typical farcical ending. Farces ~ 3 Acts, Changes in identity, Stock Characters, Misunderstandings between lovers

Identify BIG IDEAS and MOTIFS, then analyze how they function to create larger meanings of the play. Big ideas Victorian Social Issues. The nature of marriage; the constraints of morality; hypocrisy vs. inventiveness; the importance of not being “earnest”; rural vs. urban Motifs naming; puns; inversion; death; the dandy; doubling; food; fiction; writing; parents

The Dandy – Character Type AKA “fop” - the dandy is a man who pays particular attention to his appearance, dress, and lifestyle, almost to the point of excess, while using his wit and charm to point out society’s hypocrisy and double standards.