The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People”

Objectives Students will be able to identify the rules of etiquette during the Victorian Era Students will be able to identify biographical information about Oscar Wilde, which contributed to his writing Students will be able to distinguish key characteristics of the Aesthetic Movement

Overview Jack Worthing is a respected gentleman in his country community, but he has secrets. Invented a brother named Ernest who is always getting into trouble Uses “Ernest” as an excuse to leave boring and unpleasant situations Also lies to his city friends that he is named Ernest

Overview Jack confesses his double life to his London friend Algernon Also wants to come clean to Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, so he can propose to her Jack’s ward (minor or one legally incapable of managing his own affairs, placed under the control or protection of a guardian or of a court), Cecily, believes that his imaginary brother Ernest exists and she’s falling in love with the idea of him. Cecily sounds attractive to Algernon

Character Trees Lady Augusta Bracknell John (“Jack”) Worthing Merriman Lady Augusta Bracknell Servant to Mother of Aunt of Going by “Ernest” at the start John (“Jack”) Worthing Gwendolen Fairfax Friends Guardian to Cousins Miss Prism Algernon Moncrieff Tutor to Servant to Cecily Cardew Lane Rev. Chasuble Minister in Countryside

Keep in mind: This is a play all about the upkeep of one’s façade How you appear to authority, to friends, to someone you love… Oscar Wilde satirizes how importance appearances were in the Victorian era Think about how relevant that is today. Are there times when you just want to stop caring? What are the consequences of not caring what people think of you?

Oscar Wilde Biography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqRwZz7n8o8&list=PLS6xSzmHrnmyiJ-WOWTZWJ50zQwRUYJKO&index=1

“Art for Art’s Sake” a.k.a. the Aesthetic Movement Valued beauty and entertainment in literature over moral themes A backlash against uptight Victorian norms Wit, appearances, having fun (avoiding work) and finding beauty in small things were important “A work of art is useless as a flower is useless. A flower blossoms for its own joy. We gain a moment of joy by looking at it.” – Oscar Wilde

Commentary on the Aesthetic Movement "I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.” – Oscar Wilde Commentary on the Aesthetic Movement On Wilde’s writing of Earnest: “What he recommends to us, and by implication only, is not social reform, women’s suffrage, or child-labor laws, but style – a style of life, of behavior, and of speech.” – Harry Popkin

Literary Terms to Know Comedy of Manners – A play that derives its comedy from satirizing the manners and morals of a given society Epigram – a short statement or poem with a witty turn of thought or wittily condensed expression. Ex: “I can resist anything but temptation.” – Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde’s Epigrams “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.” “I can resist anything but temptation.” “A true friend stabs you in the front.” “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

“Battles of the sexes” also run throughout Literary Terms to Know The “Well-Made Play” Withheld secret drives the action Hero’s fortune fluctuates throughout Suspense mounts with battle of wits between hero and villain Intensity rises with entrances and exits of characters, coincidences, identities revealed Hero is benefitted in final resolution “Battles of the sexes” also run throughout

The Victorian Age During the Victorian Age, England changed as much and as dramatically as it had in all of its previous history.  It was in the nineteenth century that  England reached its height as a world imperial power. Between 1837 (when Victoria ascended the throne) and 1901 (when she died) the population of London grew from about 2 million to well over 6 million―an unparalleled population boom. Changes in industrial production techniques had a profound impact an almost all aspects of life for every class of citizen. Unregulated industrialization created great prosperity for a lucky few but great misery for the masses. Victorian era writers were mixed in their reactions to industrialization.  Some celebrated the new age of promise, progress, and triumph, while others challenged the so-called benefits of industrial growth when so many were being affected so negatively.

The Victorian Age In many ways the Victorian age reflected values that Queen Victoria herself espoused: moral responsibility and domestic propriety. For as "proper" an age as the Victorian period seemed, however, there was as much evidence of social dissolution and moral impropriety. For many, the late-Victorian period was merely an extension, at least on the surface, of the affluence of the preceding years. For many others, though, the late-Victorian period became a time to fundamentally question―and challenge―the assumptions and practices that had made such affluence possible.  It became a time to hold England to account for the way in which it had generated wealth for so few on the backs of so many, both at home and throughout the empire. Home-rule for Ireland became an increasingly controversial topic of debate.

The Victorian Age Especially towards the end of the Victorian period, playwrights like George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde began to reflect, in an increasingly satirical way, the pretentious values and behavior that they believed characterized Victorian life Short fiction thrived during the Victorian period, thanks in part to the robust periodical culture of the time. The novel was perhaps the most prevalent genre of the time period; it was especially well suited to authors who wanted to capture the wide diversity of industrial life and the class conflict and divisions that industrialism created. As of 1837, half of England’s population was literate--As literacy proliferated, the reading public became more and more fragmented. Writers thus had to consider how (or if) their writing might appeal to niche audiences rather than to a unified "reading public."

Time to take an etiquette quiz!

Victorian Etiquette 101 A man should remove his hat and hand it up when indoors If a woman is standing in a parlor, a man should remain standing until she sits If someone wants to shake a lady’s hand, she should leave her gloves on It is unacceptable for a man to smoke in the presence of a lady Losing one’s temper is unacceptable It is unacceptable to discuss religion, even in the company of friends One should not discuss financial matters, read a novel, or quote Bible passages in the company of others It is disgraceful for a lady to lift her skirt with both hands—even in matters of walking over a puddle Politics should never be a main focus of conversation If you realize you have more education than others, you should act as if you are equals—don’t show off!