Wilde’s Earnest (1895) So what’s outrageously “wild” about it?

Perhaps its development  originally written in four acts but then compressed by Wilde into three on suggestions of actor-manager of St. James’ Theatre  compressed version more streamlined; throws out info. not vital to understanding of characters (Slover: online)  four-act version gives more lines to Chasuble and Prism; Algernon almost gets arrested in case of mistaken identity (while masquerading as “Ernest”) for restaurant fees Jack Worthing hasn’t paid; more commentary on state of “modern society” by Jack and Algy.

Maybe its implications  disruptive/satirical of social norms  life replaced by art (cf. Decadence: late 19th-cent. artistic movement that championed idea of “art for art’s sake”; philosophy based on art critic Walter Pater’s ideas [c. 1870]; e.g., “subtle and delicate sweetness which belongs to a fine and comely decadence”)  paradox of social conventions and empty words: boredom, hypocrisy, nonsense, etc.  1890s’ London as evil “megalopolis” (the “Great Whore”) that gets caricatured, together with Victorian sophistication

Or gender relations  Bunbury as “invaluable permanent invalid…” (Earnest I.201) who comes in handy in marriage* (I.232-3)  Gwendolen on ideals and the name “Ernest” (I.346,350-1)  more generally, male/female interaction (e.g., Mary Farquhar & husband [I ]) * The Lady With the Monkey, by Aubrey Beardsley (1898)

Works Cited Slover, Tim. “The Playwright in Earnest: A Re-evaluation of the Writing and Revising of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.” The Importance of Being Earnest: A Study Guide. Ed. Bob Nelson. Provo: BYU Theatre and Film, Jan < ry/Study_Guides-PH/EarnestSG.pdf>.