Oscar Wilde would have been considered an eccentric figure in today's society none the less Victorian society. Therefore, it makes sense that he would criticize the whole ideal of Victorian life. He does just that in The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde wants the audience to take away from the play that, "We should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality" (847).
The play revolves around double identities, morality, hypocrisy, and marriage. Jack Worthing an orphan who has no family to speak of, creates another persona Ernest Worthing. He is Ernest in town and Jack in the country. He essentially has compartmentalized his life Ernest for his own pleasure and Jack for the pleasure of others (851). The whole concept is ridiculous. Jack is not being honest with any of his acquaintances; he is always hiding an area of his life from someone. The same applies to Algernon who has invented an "invaluable permanent invalid call Bunbury (852). Therefore, the play's two heroes are each living a lie of sorts. Much like how Victorian society kept certain aspects of their lives hidden from others. Wilde is showcasing the absurdity of keeping secrets from family, friends, or society. People should not feel pressured to hide away their secrets. They should not feel ashamed. While Wilde uses something as hilarious as the name Ernest, he is trying to get fellow Victorians to become more comfortable with who they are.
He shows that the seriousness that Lady Bracknell places upon Jack Worthing because of his lack of connections is absurd. Jack and Gwendolen love each other, and Jack owns an estate so he can provide for Gwendolen. However, the fact that he is an orphan is what hinders the approval of the marriage. Once again, Wilde demonstrates how the idea of an arranged marriage is the best way for people to get married is nonsense, and that love should factor into a marriage. If Jack is prepared to marry Gwendolen and Gwendolen wants to marry him, then nothing should stop their marriage. The entire matter is trivial and should be seen as trivial. A marriage should be between two people, and not between a village of voices, each of whom believe they know better than the two people in the relationship.
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteGood post on this "trivial," wonderful comedy! You do a good job of setting up your interpretive argument, and make some astute observations on the play. I do wish you had supported and illustrated those points with more textual examples, though. In this post, unlike your better ones, you seem to reply on summary and paraphrase more than quoted textual evidence.
Great post! I agree that Wilde uses the name Ernest to prove his point about how society is uncomfortable with reality. It's impolite to be human, to have faults and feelings. Which, i agree, is absurd. And in such a polite society where unpleasantries are not to be discussed, all that's left to talk about are trivial things. So, unfortunately, they become important, such as in the case of Jack and Gwendolen.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good post, and can have many parallels in today's society as well. I especially liked your connection between the characters and the way that many Victorians behaved in their day to day life.
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