The Importance of Being Earnest Emily Malterre Celena Marsters Mackenzie Willis
Literary Devices ● Satire ● Epigram ● Symbolism of Food
Satire: use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to exploit vices in other characters or society Examples: Irony of “earnestness,” which Wilde saw as a mark of the Victorian society he ● hated, which was also (best) represented in Lady Bracknell Characters were generally punished when being truly earnest, because it ○ represented false morality Humor is used in Algernon’s constant consumption of food, which he denies ● fervently, and which represents over-consumption Cecily and Gwen’s parallel reception of their marriage proposals represents ● their shallowness and the need in society for morality, rather than names and labels Analysis: Satire brings comic relief to the play as well as criticism of Victorian society ● and its values, which Wilde disliked The play progresses through use of satire as characters realise the folly of ● their actions and their society as Wilde sees them
Epigram: a brief, memorable statement which expresses an idea in a witty or amusing way (aphorism, witticism, etc.) “Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?” (Algernon, Act I, pg 2). "The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to some one else, if she is plain" (Algernon, Act I, pg 16). “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means” (Miss Prism, Act II, pg 22). "I could deny it if I liked. I could deny anything if I liked" (Jack, Act II, pg 39). “If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life” (Gwendolen, Act III, pg 52). “I’ve now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest” (Jack, Act III, pg 54). ● These quips show the characters insight and changing points of view ● Show the deception and thought processes of the characters ○ hypocrisy, the nature of truth ● Begin to show historical context
Symbolism: a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain mood or emotion in a work of literature Food Always associated with conflict ● Cucumber sandwiches (Act 1, line 68) ○ Algy not allowing Jack to eat a cucumber sandwich. ■ Tea and Cake (Act 2, lines 1644-1660) ○ Cecily intentionally sabotaging Gwendolen’s tea and giving her cake instead of a ■ muffin. Muffins (Act 2, lines 1853-1866) ○ Algy and Jack fight over who gets the last muffins, after Gwendolen and Cecily find ■ out about their real names. Wilde’s use of food is a way for the play’s characters to fight, but passive ● aggressively. Also show who has the upperhand in the situations. ●
Lenses ● Archetypal Criticism ● Historical Criticism ● Marxist
Archetypal Criticism - Identity Themes: Identity & Hypocrisy 1. Identity : Jack and Algy cannot conform to Victorian society without use of multiple personalities, which allow them to navigate socially and geographically a. In this case, Earnest acts as the Orphan archetype and uses Earnest to find belonging and compensate for having been abandoned by his parents b. Algernon is the Joker archetype and seeks only to fulfill himself and avoid boredom and frivolity, and he uses Bunbury to avoid this c. Gwendolyn is the Innocent, and makes up an alternate universe in her diary where she can be the damsel in distress Message: One must accept their own identity before they will be accepted by others.
Archetypal Criticism - Hypocrisy 2. Hypocrisy : the use of multiple personalities causes hypocrisy in characters a. Jack is neither earnest nor Earnest, and both him and Algernon initially use their alternate identities to behave in ways that would otherwise be inappropriate (Algy expresses contempt with Lady Bracknell for invalids like Bunbury; Earnest refuses to pay at restaurants and behaves lavishly and wrecklessly) b. In contrast, when Algy pretends to be Earnest in the country, him and Cecily make up an alternate reality and history of their relationship but are not trying to distort any truth and thus are not being hypocritical c. When Rev. Chausible finally expresses interest in Ms. Prism, he goes against his archetype as the Sage or Mentor, who serves others rather than his self interest - though for him this hypocrisy against his traditional role proves beneficial for him and Prism Message: Hypocrisy is used to push personal agendas, but may also bring characters more in touch with their true selves.
Historical Criticism It can be easy to discount Wilde’s play as a “farce”, or simply comedic work, but within the comedy there is a statement made about society. The play presents itself as artificial. Victorian Era values Outward appearance of dignity and restraint Strict set of moral standards - often hypocritical Victorian melodrama - invention of the dandy (Wilde himself)
Historical Criticism Hypocrisy Many of the lines shine light on the hypocrisy, politics only important for socializing “Jack ...I am a Liberal Unionist. Lady Bracknell Oh, they count as Tories. They dine with us” (Act I, pg 13). Morality Lack of honesty and instead a focus on social status and what is “proper”
Marxist Lower Class vs. The Higher Class Wilde mocks the arrogance and pretentiousness of the higher class. ● Oblivious of anything but their own problems ○ As long as appearance is good, substance doesn’t matter ○ The name “Ernest” with both Cecily and Gwendolen ○ Lower class is humble and thinks relatively smarter than the higher class. ● True to self, and doesn’t hide feelings ○ Miss Prism and Rev. Chasuble’s relationship ■ Lane questioning Algy’s priorities ■ Wilde is criticizing the ways of the aristocracy in the Victorian Era.
Film Adaptation The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) - the final scene
Movie Scene “[ They whistle some dreadful popular air from a British opera. ] Act III, page 43
Discussion Lit Devices: Satire, Pun, Symbolism of Food ● Lenses: Archetypal Criticism, Historical Criticism, Marxism ● Video: The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) ●
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