In this research paper, I would like to analyze Oscar Wildes play The Importance of Being Earnest. In particular, it is necessary to focus on those features which are traditionally characteristic of comedy. The play should be discussed from several points of view: the development of the plot, the evolvement of the main characters, and the authors style. Besides, one should discuss the themes, which Wilde explores in his works because his intention was to show and satirize the vices of aristocratic society. Another issue which I would like to discuss is the author’s use of paradoxes (or contradictions) because this literary and logical device is a typical feature of Wildes works. We need to pay attention to the major characteristics of a comedy because this genre can take many forms, and it is difficult to give a clear and concise definition to this notion. Overall, any dramatic performance that describes humorous aspects of human life can be labeled as a comedy (Ahmadgoli et al. 77). Traditionally, Wildes comedies are called a “comedy of manners” because the playwright criticizes the drawbacks of society, for example, social prejudices. However, we should not limit this work only to social problems. The Importance of Being Earners is much more complicated work, mostly because of its paradoxes. To a certain degree, the paradoxes show the controversy and even absurdity of modern life. Probably, this is the main reason for this plays longevity.
In Oscar Wildes plays, the development of the plot is just a background to witty comments upon life and society. However, we cannot disregard the storyline because, underneath the verbal fireworks, there is always the solid structure of a well-built plot. Many literary critics say that The Importance of Being Earnest is one of our best farces. But several aspects of the play bear likeness to comedy. Certainly, one has to admit that this play may be regarded only as a farce, a genre in which humor is mostly based on the development of the plot. However, nothing is easier than to view this play only as a farce without looking beyond the surface. Wildes work strongly resembles a farce that it is often very difficult to unmask the main idea of the author. While analyzing this play, one should pay extra attention to subtle details otherwise;, the essence of the play may be lost. One does not find Wilde’s satire embedded in plot and character as in traditional high comedy. On the contrary, it only accompanies the plot, which is the most peculiar feature of Wildes play. The storyline reminds William Gilbert’s comedies about lost infants and recovered brothers. Yet, the dialogue, which sustains the plot, is an unbroken stream of comments on the most stressing problems of society (Richard Ellmann, 66). His comment “comment” may seem irresponsible, jabbing at all the great problems, and but it is just ridicule over the aristocratic society. As regards the paradoxical nature of Wildes play, it should be noted that it is reflected on different levels, and it produces a very strong comic effect. First, it can be observed on the linguistic level, particularly, the author employs such stylistic devices as a pun, the double meaning of the word ‘”earnest.” Secondly, it is quite noticeable on the level of the plot, especially, the behavior of the main characters, for example, if we are speaking about Lady Bracknell, who is able to accept Jack as a match for her daughter only when she finds out that he is an aristocrat, though inner qualities of this person remain unchanged. Additionally, almost every character of the play often sets stress on being an honest and even moral person; however, no one believes that the policy of truth is the most prudent way.
While discussing the main themes of this work, we need to bear in mind that even the name of this play is symbolic; the author plays with the two meanings of the word “Earnest” as a proper name and the adjective. Although at the very beginning, the humor of the language may not be noticeable, when the play draws to its close, one can see that that this literary device fulfills a more complicated task; Wilde intends to show how ruinous pretense or even hypocrisy may be. At the end of the play, Jack says, “I have now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of Being Earnest” (Wilde, 575). Throughout the text, the author uses the meanings of this word, for instance, when Algernon makes a compliment to Jack by saying that he s “the most earnest-looking person” he has ever seen ()Wilde 521). Even in the plot, one can observe a certain paradox or controversy; both Jack and Algernon say that their name is Earnest, while their behavior is very far from being earnest. In addition to that, Wilde satirizes some women, who look at everything modern or new with suspicion. One of the characters, Cecily, argues, “I don’t quite like women, who are interested in philanthropic work. I think it is so forward of them” (Wilde 557). One may say that he mocks at the backwardness of the upper classes, who viewed even the best intentions with contempt. Oscar Wilde makes these characters, such as for example Lady Bracknell or Cecily, look illogical or even ridiculous. We should discuss the behavior of the main character. It should be pointed out that he was originally named Earnest, yet each step that he makes is insincere. Additionally, he invents a fictional brother, and this person becomes a comfortable excuse for him each time Jack wants to escape from real life. The protagonist says that he has to assist his poor brother, though, in fact, it is just a way to elude one’s obligations. Nevertheless, Oscar Wilde makes his pretense play a very cruel trick on him. Gwendolen falls in love with him just because of his alleged name Earnest. We may say that the playwright is slightly ironical about her. She believes that Jack is the most reliable and trustworthy person, just because he has such a name. Perhaps, through this character, the author wants to satirize certain principles or even stereotypes deep-rooted in our consciousness: we often take everything for granted without any questioning. Gwendolens mother, Lady Bracknell, represents a typical aristocratic woman of the nineteenth century who is firmly convinced of her superiority. She believes that Jack is not worthy of her daughter just because he is not a nobleman. Wilde finds a perfect way to deride this woman. When she finds out that Jack is of noble lineage, her attitude towards him quickly changes. It turns from scornful to polite and even flattering. She embodies the whole absurdity of social prejudice.
In this play, Oscar Wilde unmasks all make-believe and hypocrisy. The plot offers him a good opportunity to do it. The author finds a perfect way to show all his intelligence and wit; he shatters the conventions of the society he depicts. In his art-for-art’s-sake aesthetics, he shocks the comfortable life of British aristocrats. His witty farce is simply the reverse of the medal. The author mocked the upper-classes of society, but they did not even suspect it. Many critics accused Wilde of being shallow; it now appears that they just were not able to see the main idea of the author. (Nohrnberg, 77) Such a term as farce cannot fully render the complexity of Wildes play because this genre does not usually have any didactic or instructive qualities, but Oscar Wilde wants to improve his readers (Storey, 66). For example, Jack and Algernon, the major characters, get into very difficult situations mostly because of their pretense, especially when they are exposed by Gwendolen and Cecily. Certainly, it is not openly stated by the author, but their happiness stands on the brink of the precipice, but these women are able to forgive them. It will not be an exaggeration to say that such a scenario is very unlikely in real life because such a form of deceit is very seldom forgiven or forgotten. To a certain extent, the author wants to show how dangerous it is to turn one’s life into make-believe. We may say that The Importance of Being Earnest has certain didactic qualities, which is entirely untypical of farce.
This play stands alone among Wilde’s plays because it does not focus on any particular social theme. But as the play progresses, one can see that each character represents some negative quality or drawback. For example, Lady Bracknell shows the snobbish values of the upper classes, while Miss Prism and Doctor Chasuble represent Wilde’s irony in the educational system and the Church of his day. Algernon is a deceitful person; he always refers to his wicked brother. Jack also invents a sick friend, who is very suitable for him on some occasions. Throughout the text, Oscar Wilde compares the words of his characters and their actions; he shows that very often, the relationships between people are based on hypocrisy. The play is full of witticisms, which do not influence the development of the plot, but they produce a very vivid impression on the reader. For instance, we may remember Algernon’s words, “In married life three make the company, and two are none” (Wilde, 533). The author wants to show how these people viewed marriage and family relations. Although these witticisms do not help to develop the plot, they show the author’s views on modern life and society.
To conclude, we may say that The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy because, in this work, the author satirizes the follies of then Victorian England. As it has been mentioned before, such satire is an inseparable part of any comedy. The plot of this play is mostly based on misunderstanding and the disclosure of falsehood, which results in many humorous situations. It should be taken into account that even a happy ending suggests that this play is a comedy. According to traditional views on this genre, every play, which has a successful conclusion, can be called a comedy. As regards the main characters, we may say that Wilde skillfully describes their falsehood and make-believe that often presents difficulties for them. Wildes comedy has some instructive qualities. We can hardly say that The Importance of Being Earnest is only a farce because such an approach cannot reflect all the complexity of this work. While speaking about the characters, we should mention that Wilde makes them almost archetypical. It means that these people may be found almost everywhere. The most important evidence proving that this work can be called a comedy is the great number of paradoxes. Any comedy shows the absurdities of life, and the paradox is the most effective way to do it. Oscar Wildes masterpiece is often mistakenly labeled as a farce, but this play performs some other functions. It educates its reader or spectator, which makes it perfectly eligible for being a comedy.
Works Cited
Ahmadgoli, Kamran, Ian Small, Robert Ross. Oscar Wilde and the Collected Works. “English Literature in Transition 1880-1920” 51.2 (2008).
Beckson, Karl. Essays on Oscar Wilde. “English Literature in Transition” 1880-1920 47.1 (2004).
Nohrnberg, Peter. Incedent Modernism: British Modernism and Censorship. “Twentieth Century Literature” 54.1 (2008).
Storey, Robert. “Comedy, Its Theorists and the Evolutionary Perspective.” Routlage, 1995.
Richard Ellmann. “Oscar Wilde” Vintage Books, 1988.
Wilde, Oscar. “The Importance of Being Earnest. The Harbrace Anthology of Literature”. 3rd ed. Toronto, ON: Nelson Thomson Learning, 2002.