The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: Introduction

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's last and most famous play was first staged in London on February 14, 1895. On the first appearance of this play, it was well received by the audiences. The Importance of Being Earnest is funny all the time. There is nothing earnest about this play, at least on the surface.


Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Wilde directed his satire upon the norms and values of the Victorian society of his time, which was grounded on false premises. People in Victorian society pretended to be strictly moral, intelligent and the decent but in reality they were really hypocrite, pretentious and false. Wilde being a satirist exposes their true color. Progress, technologies, individualism, family and social values were the main concerns of Victorian society. Wealth and social status were the main qualifying concerns for marriage in that society. He uses the device of satire and misidentifies to criticize the hypocritical society.

The title of the play carries the sense of satire. The quarrelling for the only name Earnest makes the play comedy of manners. Other elements such as a cigarette case, diary writing, and love letter writing also have contributed in making this play a comedy of manners. A funny aspect of this play is its subtitle, which assumes a different kind of significance. Many readers show different kind of interest to the subtitle of the play. According to them the subtitle "A trivial comedy for serious people" reveals basic clues as to the intended target of the playwright.

This play has another unusual aspect. Some critics dismiss this play on the spot because it, according to them, lacks any serious content. But there are others who regard it as a profoundly amusing play. Despite sharply divergent outlooks of readers on the literary worth of this play, it has succeeded in standing on the test of time. If we have to give a proper space to this play we are bound to say that though devoid of purpose The importance of being Earnest is extraordinarily funny.

Recent scholarship has noticed a profound subject matter in this play. That is, the play is supposed to concentrate on the questions of identity and reality. Often held in an acclaimed position as a comedy of manner, The importance of Being Earnest is a superb example of social satire. To all intent and purpose it was to improve the decadent society. The uniqueness of the play is that it has the innovative elements in the play. The play inherited lots of elements from melodrama and well-made play, but his treatment of the subject and his style has given a unique touch to the satirical dimension of the play. The real innovative elements are noticeable in Wilde's handling of language in the context of character portrayal.

Though the story is not extraordinary and unconventional, yet it is powerful because of these devices and the dexterity at using the words. The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde's Style is characterized by the use of misapplied logic. Paradox is the hallmark of Wilde's style. His style is frequently marked by the use of paradox. Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable or absurd. Another side of Wilde's style is recognized as the style of making an inverted parody of the stock romantic situation in which the lover's devotion alone, not their names, as meaning.

If we analyze the play from the point of view of aestheticism, being the founder of the principle art for art’s sake, the playwright gives the audiences pleasure and delight.

Wilde directed his satire upon the norms and values of the Victorian society of his time, which was grounded on false premises. People in Victorian society pretended to be strictly moral, intelligent and the decent but in reality they were really hypocrite, pretentious and false. Wilde being a satirist exposes their true color. Progress, technologies, individualism, family and social values were the main concerns of Victorian society. Wealth and social status were the main qualifying concerns for marriage in that society. He uses the device of satire and misidentifies to criticize the hypocritical society.

The title of the play carries the sense of satire. The quarrelling for the only name Earnest makes the play comedy of manners. Other elements such as a cigarette case, diary writing, and love letter writing also have contributed in making this play a comedy of manners. A funny aspect of this play is its subtitle, which assumes a different kind of significance. Many readers show different kind of interest to the subtitle of the play. According to them the subtitle "A trivial comedy for serious people" reveals basic clues as to the intended target of the playwright.

This play has another unusual aspect. Some critics dismiss this play on the spot because it, according to them, lacks any serious content. But there are others who regard it as a profoundly amusing play. Despite sharply divergent outlooks of readers on the literary worth of this play, it has succeeded in standing on the test of time. If we have to give a proper space to this play we are bound to say that though devoid of purpose The importance of being Earnest is extraordinarily funny.

Recent scholarship has noticed a profound subject matter in this play. That is, the play is supposed to concentrate on the questions of identity and reality. Often held in an acclaimed position as a comedy of manner, The importance of Being Earnest is a superb example of social satire. To all intent and purpose it was to improve the decadent society. The uniqueness of the play is that it has the innovative elements in the play. The play inherited lots of elements from melodrama and well-made play, but his treatment of the subject and his style has given a unique touch to the satirical dimension of the play. The real innovative elements are noticeable in Wilde's handling of language in the context of character portrayal.

Though the story is not extraordinary and unconventional, yet it is powerful because of these devices and the dexterity at using the words. The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde's Style is characterized by the use of misapplied logic. Paradox is the hallmark of Wilde's style. His style is frequently marked by the use of paradox. Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable or absurd. Another side of Wilde's style is recognized as the style of making an inverted parody of the stock romantic situation in which the lover's devotion alone, not their names, as meaning.

If we analyze the play from the point of view of aestheticism, being the founder of the principle art for art’s sake, the playwright gives the audiences pleasure and delight.

The Importance of Being Earnest Study Center

The Importance of Being Earnest as a Comedy of Manners

Dramatic Technique in The importance of Being Earnest

A Satire on the Victorian Age in The Importance of Being Earnest

The Changing Status of Women in The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest

Summary of The Importance of Being Earnest

Wilde's Style in The Importance of Being Earnest

Comedy of Manners: Literary Terms

Biography of Oscar Wilde

bachelorandmaster.com