"The Importance of Being Earnest" - Oscar Wilde's Satirical Comedy of Manners

“No woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating.”

The Farce of The Importance of Being Earnest: A Source of Controversy and Criticism

“The play, though extremely funny, was essentially hateful", observed George Bernard Shaw (My Memories of Oscar Wilde), and a possible reason for his aversion is its farcical nature. The Importance of Being Earnest , A Trivial Comedy for Serious People (1895) is ostensibly a farce, that poor cousin of true comedy which may have had its provenance in Aristophanes and the subsequent Roman comedy, but which never found a secure play in the respectable comic genre.

The Evolution of Farce: Oscar Wilde's Unique Blend of Comedy and Farce

The farce is notorious for its lack of plausible plot, its mechanical actions, and its puppet - like characterization and finally its general lack of intensity. It is only Oscar Wilde and Pinero who, among the English play wrights made a serious attempt at farce, being able to rehabilitate this sub - genre to a considerable degree. Indeed, in his so - called farcical play like Lady Windermere’s Fan, A woman of No Importance ,   and The Importance of Being Earnest , Wilde is able to create a new kind of comedy which straddles the mid - point between farce and comedy , possessing the sheer playfulness of the one and the intellectual alacrity of the other , the mechanical plot of the one and the imaginative utopian land of the other , the flat characterization of the one and the grave satiric thrust of the other. The Importance of Being Earnest is therefore a farce, rather than a farcical comedy sui generis. 

Parallel Deceptions and Confusions: The Farcical Elements of "Bunburyism" in "The Importance of Being Earnest"

The primary feature of a farce is its improbability plot consisting of number of parallel or symmetric actions. The foremost of such action in The Importance of Being Earnest is, of course the device of such ‘Bunburyism’. Jack, the country squire invents a fictitious wicked brother by the name of Earnest, living in the city, in order to escape from the routine - bound monotonous. Life in the country - side; similarly, Algernon, The city - gentleman creates an invalid friend by the name of Bunbury in the country - side in order to escape from the responsibilities of his city - lifer. Jack falls in love Gwendolyn in the city under the name of Earnest, whereas Algernon falls in love with Jack's ward Cecily in the country under the same assumed name of Earnest. So a strangely parallel situation is created in which both the lovers assume the same name Earnest, and the both beloved think that they are in love with a man with the name Earnest. As in farce, a serious of vaudeville actions follow the two ladies call each other sister until they realize that they are both in love with Earnest, whereupon they turn into bitter enemies. Both the lovers try to be re - christened as Earnest, and both realize to their chagrin that the beloved have discovered their actual identities, chasms reigns supreme. 

Unidimensional Characters and Fixed Ideals in "The Importance of Being Earnest"

The presence of unidimensional characters, characters noteworthy for their static, unchanging quality, is another significant feature of farce. The Importance of Being Earnest is no exception. Its bevy of character including Algernon, Gwendolyn and Cecily and Mir Prism, Lane and Merriman, are all characterized by an idea fixe, a fixed idea which does not change throughout their lives. The sole ambition of Gwendolyn’s life is to fall in love with a person by the name of Earnest since it is a ' divine name ' has ‘music’ of its own and produces 'vibrations ‘. Similarly Cecily’s be - all and end all in life is to fall in love with a wicked person because that would provide her with adventure and romance , therefore she feels extremely aggrieved when she suspects Algernon of actually being a good character . Indeed, she accuses him of hypocrisy, so that ultimately Algernon averse he has been 'very bad' in his own small way.

The Fantastical World of 'The Importance of Being Earnest': A Romantic Escape from Reality

Image : Wiki

In spite of his marionette characterization and improbable plot, The Importance of Being Earnest reveals the genuine quality of high comedy in its creation of truly romantic word in which everything is parable, somewhat like, Puck-led world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play has indeed the nature of a fantasy where seriousness to be abandons for flamboyant frivolity, all anxieties for the sake of food, Algernon does when his beloved Cecily abandons him. An air of innocence pervades the whole play and the tale since desires for the innocent eyes of a child looking at the multi - hued world where everything is probable and nothing improbable. It is as if were a day dream where neither truth non lie, neither good nor evil has any impact. 

The Subversive Wisdom of Frivolous Wit: Uncovering Insights in 'The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest may have been castigated for its frivolous wit, but often times these flippant witticisms take on the note of genuine wisdom - a quality germane to true comedy. When Algernon declares that the emergence of romance is uncertainty , he is hinting the very unconventional psychological reality about man being in love with only that which he does not normally achieve or attain , for at the least he does not feel very secure about . In contrast to the usual adage that “marriages are made in heaven ", he declares that” divorced are made in heaven ", implying thereby many marriages in those days, born out of societal convenience and aristocratic status, actually make marriages a bondage, a slavery. Such suggests of wisdom abound in the play.

The Inflammatory Satire of "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Satiric vision, it is said, is the most important aspect of high comedy. Although the casual reader or audience may not be able to perceive the satire beneath the fickleness, The perceptive would realize that concealed within the triviality and fantasy is seriousness and satire as John Hankins pointed out in " Wilde as a dramatist, paradoxical as it may sound in the case of so merry and lighthearted play , The Importance of Being Earnest is artistically the most serious work that Wilde produced for the theatre." Through the irresponsible statement of the aristocratic classes , it is the aristocrat themselves . Who are being attacked? Their speeches reveal their inner emptiness and the follies of the decadent society of the late 19th century. At the same time, somewhat like Shaw himself the dramatist heaps scorn on such hallowed institutions as marriage, birth, baptism, romance, love and perhaps human life itself.

Conclusion

Wilde himself might have called this play “a trivial comedy for serious people ", but this playful comment conceals the greater truth that the play is a revelation of the triviality of seriousness. The profound truth underlying comedy is often accompanied by a force that challenges established norms.

Key Points Discussed Here:

👉Social Etiquette and Hypocrisy: Explore how "The Importance of Being Earnest" satirizes the rigid social norms and the hypocritical behavior of the upper class. Wilde uses wit and irony to expose the superficiality and pretentiousness of the characters.

👉Dual Identities: Analyze the theme of dual identities in the play. Wilde creates a world where characters lead double lives, adopting false names and personas. This reflects the idea of individuals concealing their true selves in order to conform to societal expectations.

👉Marriage as a Social Institution: Discuss how Wilde critiques the institution of marriage in the play. Through the characters of Algernon and Jack, who both create fictional alter egos to pursue their romantic interests, Wilde mocks the conventional notions of courtship, love, and marriage.

👉Language and Wordplay: Examine the witty and clever wordplay used throughout the play. Explore how Wilde uses puns, paradoxes, and epigrams to highlight the absurdity of the characters' conversations and the artificiality of their social interactions.

👉Satire of the Victorian Upper Class: Delve into Wilde's satirical portrayal of the Victorian upper class. Consider how he mocks their obsession with appearances, wealth, and social status. The characters' trivial concerns and trivial conversations serve as a critique of the values and priorities of the aristocracy.

👉Gender Roles and Identity: Explore the role of gender and identity in the play. Wilde challenges traditional gender roles by presenting strong, independent female characters like Gwendolen and Cecily, who challenge societal expectations and take control of their own lives.

👉The Importance of Truth and Authenticity: Discuss the significance of truth and authenticity in the play. Wilde emphasizes the importance of honesty and genuine relationships, as opposed to the artificiality and deception that permeate the world of the upper class.

👉The Power of Satire: Reflect on the purpose and effectiveness of satire in "The Importance of Being Earnest." Wilde uses satire to expose the flaws and absurdities of society, aiming to entertain the audience while prompting them to question and reconsider societal norms.

👉The Role of Wit and Humor: Analyze the role of wit and humor in the play. Wilde's use of clever dialogue and comedic situations adds a light-hearted and entertaining aspect to the satire, engaging the audience and further emphasizing his critique of society.

👉Critique of Victorian Morality: Examine how Wilde challenges Victorian morality and propriety in the play. By highlighting the characters' moral hypocrisy and their willingness to manipulate societal norms, he questions the rigidity and suffocating nature of Victorian values.

Ardhendu De

Ref: 1. The importance of being Earnest : Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/importanceofbein1920wild

2. ALBERT. (2000). History of English Literature (Fifth Edition) [English]. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.
3. A history of English literature : Compton-Rickett, Arthur, 1869-1937 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/historyofenglish00comprich