The Importance Of Being Earnest

“Though I am not naturally honest,
I am so sometimes by chance”.
William Shakespeare.

The importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde, a comedy of manners on the seriousness of Victorian Society. Because Victorian norms were so repressive and suffocating, the author creates occasions in which his characters live double lives. Jack and Algernonboth create personas (Ernest and Bunbury) to be free from social pressure. These other lives allow them to neglect their duties — in Algernon's case — or to leave their duties and pursue pleasure — in Jack's case. In addition, Lady Bracknell is the symbol to voice the society at that time. As familiar figures for the English, the characters Jack, Algernon, and Lady Bracknell portray Wilde'scriticism toward the restrain, social pressure and earnestness of the Victorian society.
The main character, Jack Worthing, is an instrument to represent a set of fixed code of conduct, values and dignity from the upper-class Victorian society. The author uses him to symbolize the dual reality, the double moral presented at that time. That is why Jack gives himself two identities, himself and an alterego, Earnest, in order to deal with what he is supposes to do vrs what he wants to do. On one hand, Jack represents the idea of leading a life full of respectability and social acceptable in the country. Even his last name brings a meaning, Worthing, is related to worthiness. On the other hand, Ernest lives a life of deception for pleasure.
Moreover, this character gives us a clear exampleof the ideals about Victorian conventions such as marriage. When Lady Bracknell questions his qualifications for marrying her daughter, he knows she wants to hear about his heritage. Consequently, he recognizes that wealth is not enough; he also needs the correct parents to be accepted. Also, when Jack realizes his marriage will end his pursuit of pleasure, he admit rather earnestly, "IfGwendolen accepts me, I am going to kill my brother, indeed I think I´ll kill him in any case” (353). Respectability is also a function of Jack's character. Although he lives a deceptive life in town, he represents the ideal of leading a responsible life in the country. He agrees more with the idea of Victorian earnestness or duty than Algernon does.
Another important character in the play isAlgernon Moncrieff a member of the wealthy class, living a life of total bachelorhood in a fashionable part of London. As a symbol, he is wittiness and aestheticism personified. Algernon also exercises a sense of social superiority over characters through his unusual and rather eccentric behavior such as when he says to Lane “I don´t know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane” (347).Furthermore, his argument that marriage is a loveless duty: "A man who marries without knowing Bunbury [an excuse for pleasure] has a very tedious time of it" (353). Marriage is presented as a legal contract between consenting families of similar fortunes, backgrounds; where love and happiness have nothing to do with it. Once Algernon marries he will have suffocating rules and appearances to keepup. Much of the humor in this play draws a fine line between the outer life of appearances and the inner life of rebellion against the social code that says life must be lived earnestly. The character of the Dandy was an important addition Wilde made to the style of the play, even Algernon's aesthetic life of posing as the dandy, dressing with studied care, neglecting his bills, being unemployedand pursuing pleasure instead of duty is an example of Victorians valuing trivialities. Algernon alludes to another life beneath the surface of Victorian correctness.
Furthermore, Lady Augusta Bracknell is a symbol which represents Wilde's opinion about Victorian Society. She is powerful, arrogant, ruthless, conservative and with repressive values. Therefore, fortune and background are very...