Importance of Being Earnest: Oscar Wilde

This blog based on thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am. 

Question : Wilde originally subtitled The Importance of Being Earnest “A Serious Comedy for Trivial People” but changed that to “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” What is the difference between the two subtitles?

Answer : 

Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and full title is The Importance of Being Earnest : A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, published in 14 February, 1895. 

The first version, "A Serious Comedy for Trivial People," would suggest that the play offers important or deep insights, perhaps intended for those who might be frivolous or shallow. This might imply that Wilde is using the comedy to critique triviality itself.

However, by changing it to "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People," Wilde indicates that the play is light and humorous, yet meant for people who are often overly serious. This subtitle wittily captures the irony of Victorian society: it suggests that even serious people can find their values and habits trivial when viewed through a comedic lens. Wilde’s final choice reflects the play’s aim to humorously reveal the absurdity of rigid social norms and the importance placed on appearances, ultimately inviting even the “serious” to laugh at their own seriousness.

Question : Which of the female characters is the most attractive to you among Lady Augusta Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax, Cecily Cardew, and Miss Prism? Give your reasons for her being the most attractive among all.

Answet : 

Cecily Cardew is the most attractive as per my observation. She was very calm and innocence among all the felame characters in Importance of Being Earnest. She was attracted with the name of 'Ernest'. She got Ernest and then she married. Unlike the more rigid and socially conscious Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell, Cecily’s charm lies in her unfiltered, romantic nature, making her a refreshing and endearing figure in Wilde's satire.

Question : The play repeatedly mocks Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage, and the pursuit of love in particular. Through which situations and characters is this happening in the play?

Answer : 

The Importance of Being Earnest mocks Victorian traditions, especially around marriage and love, through several situations and characters:

1. Lady Bracknell's Criteria for Suitors: Lady Bracknell represents the rigid, materialistic Victorian values, particularly in marriage. She interviews Jack to ensure he has the proper social standing, wealth, and family background to marry Gwendolen. Her rejection of him for his unknown parentage mocks the superficial criteria for marriage.

2. Gwendolen and Cecily’s Obsession with the Name "Ernest": Both Gwendolen and Cecily insist they can only love a man named “Ernest,” valuing a name over character or integrity. This reflects the trivial reasons people in society may choose partners, ridiculing the Victorian emphasis on appearances and reputation.

3. The Men’s "Bunburying": Jack and Algernon create fictional personas to escape social obligations and pursue their romantic interests freely. This double life satirizes the repressive nature of Victorian society and the lengths people go to in order to break free from it.

4. Miss Prism's Romantic Interest in Dr. Chasuble: Miss Prism, a governess who represents moral values and education, flirtatiously pursues Dr. Chasuble, a clergyman. This pairing humorously reveals the natural human desires often suppressed under Victorian social expectations.

Conclusion : 

Through these characters and situations, Wilde exposes the hypocrisy, superficiality, and absurdity of Victorian customs, particularly around love and marriage.

Question : Queer scholars have argued that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire" Do you agree with this observation? Give your arguments to justify your stance.

Answer : 

Yes, I agree with this observation. The Importance of Being Earnest reflects themes of hidden identities, secrecy, and double lives that connect with Wilde’s experience as a gay man in a restrictive society.

1. Double Lives: Jack and Algernon each lead double lives to escape social rules. This reflects how queer individuals, including Wilde, often had to hide their true selves to fit in, maintaining a public image while keeping parts of their lives secret.

2. Identity and “Ernest”: The name “Ernest” (or "earnest") becomes a symbol for being true to oneself. Both Jack and Algernon adopt the name to fulfill their desires, reflecting how people might mask or change their identities in a world that doesn’t fully accept them.

3. Marriage as a Social Act: Wilde mocks marriage as a superficial arrangement focused on status, not love. This challenges traditional, rigid views of marriage and hints at a critique of its narrow, heteronormative nature.

4. Camp Humor: Wilde uses exaggerated humor and irony to critique social norms, adding a layer of subtle rebellion. This playful style, or “camp,” is often associated with queer culture, using humor to question serious issues indirectly.

Conclusion :

Through these elements, Wilde weaves themes of hidden desire and double lives into his comedy, indirectly questioning Victorian norms and hinting at queer experiences without directly stating them.