What is Wilde criticizing in The Importance of Being Earnest?
What is Wilde criticizing in The Importance of Being Earnest?
The major target of Wilde’s scathing social criticism is the hypocrisy that society creates. Wilde exposes this divide in scenes such as when Gwendolen and Cecily behave themselves in front of the servants or when Lady Bracknell warms to Cecily upon discovering she is rich.
How does Oscar Wilde use satire in The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners, whereby Oscar Wilde uses satire to ridicule marriage, love and the mentality of the Victorian aristocratic society. It can also be referred to as a satiric comedy.
How does Oscar Wilde view upper class society?
By Oscar Wilde Members of the upper class display a great deal of pride and pretense, feeling that they are inherently entitled to their wealth and higher social position. They are so preoccupied with maintaining the status quo that they quickly squash any signs of rebellion.
What Algy think about the lower class?
In The Importance of Being Earnest, Algernon blames the lower classes for his and his upper-class peers’ lack of morality. He sees no “use” for the lower class if they cannot provide a model of moral responsibility, forgetting all the work they do.
What are the themes of The Importance of Being Earnest?
Morality and the constraints it imposes on society is a favorite topic of conversation in The Importance of Being Earnest. Algernon thinks the servant class has a responsibility to set a moral standard for the upper classes.
In what ways do Algernon and Jack’s views about love and marriage differ?
In what ways do Algernon and Jack’s views about love and marriage differ? Use specific lines from the script to support your ideas. Algernon feels that freedom is an expression of life (the romance is dead once you’re married) and, Jack feels that devotion and honestly are an expression of love.
What is the relationship between Algernon and Jack?
Eventually, Jack discovers that his parents were Lady Bracknell’s sister and brother-in-law and that he is, in fact, Algernon’s older brother, called Ernest. The two sets of lovers are thus free to marry.
Who introduces himself as Ernest to Cecily what circumstances already in place allowed him to do this?
Jack