The play opens as algernon moncrief plays the piano in his fashionable london flat, while his butler lane prepares a tea service for algernons aunt augusta, lady bracknell, and her daughter, gwendolen fairfax, whom algernon expects to arrive shortly. The rapidfire wit and eccentric characters of the importance of being earnest have made it a mainstay of the high school curriculum for decades. The importance of being earnest to go wilde in 10 minutes. Oscar wilde oscar wildes most enduring epigrams infographic probably the mostquoted author after shakespeare, and certainly the wittiest, wildes elegantly barbed observations are as popular. A summary of act ii, part one in oscar wildes the importance of being earnest. Oscar wilde, celebrated playwright and literary provocateur, was born in dublin. A list of all the characters in the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest by oscar wilde free essay. Get an answer for discuss wilde s use of epigram in the importance of being earnest.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 76 pages and is available in paperback format. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, the early 1890s saw him become one of the most popular playwrights in london. Both women provide the main source of conflict in this romantic comedy. In wildes world, the dandy is a man who pays particular attention to his appearance, dress, and lifestyle, almost to the point of excess, while using his wit and charm to point out societys hypocrisy and double standards. You will be familiar, of course, with the importance of being earnest handbags, epigrams and. The importance of being earnest quotes by oscar wilde. Consequently, his chosen mode of expression was the epigram a form which allowed him to flaunt his style. The epigram in the importance of being earnest paradox through pacing in oscar wildes the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest quotes course hero. The main characters of this classics, plays story are lane, john worthing.
Epigram is a brief, satiric, memorable statement which expresses an idea in an amusing way. The importance of being earnest, oscar wilde the importance of being earnest, a trivial comedy for serious people is a play by oscar wilde. All the content of this paper is her own research and point of view on epigrams, aphorisms and witticisms in the importance of being earnest and can be used only as an alternative perspective. The dandy, or fop, was a figure popularized by wilde. Get an answer for discuss wildes use of epigram in the importance of being earnest. George bernard shaw and h g wells considered the play amongst the funniest that were ever written and to this day the play continues to absorb and entertain theatre lovers through out the world. With a linguistic assurance that begins with shakespeare and moves through sheridan, shaw, and stoppard, oscar wildes invention is breathtaking. The british empire was at its height and occupied much of the globe, including ireland, wildes. Oscar wilde was born at 21 westland row, dublin now home of the oscar wilde centre, trinity college, the second of three children born to an angloirish couple. See a complete list of the characters in the importance of being earnest and indepth analyses of jack worthing, algernon moncrieff, gwendolen fairfax, and cecily cardew. Algernon moncrieff is a member of the wealthy class, living a life of total bachelorhood in a fashionable part of london. When reading through the original 4act play of the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde, i was baffled by some lines, the meaning of which i cant quite make out.
In the third place, i know perfectly well whom she will place me next to, tonight. Victorian social conventions for the importance of being earnest. Which lines from the importance of being earnest are. These quotes illustrate wildes way with words in this witty farce. Oscar wilde, the ballad of reading gaol 1898 the ballad of reading gaol and all men kill the thing they love, by all let this be heard, some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattering word, the coward does it with a kiss, the brave man with a sword. Epigrams in the importance of being earnest oscar wilde is profoundly known for his satirical wit and unapologetic nature.
In the importance of being earnest, oscar wildes use of epigrams contradictory statements is what anchors the comedic aspect of the play. When reading through the original 4act play of the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde, i was baffled by some lines, the meaning of. It ends happily, resolving any tensions in such a way that all the characters get what they desire. He like jack functions as a victorian male with a life of deception. The importance of the importance of being earnest utah. The importance of being earnest by oscar wilde plot. The importance of being earnest is a capitalc comedy. Filled with witty victorian aphorisms and wildes own brand of wisdom, the importance of being earnest tells the story of jack worthing and algernon moncrieff who use clever deception and truthbending to accommodate their social pursuits. You will be familiar, of course, with the importance of being earnest handbags, epigrams and all but not quite as it is seen. The importance of being earnest has proven to be oscar wildes most enduringand endearingplay.
Oscar wildes most enduring epigrams infographic culture. Which lines from the importance of being earnest are epigrams. The importance of being earnest play by wilde britannica. Discuss wildes use of epigram in the importance of being. His play, written in 1895, was designed as a commentary on the classist society of victorian england. The importance of being earnest, by oscar wilde the project gutenberg ebook, the importance of being earnest, by oscar wilde this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Learn the important quotes in the importance of being earnest and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Wildes play is a farcical romp in which the protagonists don fake personas to shirk the burdens of their social obligations. A satire of victorian social hypocrisy, the witty play is considered wildes greatest dramatic achievement. The importance of being earnest is a play by oscar wilde that was first published in 1898. The importance of being earnest is oscar wilde s most enduringly popular play which is full of epigrams and through these epigrams, wilde satirizes upper victorian society. The the importance of being earnest characters covered include.
The importance of being earnest, 1992 an australian production of the play, recorded in front of a live audience. Quotes from oscar wildes the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest was an early experiment in victorian melodrama. An irish repertory theater presentation of the play in three acts by oscar wilde. Working within the social conventions of late victorian london, the plays major themes are the triviality. Epigrams, aphorisms and witticisms in the importance of. Considered an eccentric, he was the leader of the aesthetic movement that advocated art for arts sake and was once imprisoned for. Epigrams in the importance of being earnest by cassie o. Born oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde, in dublin on 16th october, 1854, oscar wilde is famous for his plays and his confinement and untimely death at age 46. The british empire was at its height and occupied much of the globe, including ireland, wildes homeland. Everything matters in art except the subject, said oscar wilde, quoted by literary critic harold. Wildes paradoxes upset the status quo, disrupt the thoughtless cliche, and toy with lionized rhetoric. Victorian social conventions for the importance of being.
The difference is that epigrams are sarcastic or funny. In the importance of being earnest, oscar wilde provides commentary on marriage, high society, and life. Examples of epigrams in the importance of being earnest. In this play, wilde touches on many things like womens education, inheritance of property, marriage, illegitimacy, class distinctions in society, the role of the aristocracy, baptism, food, money etc. The importance of being earnest by oscar wilde free ebook. Epigrams in the importance of being earnest by cassie obrien. A trivial comedy for serious people, play in three acts by oscar wilde, performed in 1895 and published in 1899. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or. To this day, its hard to graduate from high school without having been assigned to read his novel in an english class. Free download or read online the importance of being earnest pdf epub book.
Jack worthing is a fashionable young man who lives in the country with his ward. Everything matters in art except the subject, said oscar wilde, quoted by literary critic harold bloom. He is younger than jack, takes less responsibility, and is always frivolous and irreverent. Discuss wildes use of epigram in the importance of being earnest. First performed on 14 february 1895 at the st jamess theatre in london, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Two men, algernon and john, who are friends meet each other in algy s house where john falls in love with gwendolen, the daughter of. The importance of being earnest, in full the importance of being earnest. Consequently, his chosen mode of expression was the epigram a form which allowed him to flaunt his style and sophisticated mastery of life and literature. Oscar wilde created one of the most delightful and memorable social comedies with the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest gwendolen and cecily. Difficulties in reading the importance of being earnest 4act version difficulties in reading the importance of being earnest 4act version need help. During acts one and two, the women are deceived by the wellmeaning male characters, jack worthing and algernon moncrieff. The importance of being earnest essays are academic essays for citation. She will place me next mary farquhar, who always flirts with her own husband across the dinnertable.
Match the epigrams and aphorisms to the character who says them. The importance of being earnest opened in the west end of london in february 1894 during an era when many of the religious, social, political, and economic structures were experiencing change the victorian age the last 2530 years of the 1800s. The importance of being earnest, a trivial comedy for serious people is a play by oscar wilde. The importance of being earnest analysis 1982 words cram. The importance of being earnest american players theatre. See a complete list of the characters in the importance of being earnest and in depth analyses of jack worthing, algernon moncrieff, gwendolen fairfax, and cecily cardew. Nov 01, 2010 i ts not every day you get to see a new oscar wilde comedy. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel the picture of dorian gray, and the. What is the plays message in the importance of being earnest. George bernard shaw and h g wells considered the play amongst the funniest that were ever written and to this day the play continues to absorb and.
The plays major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of victorian ways. A film about oscar wildes life, featuring snippets from a production of the importance of being earnest. At the time of his death, wilde left behind a trove of enduring works, including such frequently performed plays as the importance of being earnest and an ideal husband, and the novel, the picture of dorian gray. From the importance of being earnest, a trivial comedy for serious people is oscar wilde s most popular and successful play. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the importance of being earnest. Oscar wild used epigrams to expose the hypocrisy of upper class from victorian era. Jan 01, 2005 oscar wilde s madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret engagements, and lovers entanglements still delights readers more than a century after its 1895 publication and premiere performance.
As a symbol, he is wittiness and aestheticism personified. He is 100% invited to our allstar, allhilarious dead celebrity dinner party. Timeless message of equality in oscar wildes the importance of being earnest oscar wildes the importance of being earnest satirizes victorian society. The importance of being earnest act i, scene 1 summary and. In the importance of being earnest were talking about constantly polished, sharply honed surfaces. Oct 16, 2010 born oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde, in dublin on 16th october, 1854, oscar wilde is famous for his plays and his confinement and untimely death at age 46. Oscar wildes madcap farce about mistaken identities, secret engagements, and lovers entanglements still delights readers more than a century after its 1895 publication and premiere performance.
In one of his more popular works, the importance of being earnest, oscar wilde utilizes epigrams to support the theme of the book, a trivial. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The importance of being earnest english theatre frankfurt. Along with its absurtdities and improbabilities in its plot, wilde is trying to present his pesona. The importance of being earnest, play in three acts by oscar wilde, performed in 1895 and published in 1899. Oscar wilde frames the importance of being earnest around the paradoxical epigram, a skewering metaphor for the plays central theme of. Epigrams, aphorisms and witticisms in the importance of being. Oscar wilde epigrams the importance of being earnest oscar. This means that all secret identities are revealed and all the couples can get married in a socially acceptable way.
Surprisingly, lane announces the arrival of algernons friend mr. The importance of being earnest was the last play written by oscar wilde and it undoubtedly became the most celebrated. The witty epigrams of his characters provide light comedy masking the underlying theme of criticism of the victorian way of life. His prominent works include the picture of dorian gray a novel, salome a play, an ideal husband a play, and the importance of being earnest a play. Lets look at some examples of aphorisms and epigrams from this play. His stated philosophy for the importance of being earnest. Oscar was two years younger than his brother, william willie wilde. Epigrams, aphorisms and witticisms in the importance of being earnest.
Wilde s play is a farcical romp in which the protagonists don fake personas to shirk the burdens of their social obligations. The importance of being earnest is oscar wildes most enduringly popular play which is full of epigrams and through these epigrams, wilde satirizes upper victorian society. The dandy symbol in the importance of being earnest litcharts. I ts not every day you get to see a new oscar wilde comedy. First performed in london in 1895, it ran for eightysix performances. A farce may be written without these additionsit might well be pure pantomime.
In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing. The epigrams from the oscar wildes play the importance of being earnest are first and last statement. Gwendolen fairfax and cecily cardew are the two female leads in oscar wildes the importance of being earnest. Read the excerpt from act i of the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest date of publication. Jane wilde was a niece by marriage of the novelist, playwright and clergyman charles maturin 1780 1824, who may have. The dandy symbol in the importance of being earnest. The importance of being earnest, 1992 a production of the play featuring an allblack cast. In this play, wilde touches on many things like womens education, inheritance of property, marriage, illegitimacy, class distinctions in society, the role of the.
The importance of being earnest is a comic play by oscar wilde that engages themes such as marriage, class, social expectations, and the lifestyles of the english upper class. Oscar wilde is an almost insanely funny and witty writer. Pdf the importance of being earnest book by oscar wilde. From the importance of being earnest, a trivial comedy for serious people is oscar wildes most popular and successful play. The first edition of the novel was published in 1895, and was written by oscar wilde. Timeless message of equality in oscar wilde s the importance of being earnest oscar wilde s the importance of being earnest satirizes victorian society. Ernest worthing jack algernon greets his friend, who has been in the. Considered an eccentric, he was the leader of the aesthetic movement that advocated art for arts sake and was once imprisoned for two years with hard labor for homosexual practices.
They reflect ironies within ironies and contradictions wrapped around other contradictions. The importance of being earnest oscar wilde wilde, oscar 18541900 an irishborn english poet, novelist, and playwright. In one of his more popular works, the importance of being earnest, oscar wilde utilizes epigrams to support the. Along with the use of epigrams, wilde employs irony to. Oscar wilde in his play the importance of being ernest has tried to expose the victorian era. First performed in 1895, the play satirizes the stiff and proper customs and institutions of victorian england. A satire of victorian social hypocrisy, the witty play is considered wildes greatest dramatic achievement jack worthing is a fashionable young man who lives in the country with his ward, cecily cardew. The importance of being earnest introduction shmoop. He like jack functions as a victorian male with a life of. The importance of being earnest questions and answers by oscar wilde.