Oscar Wilde’s Importance of Being Earnest

This blog is part of thinking activity.

- Assigned by Megha Ma'am.

Oscar Wilde :-

• Irish poet and playwright.
• Best known for his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and his plays Lady Windermere's Fan and The Importance of Being Earnest.
• Convicted of gross indecency for consensual homosexual acts and served two years in prison.
• Died at the age of 46 from meningitis.

Major Accomplishments :-

• Wrote four of the most successful plays of the late-Victorian era.
• His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is considered a classic of English literature.
• His wit and flamboyance made him one of the most famous personalities of his day.

Legacy :-

Oscar Wilde is considered one of the most important and influential writers of the late 19th century. His work continues to be read and performed all over the world. He is also remembered as a champion of individual liberty and self-expression.

His Works :-

• Ravenna (1878)
• Poems (1881)
• The Happy Prince and Other Stories (1888, fairy stories)
• Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories (1891, stories)
• A House of Pomegranates (1891, fairy stories)
• Intentions (1891, essays and dialogues on aesthetics)
• The Picture of Dorian Gray (first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine July 1890, in book form in 1891; novel)
• The Soul of Man under Socialism (1891, political essay)
• Lady Windermere's Fan (1892, play)
• A Woman of No Importance (1893, play)
• The Sphinx (1894, poem)
• An Ideal Husband (performed 1895, published 1898; play)
• The Importance of Being Earnest (performed 1895, published 1899; play)
• De Profundis (written 1897, published variously 1905, 1908, 1949, 1962; epistle)
• The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898, poem)

Questions & Answers :-

1) 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?

Ans. 

Oscar Wilde was a master of wordplay and wit, and his subtitles for his plays are no exception. His most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest, originally had the subtitle "A Serious Comedy for Trivial People." However, Wilde later changed it to "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People."

On the surface, the two subtitles seem to mean opposite things. But when you take a closer look, you can see that Wilde is making a clever point about the nature of seriousness and triviality.

The first subtitle, "A Serious Comedy for Trivial People," suggests that the play is about serious matters, such as love, marriage, and identity. However, it also suggests that the play is written for people who are only interested in trivial things. This is a clever way of satirizing the superficiality of Victorian society.

The second subtitle, "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People," suggests that the play is about trivial matters. However, it also suggests that the play is written for people who are capable of taking serious things lightly. This is a way of saying that the play is both witty and intelligent.

By changing the subtitles, Wilde is making a point about the importance of perspective. He is suggesting that what is serious and what is trivial depends on the point of view of the observer.

Another way to interpret the two subtitles is to see them as two different sides of the same coin. Wilde is saying that the play is both serious and trivial at the same time. It is serious because it deals with important issues, but it is also trivial because it is a comedy.

Ultimately, the meaning of the subtitles is up to the individual reader or viewer to decide. But Wilde's witty wordplay is sure to get people thinking.

Here is a table that summarizes the difference between the two subtitles:

Wilde's change of subtitle is a subtle but significant one. It shows that he was a careful and thoughtful writer who was always looking for ways to improve his work.

2) 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.

Ans.

I find Cecily Cardew to be the most attractive female character in The Importance of Being Earnest. She is intelligent, witty, and independent. She is also kind-hearted and compassionate.

Cecily is well-educated and has a sharp wit. She is able to match Jack's witticisms and often gets the better of him in their verbal sparring. Cecily is also independent and does not hesitate to question authority. She stands up to Lady Bracknell when she tries to disapprove of her engagement to Jack.

Despite her intelligence and independence, Cecily is also kind-hearted and compassionate. She is quick to forgive Algernon for his deception, and she is always willing to help others.

I also find Cecily's physical appearance to be attractive. She is described as being "exceedingly pretty" with "long golden hair" and "laughing blue eyes."

Overall, I find Cecily Cardew to be the most attractive female character in The Importance of Being Earnest because she is intelligent, witty, independent, kind-hearted, and compassionate.

3) 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?

Ans.

Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest is a satirical comedy that mocks Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage, and the pursuit of love in particular. This is evident in a number of situations and characters throughout the play.

Situations:

The double lives of Jack and Algernon: Jack and Algernon both lead double lives, with each having a different persona in the city and in the country. This mocks the Victorian ideal of respectability and the importance of social appearances.

The importance of social status: Lady Bracknell's refusal to approve Gwendolen's marriage to Jack because he is of unknown parentage mocks the Victorian obsession with social status.

The superficiality of Victorian courtship: The play satirizes the superficial and materialistic nature of Victorian courtship rituals, such as the importance of giving expensive gifts.

The hypocrisy of Victorian society: The play exposes the hypocrisy of Victorian society through the characters of Lady Bracknell, Canon Chasuble, and Miss Prism. These characters all profess to uphold high moral standards, but they are all guilty of hypocrisy and double standards.

Characters:

1) Lady Bracknell: Lady Bracknell is the epitome of the snobbish and materialistic Victorian aristocrat. She is more concerned with Jack's social status and family background than with his personal qualities.

2) Canon Chasuble: Canon Chasuble is a caricature of the hypocritical and clueless Victorian clergyman. He is more interested in food and drink than in religious matters.

3) Miss Prism: Miss Prism is a parody of the Victorian governess. She is prim and proper on the surface, but she has a secret past that involves an illegitimate child.

Wilde also uses humor and wit to mock Victorian traditions and social customs. For example, the play is full of puns, double entendres, and other forms of wordplay. This witty language helps to make the play's satire more palatable to audiences.

Overall, The Importance of Being Earnest is a clever and witty satire of Victorian society. Wilde uses a variety of situations and characters to mock Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage, and the pursuit of love in particular.

4) 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.

Ans.

Yes, I agree with the observation that the themes of duplicity and ambivalence in The Importance of Being Earnest are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire."

Here are some of my arguments to justify my stance:

1) The play's title is a pun on the word "earnest," which can mean both sincere and serious. This pun suggests that the play is about the importance of being true to oneself, but also that it is difficult to do so in a society that demands conformity. This is a theme that is particularly relevant to gay people, who have often had to live double lives in order to avoid discrimination.

2) The two main characters, Jack and Algernon, both lead double lives. Jack pretends to have a sickly younger brother named Ernest, while Algernon pretends to have a friend named Bunbury. These double lives allow them to escape the constraints of Victorian society and pursue their true desires.

3) The play is full of coded references to homosexuality. For example, Jack's country estate is called "Bunburyland," which is a slang term for a place where gay people could meet and socialize in secret. Additionally, the names of some of the characters, such as Miss Prism and Cecily Cardew, have homoerotic connotations.

Overall, I believe that The Importance of Being Earnest is a deeply queer play that explores the themes of identity, authenticity, and desire in a repressive society. Wilde's use of duplicity and ambivalence in the play can be seen as a way of subverting the dominant social order and creating a space for gay people to be seen and heard.

It is important to note that Wilde was a master of subtext and that he often used humor and irony to convey his deeper meanings. It is therefore possible to read The Importance of Being Earnest as a straight play, but I believe that a queer reading of the play provides a richer and more nuanced understanding of its themes.

5) Below are various movie and radio adaptations of this play.  Write your critique on various adaptations of this play. 

 Refer to this blog - https://blog.dilipbargad.com/2021/01/importance-of-being-earnest-oscar-wilde.html.

Ans.

The 1952 film adaptation of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a classic comedy that is sure to please fans of the play and new viewers alike.It is a must-see for anyone who enjoys witty dialogue,charming characters,and a delightful story.
The film's direction by Anthony Asquith is stylish and assured, and he makes sure to keep the pace of the film moving quickly. He also makes good use of the film's sets and costumes, which are both beautiful and evocative of the play's Victorian setting.
The 1952 film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a delightful and witty comedy that faithfully captures the spirit of the original play. The film stars Michael Redgrave as Jack Worthing, a man who leads a double life as both a respectable gentleman in London and a carefree bachelor in the country.
The supporting cast is also excellent, with Edith Evans giving a scene-stealing performance as Lady Bracknell, the formidable mother of Jack's love interest, Gwendolen Fairfax. Joan Greenwood is also charming as Gwendolen, and she has great chemistry with Redgrave.
Here are some specific examples of how the film adaptation captures the spirit of the original play:

• The film's dialogue is sharp and witty, and it is full of Wilde's signature epigrams.
• The characters are all well-developed and believable, and they are brought to life by a talented cast of actors.
• The film's story is faithful to the original play, and it is full of twists and turns.
• The film's direction is stylish and assured, and it makes sure to keep the pace of the film moving quickly.
• The film's sets and costumes are both beautiful and evocative of the play's Victorian setting.

Overall,1952 film adaptation of "TheImportance of Being Earnest" is a delightful and faithful adapation of the original play. 

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