The Importance of being The Importance of being EarnestEarnest

Characters areCharacters are

Mercenary, cynical, and unfeeling.Mercenary, cynical, and unfeeling. They lie; they are shallow.They lie; they are shallow. But, we don’t find them repulsive. But, we don’t find them repulsive.

In fact, we appreciate their wit, In fact, we appreciate their wit, their energy.their energy.

We suspend our moral judgement We suspend our moral judgement and find humor in their irreverence.and find humor in their irreverence.

Mary McCarthy says:Mary McCarthy says:

““The London Roue is artless simplicity The London Roue is artless simplicity beside the dreadnought society beside the dreadnought society dowager, and she, in her turn, is out-dowager, and she, in her turn, is out-brazened by her debutante daughter, brazened by her debutante daughter, and she by the country miss, and she and she by the country miss, and she by her spectacles governess.”by her spectacles governess.”

Wilde draws us into a moral vacuum Wilde draws us into a moral vacuum and challenges almost everything we and challenges almost everything we take seriously.take seriously.

The TruthThe Truth

No one is interested in telling it or No one is interested in telling it or hearing it.hearing it.– Jack lies to Algernon, Algernon lies to Jack lies to Algernon, Algernon lies to

Cecily, Cecily lies to Dr. Chasuble. Cecily, Cecily lies to Dr. Chasuble. – As Gwendolyn puts it: “In matters of As Gwendolyn puts it: “In matters of

grave importance, style, not sincerity, grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”is the vital thing.”

– p. 1211 -- Jackp. 1211 -- Jack

Conventional MoralityConventional Morality

Everyone would much rather be and Everyone would much rather be and find someone interesting, than do the find someone interesting, than do the right thing. right thing. – 1187, 11881187, 1188– He’s redeemed not by virtue of his He’s redeemed not by virtue of his

truthfulness, but because he’s got good truthfulness, but because he’s got good taste. Cecily tells him. “You’ve taste. Cecily tells him. “You’ve wonderfully good taste, . . . It’s the excuse wonderfully good taste, . . . It’s the excuse I’ve always given for your leading such a I’ve always given for your leading such a bad life.”bad life.”

ReligionReligion

Dr. Chasuble, whose theology is a Dr. Chasuble, whose theology is a matter of form: p. 1190matter of form: p. 1190

What kind of relationship has he had What kind of relationship has he had with Ms. Prism? with Ms. Prism?

His flippant attitude toward baptism --His flippant attitude toward baptism --11911191

Algernon and Jack aren’t exactly Algernon and Jack aren’t exactly reverent about it either. What’s for reverent about it either. What’s for dinner is more important.dinner is more important.

Social ReformSocial Reform We live, says Gwendolyn, in an age of We live, says Gwendolyn, in an age of

ideals. The fact is constantly mentioned ideals. The fact is constantly mentioned in the more expensive monthly in the more expensive monthly magazines.magazines.

Miss Prism asserts, “I am not in favor of Miss Prism asserts, “I am not in favor of this modern mania for turning bad people this modern mania for turning bad people into good at a moment’s notice.”into good at a moment’s notice.”

Cecily is skeptical about women who are Cecily is skeptical about women who are interested in philanthropic work. She interested in philanthropic work. She thinks it’s forward of them. thinks it’s forward of them.

More on Reform -- P. 1188More on Reform -- P. 1188

We laugh at the reversal of rolesWe laugh at the reversal of roles We laugh at the idea that reform We laugh at the idea that reform

can be undertaken in an afternooncan be undertaken in an afternoon We laugh, finally, at the value of We laugh, finally, at the value of

reform in itself -- to reform is to reform in itself -- to reform is to conform, which is exactly what we conform, which is exactly what we do not want these characters to do not want these characters to do. do.

EducationEducation

Lady Bracknell objects to anything that Lady Bracknell objects to anything that “tampers with natural ignorance.”“tampers with natural ignorance.”

She claims that “fortunately, Education She claims that “fortunately, Education produces no effect whatsoever in produces no effect whatsoever in England.”England.”

Cecily knows that her German grammar Cecily knows that her German grammar makes her look plain.makes her look plain.

Gwendolyn protests against abstract Gwendolyn protests against abstract ideas.ideas.

The Surface is it.The Surface is it.

Lady Bracknell claims that Lady Bracknell claims that anything deeper than that must be anything deeper than that must be banished. Doubts about anything banished. Doubts about anything must be put down.must be put down.

P. 82 -- MillerP. 82 -- Miller

Heartless PlayHeartless Play

George Bernard Shaw, another George Bernard Shaw, another famous playwright of the late 19th famous playwright of the late 19th Century, claims that Earnest was Century, claims that Earnest was Wilde’s “first really heartless play.” Wilde’s “first really heartless play.”

Nothing here is redeemed or Nothing here is redeemed or redeemable, nothing is taken redeemable, nothing is taken seriously.seriously.

Love and MarriageLove and Marriage

Marriage isn’t a very interesting Marriage isn’t a very interesting subject.subject.

It’s a business, not a pleasure.It’s a business, not a pleasure. It’s unromantic, leads to unpleasant It’s unromantic, leads to unpleasant

responsibilities.responsibilities. Gwendolyn loves Jack even before she Gwendolyn loves Jack even before she

meets him -- ridicules the idea of love meets him -- ridicules the idea of love at first sight by taking it one step at first sight by taking it one step backwards.backwards.

Women and PowerWomen and Power Gwendolyn is obviously in control in the Gwendolyn is obviously in control in the

proposal scene. And more cynical than proposal scene. And more cynical than Jack.Jack.

Algernon says he could wait for Cecily, Algernon says he could wait for Cecily, but she won’t have it. P. 1207.but she won’t have it. P. 1207.

They’re out for themselves, even more They’re out for themselves, even more than the men are.than the men are.

Lady Bracknell’s greed in making Lady Bracknell’s greed in making marriage arrangement, another marriage arrangement, another example.example.

DeathDeath

Even Death isn’t sacred.Even Death isn’t sacred. Laughter at Earnest’s supposed death.Laughter at Earnest’s supposed death. Lady Bracknell’s comments on Mr. Lady Bracknell’s comments on Mr.

Bunbury’s death. She is glad “that he Bunbury’s death. She is glad “that he made up his mind at the last to some made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action.”definite course of action.”

The widow who is quite some 20 years The widow who is quite some 20 years younger since her husband’s death.younger since her husband’s death.

Existentialist Drama/Existentialist Drama/Theatre of the AbsurdTheatre of the Absurd

““Always lurking in the play is a Always lurking in the play is a steady contemplation of steady contemplation of Nothingness.”Nothingness.”– David ParkerDavid Parker