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The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Play Summary | Exercise & Characterization
Neb English Notes
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Sub-title: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1854. His father, William Wilde, was a famous eye and ear surgeon. His mother, Jane Elgee, was a bookish woman who wrote many articles supporting Irish independence from England. Though Wilde was physically unhandsome and small, he was involved in several love affairs until one of them, a love scandal, injured his career. As for his interest in education, he was a lazy student and did not show interest in mathematics and science, but he loved studying Greek literature. Oscar Wilde was a fashionable man and wore entirely different, beautiful costumes. In the daytime, he dressed in a fashionable dress like that of a dandy, but in the evening, he wore a coat, shirt, and a large bow tie. He had to wear such a fashionable dress because many of his friends were from the aristocratic class.
About his homosexual behavior
Oscar Wilde's closest friend was Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas' father, Queensberry, did not like their friendship and insulted Wilde publicly for homosexuality. Being insulted by Queensberry, Wilde sued Queensberry for libel (bad opinion), but Queensberry's lawyers proved Wilde's homosexual behavior by finding evidence and witnesses easily. His other friends begged him to escape to another country because they were sure that he would be arrested for a homosexual act. But Wilde refused; then he was arrested and put into jail for two years. After he was freed on bail, he heard bad criticism from the public. He could not find any solace to sleep at night because he had to escape from the public. Thus, two years of imprisonment sank his great ship (popularity).
Development of Drama from the Elizabethan Age to Wilde's Period (late 19th century)
The Elizabethan period saw the greatest dramatists like Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, etc. They wrote many of the greatest tragedies and comedies, so the Elizabethan period is often regarded as the golden age. Similarly, in the Restoration period, when Charles II became king in 1660, the change in English literature was almost as great as the change in government. For one thing, the theatres opened again, and new dramatists, therefore, appeared. The tragic drama of this Restoration period was made up mainly of heroic plays and a comedy of manners. In the 18th century, Goldsmith and Sheridan brightened the English stage.
But in the 19th century, the English theatre faced bad days. The best writers of this age, like Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, William Wordsworth, Coleridge, Alfred, and Lord Tennyson, wrote novels, poetry, or essays. So, there lacked good dramatists. But it does not mean that English theatre was closed in the 19th century; rather, the theatre had to perform Shakespeare's plays. But they were performed in a changed or added form. So, the audience often felt that they were not watching Shakespeare's play but a new one.
Such barrenness of drama, later on in the late 19th century, was rescued by Norwegian and Swedish dramatists, Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, respectively. Their translated plays in English became quite familiar."
CHAPTERWISE SUMMARY
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
TOTAL ACT: III
FIRST ACT: IN ALGY'S APARTMENT IN LONDON
SECOND ACT AND THIRD ACT: IN JACK'S VILLAGE
Act I: Town Setting
Algernon is living in Half Moon Street, London. He is waiting for his aunt, Lady Bracknell, and her daughter, Gwendolen. Algernon asks his servant, Lane, whether he has made cucumber sandwiches for his aunt, Lady Bracknell. Lane brings sandwiches, and Algy starts eating. While eating, Earnest arrives from the village, and Algy tells him that his aunt and Gwendolen are coming. Earnest is very happy to hear that. Earnest also reveals his real motive for coming to town and says that he has only one purpose, which is to propose to Gwendolen. But he thinks that Gwendolen may not accept him because there is a long age gap between them.
When Jack is about to eat cucumber sandwiches, Algy informs him that they are for his aunt. But an interesting thing is that Algy eats everything before his aunt's arrival.
Algy informs Earnest that his cigarette case is with him. That cigarette case belongs to Earnest, who had left it in the flat on a previous visit, and on it is a sign of "Cecily." Algy asks him who Cecily is. Earnest replies that she is his ward. Algy again asks why his ward, Cecily, wrote "her dear uncle Jack." Now, Jack explains everything in the village; his name is Jack, and he is her legal guardian. He goes on to reveal that he has just invented a fake younger brother, Earnest, who lives in London, so that he can easily leave his village for the town and love Gwendolen. And when he comes to town, he himself calls himself Earnest. Hearing all the details about Earnest, Algy asks for his friend's (Jack's) address, but Jack refuses, thinking that he wants to love his ward, Cecily.
After the revelation of such a secret, Algernon also reveals his secret: he has also invented a village friend named Bunbury so that he can leave town for the village, pretending to meet his country friend.
Jack further says that he wants to reveal his real identity to Gwendolen as soon as he marries her. Algy protests, saying that a man should be Bunbury (artificial) more after marriage.
Jack requests that Algy keep his aunt busy so that he can propose to Gwendolen. Now, Algy blackmails him and demands dinner for this proposal.
Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive. Lady asks for cucumber, which Algy has promised her. He orders Lane, but Lane replies there is no cucumber in the market (it was a preplan of Algy to say Lane there is no cucumber in the market).
Then Algy takes Lady Bracknell to another room so that his friends, Jack and Gwendolen, can talk secretly. Now, the lovers flirt with each other. Gwendolen immediately accepts to marry him when she knows that his name is Earnest. (See hypocrisy, how the Victorian aristocratic girls are.) Jack asks, if his name is not Earnest, what she will do. Gwendolen clearly replies that for her, the name "Earnest" is a great matter. (Here hints come that if he says that his name is Jack, she will break her relationship with him.) Finally, they promise to marry.
In the meantime, Lady Bracknell comes and learns from her daughter about their engagement. Then Lady Bracknell sends Gwendolen out to the Carriage (a Victorian aristocrat who used to travel by carriage) to know whether her future son-in-law is fit for her daughter. She asks Jack several questions about his age, occupation, and income. Up to here, Lady is satisfied with his age, income, and occupation and accepts him as her future son-in-law. But when he tells her that he was a foundling and Mr. Cardew found him in a handbag at Victorian Station when he was an infant, Lady Bracknell, now changing her mind, says that she cannot give her daughter to such a foundling. Mockingly, she adds that at first, he should find out his proper relative if he wants to marry her daughter. Gwendolen, hearing her mother's words, secretly asks for Jack's village address. At that time, Algernon also hurriedly takes down his address (to meet Cecily) when she writes Jack's address.
Act II: Village Setting
The scene shifts from town to Jack's village, where his ward, Cecily, lives with her governess, Miss Prism. From the conversation between Cecily and Miss Prism, we come to know that Jack is highly respected by them. Cecily, however, is very enthusiastic to meet Jack's brother Earnest. But Miss Prism advises Cecily to concentrate on her studies. In the meantime, Chasuble (the priest) also appears, and Miss Prism and Chasuble go for a walk.
When they depart from Cecily, Algernon enters and introduces Cecily as the brother of Jack Earnest.
On the other hand, Jack appears on stage in mourning attire and claims that his brother Earnest died in Paris due to a cold.
But Cecily approaches Jack and informs him that his brother, Earnest, is not dead; he has just arrived and also talked to her.
When Jack learns of Algy's cleverness, he becomes angry and orders Algy to leave his village immediately. But Algy refuses, saying he loves Cecily deeply.
Now, in Jack's absence, Algy and Cecily express their love, and Algy proposes to Cecily. Like Gwendolen, Cecily also reveals that she has always loved the name Earnest, and she could not have loved him so much if he had another name.
In the village, Gwendolen comes to meet Jack and calls Jack by the name of Earnest. There, she also meets Cecily, and they start their conversation. When Cecily reveals to Gwendolen that she is engaged to Earnest, Gwendolen also reveals that she is engaged to Earnest.
They start verbal quarrelling, and their misunderstanding ends when Jack arrives. Gwendolen asks Jack if he is engaged to Cecily, and Jack refuses. Algernon also comes there, and then Cecily asks him if he is in love with Gwendolen. Like Jack, he also refuses.
Both girls feel happy, but after a while, they realise that they are deceived by their fiancés, who created an artificial name, Earnest, to win their hearts. After that, the girls, being angry, left the stage. Now Algernon and Jack start quarreling. To get rid of the problem of their names, they want to christen their names Earnest with a Christian priest. So, both of them meet Dr. Chasuble and request that he christen their names Earnest.
Act III: Village Setting
Jack and Algy enter, apologising to Gwendolen and Cecily, respectively. The girls initially express their anger by remaining silent, but eventually they start speaking. Cecily asks Algernon why he pretended to be Earnest, and Gwendolen poses the same question to Jack. Both men responded that they loved the girls too much and didn't want to miss the chance to be with such wonderful women. The girls, satisfied with this explanation, forgive them for their deceit.
However, Gwendolen and Cecily insist that they want to marry men with the name Earnest. Both men persuade the girls, claiming they are going to be christened with the name Earnest in the afternoon. Hearing this, the girls feel extremely happy and start loving them. In the meantime, Lady Bracknell, learning Jack's address from Gwendolen's maid, arrives in the village. She once again informs Jack that there can be no engagement between him and Gwendolen. Later, Lady Bracknell discovers her nephew Algernon's engagement to Jack's ward, Cecily, and feels pleased because Cecily belongs to the high class and possesses substantial property. Lady approves of their marriage, highlighting the importance of money in Victorian society.
Jack, acting as the guardian of Cecily, disapproves of Cecily's marriage to Algernon, considering him untrustworthy. He reminds them that Cecily cannot marry without his consent until she reaches the age of 35, according to her grandfather's will. Bracknell pressures Jack to give his approval, and Jack agrees on the condition that Lady Bracknell consents to his marriage to her daughter, Gwendolen. In the midst of this heated discussion, Dr. Chasuble arrives to call Algernon and Jack for the christening but is disappointed when told there will be none. He expresses sadness because he would have earned money if they had changed their names. Chasuble informs them that he will return to the church, where Miss Prism is waiting for him.
Lady Bracknell demands to meet Miss Prism, and when she arrives, Lady Bracknell inquires about the baby that was left in Miss Prism's charge 28 years ago. Miss Prism apologises, revealing that she lost the baby due to her absent-mindedness. She explains that she placed the manuscript of her novel in the carriage and the baby in the black leather handbag. Due to her absentmindedness, she left the handbag at Victoria Station. Jack rushes to his room and brings the same handbag that Prism left 28 years ago. Miss Prism identifies it as her own. Jack embraces Prism, calling her mother. Lady Bracknell discloses that Prism is unmarried and Jack is the child of her sister. In reality, Algernon is Jack's younger brother. Lady Bracknell reveals that Jack's father's real name was Earnest, and he was an army general. Jack, eager to know his father's real name, checks the military directory and discovers that his father's name is indeed Earnest. He then tells Gwendolen that his name truly is Earnest.
In this way, the play concludes happily with Jack realising the importance of the name "Earnest."
Characterization
John (Jack) Worthing:
- Friend of Algernon (Algy), lover of Gwendolen, and guardian of Cecily.
- Known as Jack in the village and Earnest in the town.
- A foundling raised by Cardew, who becomes Cecily's guardian.
- Frequently goes to town and proposes to Gwendolen, leading to the revelation of his true identity.
- Algernon turns out to be his younger brother, and his real name is Earnest.
Algernon Moncrieff:
- Often called Algy, lives in town.
- Uses an imaginary friend, Bunbury, to create excuses for leaving town.
- Appears carefree despite being in debt.
- Falls in love with Cecily and invents two names: Bunbury and Earnest.
- Disguises himself as Earnest to win Cecily's heart.
Gwendolen Fairfax:
- Daughter of Lady Bracknell, represents the Victorian coquette.
- Prioritizes physical love over spiritual connection.
- Sophisticated and fashionable but lives an artificial and hypocritical life.
- Obeys her mother, Lady Bracknell, and chooses Jack as a husband due to his name being Earnest.
Lady Augusta Bracknell:
- Mother of Gwendolen, an aristocratic woman.
- Disapproves of Jack initially due to his status as a foundling.
- Learns the true relationship between Jack and Algernon, accepting Jack as her nephew.
- Consents to Gwendolen marrying Jack.
Cecily Cardew:
- Ward of Jack Worthing, concerned with the importance of a person's name.
- Insists on Algernon changing his name to Earnest for them to marry.
Miss Prism:
- Governess of Cecily and author of sentimental novels.
- Absent-minded, left Jack at the Victorian Station 28 years ago.
- Old and unmarried, had worked for Lady Bracknell's sister before.
- Jack, or Earnest, is the child she lost and is now Cecily's guardian.
Dr. Chasuble:
- Elderly bachelor clergy invited by Algernon and Jack for the christening.
- Expects money for his services.
- Hypocritical, desires to walk with the unmarried Miss Prism.
Lord Bracknell:
- Father of Gwendolen and husband of Lady Bracknell.
- An off-stage character, unaware of Gwendolen's whereabouts when she visits Jack.
- Thinks his daughter is attending a university lecture when she has actually fled.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
1. What is Jack’s origin story?
Answer:
Jack was a foundling discovered in a handbag at Victoria Station. He was raised by a man named Cardew and later became the guardian of Cecily.
2. Why does Jack lie?
Answer:
Jack lies to create an alter ego named Earnest, which allows him to lead a double life and move between the town and the village. He believes this dual identity makes him more appealing to Gwendolen.
3. Who is Cecily in love with?
Answer:
Cecily is in love with Algernon, who she knows as Earnest. She is enamored with the name "Earnest" and believes she is engaged to him.
4. How does Algernon use Bunbury?
Answer:
Algernon uses Bunbury as an imaginary friend or excuse to escape from town to the countryside whenever he wishes. This allows him to have more freedom and avoid certain social obligations.
5. How does Jack view marriage?
Answer:
Jack initially views marriage as a serious commitment but later uses it strategically to further his relationship with Gwendolen. He proposes to her under the name Earnest.
6. What is the significance of Merriman's name in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Merriman's name, being a variation of "merry man," adds a humorous touch to the play. It aligns with the overall comedic tone and satirical nature of the work.
7. How does Oscar Wilde explore love through the characters of Gwendolen and Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Wilde satirizes societal expectations and superficialities in love through Gwendolen and Cecily. Both characters prioritize the name "Earnest" over genuine qualities in a partner, highlighting the absurdity of societal norms.
8. How are Jack's political views significant in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Jack's lack of interest in politics represents Wilde's commentary on the trivial concerns of the upper class. The play focuses more on personal relationships and societal expectations than on political matters.
9. Why does Lady Bracknell compare ignorance to an exotic fruit in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Lady Bracknell uses this comparison to mock the ignorance of the lower classes. The comparison emphasizes her condescending attitude toward those she deems less sophisticated, portraying her as a symbol of aristocratic snobbery.
10. Which character is more earnest, Jack or Algernon, in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Neither Jack nor Algernon lives up to the name "Earnest" in the moral sense. Both use deception and false identities, undermining the sincerity associated with the name.
11. In The Importance of Being Earnest, what is the significance of the allusions to India?
Answer:
The allusions to India highlight the exoticism associated with the British Empire. They serve as a satirical commentary on the superficial interests and attitudes of the upper class during the Victorian era.
12. How is religious hypocrisy explored through Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble in Act 2, Section 3 in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Miss Prism, a supposedly virtuous governess, loses a baby due to her absent-mindedness, exposing her hypocrisy. Dr. Chasuble, a clergyman, reveals a desire for romantic companionship, highlighting the incongruity between their professions and actions.
13. Why is French culture mocked in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Mocking French culture adds a humorous element to the play and reflects the prevailing British attitudes of the time, where French customs were often caricatured for comedic effect.
14. What is the significance of beauty and pleasure in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Wilde satirizes the superficial emphasis on beauty and pleasure in the upper class. Characters like Gwendolen and Cecily prioritize these qualities over substance, highlighting the shallowness of societal values.
15. Does Algernon truly fall in love at first sight with Cecily, or is he just Bunburying, and what does his action suggest about love in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Answer:
Algernon is initially attracted to Cecily but may also be motivated by the desire to escape social obligations through Bunburying. His actions suggest a blend of genuine interest and a tendency to pursue romantic whims for convenience, reflecting a satirical view of love in the play.
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