analysis of the importance of being earnest

in act 1 scene 1 Algernon had seemed to be slightly interrogative ,with the form and tone of which he were asking questions ,both characters  sounded  as though they were bickering about whether the truth is simple and pure in jacks case .Algernon shows jack that he is aware of what is going on in his social surroundings 'to begin with,i dined there on Monday ,and once a week is quiet enough to dine with ones a week is quiet enough to dine with ones own relations'.this tells us that Algernon likes spending time with family but ,its very fond of it ,he'd rater spend time with jack .in at 1 scene 1 we view how jack and Algernon relationship is being presented ,it tells us that they have a very teased and eased relationship of being friends ,jack doesn't seem to mind the integrative tone to wanting to know more about the name earnest.

along the play ,we see some interesting relation between the sub-quote the beginning of the play 'a trivial comedy for serious people ' Oscar Wilde puts in some ironic meaning to 'yes but ,must be serious about it .i hate people who are not serious about there meals .it is shallow of them'.Oscar Wilde symbolises  this as showing there views on what is important and what isn't in the characters minds.along the play Gwendolyn seems worried that jack has spoken so little about marriage proposal 'i adore you .'but you haven't proposed' she questions him and it seems as though he were not sure of getting married ,this is very interesting because jack leads a double life ,with a different romance intertwined with another women .

in act 1 scene 2 we read a conversation bewtween gwendolyne fair fax and jack worthing.gwendolyne aprises to jack how she loves the name ernest and how she feels confidence and honesty when she hears the name .jack then questions gwendolyne on weather she would still like him for another name ,this shows us that he is observes weather she would still love him if he were to confess about his true identity .this irony shows the readers the effect that the name ernest has had on the fellow characters in the play.we then see i very romantic scene of jack proposing to gwendolyn,'Of course I will, darling. How long you have been about it! I am afraid you have had very little experience in how to propose'.by this fact of proposing ,it comes to as a shoke for gwendolyne ,as if she were waiting upon jack to propose for some time now .

 

jack and algernon scene

The last time jack and Algernon were having dinner ,i felt a presence of there being some interrogation going on aiming towards jack.from their previous conversation we learnt how the question of Cecily came up ,it was as though Algernon had already known what jack was up to but by asking so many questions at the beginning he wanted to clarify it.

if Algernon and jack were to have dinner after the time he lost his cigarette case i would presume  that the hostility and tensed hidden truth would build up and jack might just slip on one of the lies he has been using as a cover up to his secrete double life .Lane would serve the very same thing at the last dinner ,with  slight familiarity as we come upon the fact of society norms and servants and masters being comfortable to talk even further then whats on the menu that later evening.for interrogation would continue ,in aim of Algernon finally seeking out his self known truth .


(Algernon walks to the table and takes of his gloves off  to sit) .


Algernon :it is ,really a great pleasure for you to join me here once again.I'll have you say ,that cigarette case of yours is rather interesting,wouldn't you agree?earnest

jack: i would ,Mely over the fact that it is such an exquisite lot of money but also that my name ,is not earnest.

Algernon :i see,and so i have lived only yet,a few couple of years ;truth can be told with none or little meaning behind it,in your very case dear friend there is obviously a lot  more to be told ,do share some insights on Cecily

Jack laughs ,his face then turns thoughtful )

Jack:well,this woman is quiet what you would expect of  your high  traditional Victorianism ,but ...algy would care to listen in on yet one of your favourite theory's of secrecy .she ,doesn't appear to exist.

Algernon :if that is your matter then i will soon grasp it ,curiosity is a fascinating thing jack,driven to insanity i would think a person would begin to appreciate it .

(Lane appears after the two hours jack had spent with Algernon ,he collects the plates and salver ,with an echoing laughter ).the dinner then finishes with the pending silence of the conversations end .

importance of being earnest analysis

The title 'the importance of being earnest ' comes from the very definition of what earnest actually means .It refers to being sincere and honest ,but the irony of the play is that earnest (jack) is far from being honest and sincere as he leads a double life that causes us to see the name in a different twist.The intelligence of this title is the pun intended way oscar uses the name of jack as 'ernest' and the title possibly suggesting that there has to be some meaning to being that person jack is imposing to be .In the play ,everything depends on pretending to be ernest ,so i feel the title is merly a comedic way of showing how there is some importance of jack playing this pretence character ernest.

The cast list is set in upper class to lower class ,it shows us that there are obvious signs of status hierarchy ,in the play ,jack is presented with his name at the top of the list ,leading an honourable role of JP justice of peace ,as you read on ,you notice just how important his role is in his level of profession and his secret life .leading on we see the second character Algernon Moncrieff, he also leads a double life of secrecy in name ,i personally believe that the characters lists all relate to the fact that each of them have a level of importance ,since Algernon is pretty close to jack and leads a similar life .as Gwendolyn Fairfax comes third to the rest of the cast list ,it is visible that all the characters are in list to who plays important roles to jack ,hence implying for to question ,what is the importance of these people to earnest.

the language used in act 1 part 1 is very eased and casual between lane and Algernon .although they are both from different societies of class lane seems to stick to the norm of politeness and limited conversations between servants and there bosses ,were as algernon sounds as if it doesn't matter ;so he elongates the discourse.Oscar Wilde shows us the obvious differences between upper class and lower class ,and uses that to show that the rules are being broken ,usually conversations like algernon and lane do not extend further then 'please' and yes 'sir' .Algernon in the text state 'Lanes views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility '.This imposes to us that though he is able to have a near to normal conversation with lane .


Oscar Wilde shows us in the play ,that because this play is set in the Victorian era ,it was very important then to divide yourself from someone like lane ;algernon in act 1 part 1 didn't seem to care at all that he was having a normal conversation with the servant about marriage and if its demoralizing .Algernon had carried the conversation on this shows us that Oscar explores his use of language through status like this ,through creating characters who aren't from the same social class but are somehow link together throughout the play . 

This forms a very ironic tone to the play because it is as if Oscar his preparing the audience to see first hand that there will be some light heartedness between Victorian social norm ,this .as in terms of class ,when they both mix in the play ,for instance there are governesses ,servant , justice of Peace ,honarble and so on .Their all from different social statuses ,so Oscar explores status through creating a serious of twists and events ,also adding that although at the time those weren't really what was socially expectable (having normal conversations with servants , Oscar makes it seem as though rules don't really exist within  a play for serious people .