Artificiality In Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest

Authenticity, or lack thereof, and artificiality are a big part of the play The Importance of being Earnest. Jack and Algernon, two of the main protagonists who are very present throughout this play, showcase examples of how artificiality is presented in Victorian society and how it is widely expected and accepted. Both Algernon and Jack create alternate personas for themselves which ultimately results in a few undesirable situations, but also aids them through their everyday lives. While this is going on, and maybe going unnoticed for the most part, it is made easy to believe that if anybody was certain or aware of the lies that Jack and Algernon had made up, they would not be overly surprised, as inauthenticity was a societal norm. Jack …show more content…
Oscar Wilde use Jack as a sort of alter ego for himself in the respect that he is an honorable and respectable man in the country, however when he goes to the city his morals fly out the window and he is a completely different person. Jack 's last name is Worthing which is closely related to worth or worthiness. This is an opportunity to show the manners or expectations of the Victorian period in a humorous and parodic way. Jack has gained the right to be respected by other because of is adopted father 's prestige and position on society. Though Jack was not born into these social circumstances he has grown up in such an environment and thus knows how to act appropriately. He has been brought up to behave politely and respectfully. The fact that Jack has had to live his whole life so far in an environment that hold these values so high must have become rather tiring and taxing for Jack, which is why he was driven to create a completely fictional character/person on whom he relies when he needs a break or an escape from his life. The man that Jack has created is named Ernest. The creation of Ernest opens up a lot of doors for Jack that would otherwise have been inaccessible. Ernest is in large part Jack 's imaginary brother …show more content…
If Jack is feeling uncomfortable, or even bored he announces that he has to attend to his problematic brother and he must leave. Ernest provides a wonderful excuse for Jack to live two separate and polar opposite lives as well as relieve from the strict expectations of the Victorian people in the country. As previously mentioned, Oscar Wilde created Jack as a vision of himself and Jacks excursions to the city present wilder more unadulterated versions of the person. In this instance Jacks deceptive trips into the city are a symbol for Oscar Wilde 's life of enjoyment in the homosexual community. A consequence of Jacks created persona is that of his potential love interest, Gwendolen. She knows Jack only by the name of Earnest and she makes it abundantly clear that she is in love with the name Ernest. She is merely in love with the name, not