Author of The Importance of being Earnest, Oscar Wilde, utilizes dialogue, diction and irony to illustrate the play’s protagonist, Jack Worthing, who in turn illuminates the script’s theme that behavior deemed appropriate by society may conflict with moral decency. The dialogue from the interrogation of Jack by Lady Bracknell, his love’s mother, reveals that he is a character of high class and puts up a front in order to make a good impression in the face of others, as after the meeting, he remarks that he has “[n]ever met such a Gorgon” (200). This need for keeping up appearances is also exhibited when Jack explains that “[w]hen one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects. It’s one’s
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Worthing would go to great lengths to impress a girl as Jack’s love interest knows him as his false brother, “Ernest”. He also has his pride and does not want to admit to her that he has been fooling her. Rather, he claims “I would like to be christened myself, this afternoon, if you have nothing better to do” (213). This line of dialogue clarifies that he would like to change his name through baptism, to Ernest, in order to avoid confessing about his counterfeit self. Also, a level of courtesy for others is shown through the phrase “if you have nothing better to do”, as he is considering the time the chasuble must put aside. Although Mr. Worthing values his pride, he is not vain and values the effort others put out for him.
Wilde’s choice in the name “Ernest” plays on the term earnest, meaning to show sincerity. This choice in diction provides an irony that elaborates the theme in that Jack Worthing should be earnest, or sincere , in the presentation of himself to his love, yet he goes by a disguised identity through Ernest, whilst being the antithesis of earnest. This exhibits that in order keep up with social standards, the protagonist created a new identity, but the character conflicts with the moral standards of being a sincere and honest
Worthing would go to great lengths to impress a girl as Jack’s love interest knows him as his false brother, “Ernest”. He also has his pride and does not want to admit to her that he has been fooling her. Rather, he claims “I would like to be christened myself, this afternoon, if you have nothing better to do” (213). This line of dialogue clarifies that he would like to change his name through baptism, to Ernest, in order to avoid confessing about his counterfeit self. Also, a level of courtesy for others is shown through the phrase “if you have nothing better to do”, as he is considering the time the chasuble must put aside. Although Mr. Worthing values his pride, he is not vain and values the effort others put out for him.
Wilde’s choice in the name “Ernest” plays on the term earnest, meaning to show sincerity. This choice in diction provides an irony that elaborates the theme in that Jack Worthing should be earnest, or sincere , in the presentation of himself to his love, yet he goes by a disguised identity through Ernest, whilst being the antithesis of earnest. This exhibits that in order keep up with social standards, the protagonist created a new identity, but the character conflicts with the moral standards of being a sincere and honest