In the last line of Oscar Wilde’s comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, Jack Worthing exclaims: “I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being earnest” (Wilde III). This line perfectly sums up the irony present throughout Wilde’s entire play. The characters within are revealed to be superficial and adamant about conforming to society’s standards. Although it may not be obvious at first, Wilde’s attempt to live as a homosexual during the Victorian period parallels the lies and fabrications created by Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff. Inspired by his controversial experience as a homosexual man in the Victoria era, Wilde uses ironic dialogue between characters, situational irony, and the theme of deceit
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When Lady Bracknell discusses Cecily’s eligibility to be married, she states ironically: “We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces” (Wilde III). Jeremy Lalonde states that the play “subjects the social institutions of its milieu to ridicule but stops short of advocating specific reforms” (666). Allegedly, a few critics agree that because Oscar Wilde was gay, he attempted to disrupt the norms of men and women in Victorian society. Lalonde claims that “throughout the play, Wilde celebrates the breakdown of the traditional family unit…this celebration is the effect of Wilde’s own disavowal of heterosexist institutions” (668). He gives Jack Worthing an untraditional upbringing and presents how others judge based on parentage and bloodlines. Lady Bracknell tells Jack: “I would strongly advise you, Mr. Worthing, to try and acquire some relations as soon as possible, and to make a definite effort to produce at any rate one parent, of either sex, before the season is quite over” (Wilde I). This obsession with coming from a proper family is clearly a theme Wilde is mocking. His unconventional affair with fellow poet Lord Alfred Douglas was viewed as highly improper during the time period and did not align whatsoever with Victorian standards of
When Lady Bracknell discusses Cecily’s eligibility to be married, she states ironically: “We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces” (Wilde III). Jeremy Lalonde states that the play “subjects the social institutions of its milieu to ridicule but stops short of advocating specific reforms” (666). Allegedly, a few critics agree that because Oscar Wilde was gay, he attempted to disrupt the norms of men and women in Victorian society. Lalonde claims that “throughout the play, Wilde celebrates the breakdown of the traditional family unit…this celebration is the effect of Wilde’s own disavowal of heterosexist institutions” (668). He gives Jack Worthing an untraditional upbringing and presents how others judge based on parentage and bloodlines. Lady Bracknell tells Jack: “I would strongly advise you, Mr. Worthing, to try and acquire some relations as soon as possible, and to make a definite effort to produce at any rate one parent, of either sex, before the season is quite over” (Wilde I). This obsession with coming from a proper family is clearly a theme Wilde is mocking. His unconventional affair with fellow poet Lord Alfred Douglas was viewed as highly improper during the time period and did not align whatsoever with Victorian standards of