Satire In The Importance Of Being Earnest

The quote, “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it,” stated by Oscar Wilde constructs interesting assumptions about his drama, “The Importance of Being Earnest” and Wilde himself. Because he was in touch with his feminine side, he was accused of being homosexual during the late 1800s which led the case being the “trail of the century” which condemned him to two years of hard labor. This play was published during the Victorian era, an era where homosexuality and marriage out of pure love and romance were frowned upon while moral customs and religion were essential. Wilde uses satire, irony, and gender roles to create a comedic parody of the Victorian era. The characters are all apart of the upper class causing them to live up to certain social customs and norms. During this time …show more content…
In the play Jack Worthing lives a double life as himself and “Ernest.” Gwendolen Fairfax, the daughter of Lady Bracknell, falls in love with Jack and is familiar with as Ernest. She mentions how she admires the name Ernest and could not imagine herself marrying a man who is named differently, “The only really safe name is Ernest” (Wilde 474). Lady Bracknell does not approve of Jack and Gwendolen’s engagement and states, “Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone...An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that could be allowed to arrange for herself” (Wilde 474). After Lady Bracknell informs Jack about the questions she wishes to present to him,