“Truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Is that the truth? In season 4 opener of the famous British TV drama show, Sherlock, the titular character lies about his death, so he can investigate a case without interference from the other characters. He wants to separate himself from his closest friends, so he can discover the truth himself. As Sherlock finds out, the truth is complicated, and he wades through lies and discovers the truth in the end. Even though people lie to avoid the truth, the truth always seems to reveal itself somehow. Oscar Wilde portrays the previous statement repeatedly in his plays, especially in his final play, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. In Earnest, Wilde formulates the play
…show more content…
In Wilde’s play, the audience is told that Jack had “invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest,” so he can be Jack in the country and “Ernest” in the city (Wilde 1441). Algernon also has “invented an invaluable invalid called Bunbury,” so he can “Bunbury” in the country and be Algernon in the city (1441). The play reveals that both men invented fake identities, so they can escape their real identities, and the boring lifestyle they experience every day to enjoy the pleasures of life. Jack and Algernon also had ulterior motives for maintaining their false identities. Jack’s lover Gwendolen knows Jack as Ernest, and if Jack reveals his true name, he might lose Gwendolen. Gwendolen thinks the name Jack has “very little music… [and] does not thrill” (1445). Jack becomes afraid of losing Gwendolen’s approval, so he avoids telling her the truth. Likewise, Algernon’s lover Cecily knows Algernon as Ernest, Jack’s fake brother/Algernon’s fake identity, and if Algernon reveals his identity, Cecily would not be able to give Algernon her “undivided attention” (1463). Algernon did not want to lose her, so he kept delaying the truth, too. The problem is that Jack and Algernon persisted the charade too long, and thus, interfered with their hopes of marrying them. Jack and Algernon had a simple truth, but they were not convinced that the truth will …show more content…
Algernon’s lover, Cecily, believes that Algernon is Jack’s brother, Ernest which was Jack’s identity in the city, and falls in love with him, becoming engaged to him. Both men faced a crisis; both lovers are engaged to one fictitious person named Ernest. This oxymoron is a recipe for disaster. In the end of the play, both men were forced to revealed their true identities. However, the problem becomes even more complicated as Jack refuses to allow Cecily marry Algernon because of his deceitful actions. In the beginning of the play, Algernon orders the cucumber sandwiches to be made for his Aunt Augusta and forbids Jack from eating them. Meanwhile, Algernon himself is “eating them all the time” (1438). When Aunt Augusta arrives, Algernon lied about the cucumber sandwiches that there “were no cucumbers in the market” (1443). Algernon also goes to see Cecily “by means of false pretense of being” Ernest’s brother (XXXXX). On the other side, Jack can be blamed for his deceitful actions, too. He lied about his fake brother’s death (Ernest in the city) and dressed “in the deepest mourning” (1456) to assume his true identity and move forward with marrying Gwendolen. The situation, then, turned for the worst when Algernon came in and assumed the dead brother’s role under the name of Ernest. This web of entangled lies contributes to the downfall of Jack and Algernon’s schemes. They both had one goal of marrying
In Wilde’s play, the audience is told that Jack had “invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest,” so he can be Jack in the country and “Ernest” in the city (Wilde 1441). Algernon also has “invented an invaluable invalid called Bunbury,” so he can “Bunbury” in the country and be Algernon in the city (1441). The play reveals that both men invented fake identities, so they can escape their real identities, and the boring lifestyle they experience every day to enjoy the pleasures of life. Jack and Algernon also had ulterior motives for maintaining their false identities. Jack’s lover Gwendolen knows Jack as Ernest, and if Jack reveals his true name, he might lose Gwendolen. Gwendolen thinks the name Jack has “very little music… [and] does not thrill” (1445). Jack becomes afraid of losing Gwendolen’s approval, so he avoids telling her the truth. Likewise, Algernon’s lover Cecily knows Algernon as Ernest, Jack’s fake brother/Algernon’s fake identity, and if Algernon reveals his identity, Cecily would not be able to give Algernon her “undivided attention” (1463). Algernon did not want to lose her, so he kept delaying the truth, too. The problem is that Jack and Algernon persisted the charade too long, and thus, interfered with their hopes of marrying them. Jack and Algernon had a simple truth, but they were not convinced that the truth will …show more content…
Algernon’s lover, Cecily, believes that Algernon is Jack’s brother, Ernest which was Jack’s identity in the city, and falls in love with him, becoming engaged to him. Both men faced a crisis; both lovers are engaged to one fictitious person named Ernest. This oxymoron is a recipe for disaster. In the end of the play, both men were forced to revealed their true identities. However, the problem becomes even more complicated as Jack refuses to allow Cecily marry Algernon because of his deceitful actions. In the beginning of the play, Algernon orders the cucumber sandwiches to be made for his Aunt Augusta and forbids Jack from eating them. Meanwhile, Algernon himself is “eating them all the time” (1438). When Aunt Augusta arrives, Algernon lied about the cucumber sandwiches that there “were no cucumbers in the market” (1443). Algernon also goes to see Cecily “by means of false pretense of being” Ernest’s brother (XXXXX). On the other side, Jack can be blamed for his deceitful actions, too. He lied about his fake brother’s death (Ernest in the city) and dressed “in the deepest mourning” (1456) to assume his true identity and move forward with marrying Gwendolen. The situation, then, turned for the worst when Algernon came in and assumed the dead brother’s role under the name of Ernest. This web of entangled lies contributes to the downfall of Jack and Algernon’s schemes. They both had one goal of marrying