The Importance Of Being Earnest Identity Essay

When the play first opened, Wilde was revealed to be a homosexual (The Day). In Victorian England, the aristocracy were still at the top of social hierarchy, and advancements in society would not take place for many more years (Stokes). Therefore, the practice of homosexuality was still viewed as a sinful and unnatural practice to be condemned by the law. Wilde himself was arrested on charges of “gross indecency” after his affair with a young man came to light (Biography). With this knowledge, The Importance of Being Earnest takes on an entirely new meaning aside from being a mere farce. The play revolves around the idea of identity, and the process of coming to terms with that identity. Two men who adopt the persona of “Ernest” both lie about …show more content…
These exchanges, however, highlight the distinct differences between the different social classes. “I don’t know that I am much interested in your family life Lane,” Algernon remarks to his butler (Wilde 8). Perhaps, though, what is even more jarring than Algernon’s lack of interest in his servant is the servant’s response: “no, sir; it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself” (Wilde 8). This conversation, though is serves no grand purpose to the play, does reveal Wilde’s satire of the upper classes. They have very little regard for those not existing within their social circles, resulting in the lower classes having very little regard themselves. It is also interesting to note that Wilde does not dwell on the oppression of the lower classes; rather, he shifts the focus to the main conflict of mistaken identity. This might reflect Wilde’s priorities concerning his advocacy for social justice: he appears to be more concerned about the acceptance of his sexual behavior than the livelihood of an entire class. It is ironic, then, that one of the characters in The Importance of Being Earnest displays somewhat similar