John Ruskin

The True Power Of Women In Mrs. Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw, the characters presented in the play each depict a Victorian stereotype relative to their gender role during this time period. During the Victorian era, males were privileged and could do whatever they pleased in order to live the life they dreamed of. “The man’s power is active, progressive, and defensive. He is eminently the doer, the creator, the discoverer, the defender. His intellect if for speculation and invention; his energy for adventure, for war, and for conquest” (Ruskin 1615). The male characters presented in Mrs. Warren’s Profession each show an attribute from this quote taken from Of Queens’ Garden by John Ruskin. Now comparing to the woman’s role during…

Gandhi wanted to clean his lifestyle by following aparigraha, or non-possession, and samabhava which was equability. Gandhi was given the book “Unto This Last” by John Ruskin. Gandhi enjoyed what Ruskin offered in his book, and inspired Gandhi to establish communal living. Gandhi establish the Phoenix Settlement in June 1904, the settlement was communal living, focused on removing needless possessions and living in an equal community. Everyone was given three acres of land to build a house out…

Humility “I believe the first test of a truly great man is in his humility.” ~John Ruskin John Ruskin’s quote tells us that a great man is determined by his humility, but what is humility? Humility is not lacking pride but not having too much pride it’s being confident but at the same time having respect for others ideas and beliefs and viewing yourself or putting yourself in others shoes.Everyone has their own perception of humility, whether that is humility in Judaism in accepting who you…

In the novel, The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde, Wilde criticizes many aspects of the Victorian lifestyle. The constant criticism in the comedy is present through constant witty remarks and absurdity throughout the play. One aspect of the Victorian lifestyle that Wilde refers to frequently is writing and writers. Wilde conveys the message by using diaries and three volume novels frequently throughout the play that those individuals have dreams and secrets that they find dear to them,…

The Alter Ego of Jack Worthing “The Importance of Being Earnest (also called A Trivial Comedy for Serious People)” is a play written by Oscar Wilde in the late 1890's. Although it is comedy, it is also a social satire and it has some serious themes hidden in its lines. The themes here address Victorian social issues. In in the late 19th century, in the Victorian society, the life was not very easy. People were divided in social classes and there was a strict code of morals which people from…

Oscar Wilde, the author of a very successful play, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, set the play in the 19th century, or the Victorian Era. Wilde’s purpose was to make a mockery of Victorian ideas, especially the idea of being earnest. Each of the four main characters are shown to be part of a Victorian society that Wilde is satirising. Jack invented a false individual known as Ernest. He is shown to be a liar while living an earnest life, which makes him a hypocrite. Thus, Jack is a…

The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde, ca. 1894 “Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about.” - Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan Oscar Wilde liked to write plays that pointed at the aristocracy and nouveau riche in a critical way, but of course, written in a funny way so that his work became satirical. Oscar Wilde was therefore a brilliant writer of comedies of manners, the entertainment form that satirizes the manners of a social class, in Wilde’s case, the high…

In Oscar Wild’s written work, “The Importance of Being Ernest”, he employs humor through the use of flirty diction and satiric actions of certain characters. He does so in order to achieve his purpose of showing the lifestyle of the high class people during the Victorian era. Act 2, opening scene, Algernon and Cecily are saying their goodbyes. Algernon tries to have a few more moments with Cecily before he has to leave, he tries to show his true feelings, mentioning her, “..absolute perfection..…

Victorian Satire in Oscar Wilde’s ”The Importance of Being Earnest.” Victorian era ideals are littered throughout Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Whether it be the act of bunburying, the prominence behind one’s name, or the suitability of someone in another’s hand in marriage, all are visited in this play in some form or another. Points of importance to Victorian culture are found quite trivial within the lines of this work published near the end of the same era, especially…

The Importance of Being Earnest is a play about two young fellows in 19th century England who lead double lives and their lies have in the long run caught up to them as a result of their affection. While it appears to be clear to me that the play is a parody of Victorian ethics and values in the silliness of the characters and the plot, what I discover all the more intriguing is Wilde's utilization of gender role reversal. By having his female characters go up against the parts of men and his…