Deception In The Importance Of Being Ernest
‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ draws on components of absurdity and melodrama in order to provide humour and hence conceal the darker meaning of concepts. Wilde’s use of frequent comedic features, in addition to witty paradoxes stated by characters allows forms of deception to appear as amusing and superficial while still holding much darker alternate meanings and subtexts which allows him to draw upon and mock the flaws of Victorian society.
The idea of deception through leading a double life is central to the play as it is personified by the idea of ‘Bunburying.’ By Wilde’s use of exposition, mainly during Algernon’s questioning of Jack, the audience learn that ‘Bunburying’ refers to leading a double life while still appearing to have …show more content…
This side to deception is very comical as, contrary to most diaries, they both contain more fiction than fact, according to Gwendolen, ‘one should always have something sensational to read on the train.’ The use of the hyperbole with ‘sensational’ reinforces the dramatic effect and presents Gwendolen as somewhat ignorant. Although it can be said that this is a reflection of the lives of females in Victorian times, it still may not make their deception dark as they are primarily deceiving themselves which does not greatly affect the people around them. It could be argued that, throughout the play, the men’s deception is presented as dark, and the females’ as amusing. Debatably, in a somewhat feminist move, Cecily uses her diary to gain independence and control over her romantic life. Her diary includes overly fantasised accounts of a non-existent relationship between her and ‘Ernest’ which reflects the farcical nature of the climactic play. This ‘perfect’ relationship, in Cecily’s mind, fits her clichéd idea of love among the upper classes as it even has to be ‘broken off at least once’ in order to gain the social acceptance and decorum needed. This is arguably the height of self-deception as it is apparent to the audience that Cecily is intimately wrapped up in her own love story. This type of deception appears to be dark rather …show more content…
Jack not only pretends to be something he is not; a man with high moral responsibility, but also someone who he is not as he creates a ‘false impression’ with all of the people around him. This type of deception allows Wilde to suggest the hypocrisy of Victorian society, as the plot ‘makes a fool out of respectability’ [1] while simultaneously illuminating the amusing aspect to deception as the play progresses. Perhaps Wilde is attacking Victorian society as he knew they would never accept his life style. It also presents reality as trivial as society is created and moulded by the very people who aim to escape it. Many contemporary critics have dismissed the play as being entirely trivial, and some say it is ‘inspired nonsense,’ [1] as it primarily consists of aspects of satire, farce and comedy of manners, in addition to the use of ‘deus ex machina’ as a plot resolution, but they fail to acknowledge the use of hypocrisy. Although it is initially presented as an artificial, light comedy, its hidden meaning allows Wilde to comment on how hypocrisy was used to achieve social prestige in Victorian society through his
The idea of deception through leading a double life is central to the play as it is personified by the idea of ‘Bunburying.’ By Wilde’s use of exposition, mainly during Algernon’s questioning of Jack, the audience learn that ‘Bunburying’ refers to leading a double life while still appearing to have …show more content…
This side to deception is very comical as, contrary to most diaries, they both contain more fiction than fact, according to Gwendolen, ‘one should always have something sensational to read on the train.’ The use of the hyperbole with ‘sensational’ reinforces the dramatic effect and presents Gwendolen as somewhat ignorant. Although it can be said that this is a reflection of the lives of females in Victorian times, it still may not make their deception dark as they are primarily deceiving themselves which does not greatly affect the people around them. It could be argued that, throughout the play, the men’s deception is presented as dark, and the females’ as amusing. Debatably, in a somewhat feminist move, Cecily uses her diary to gain independence and control over her romantic life. Her diary includes overly fantasised accounts of a non-existent relationship between her and ‘Ernest’ which reflects the farcical nature of the climactic play. This ‘perfect’ relationship, in Cecily’s mind, fits her clichéd idea of love among the upper classes as it even has to be ‘broken off at least once’ in order to gain the social acceptance and decorum needed. This is arguably the height of self-deception as it is apparent to the audience that Cecily is intimately wrapped up in her own love story. This type of deception appears to be dark rather …show more content…
Jack not only pretends to be something he is not; a man with high moral responsibility, but also someone who he is not as he creates a ‘false impression’ with all of the people around him. This type of deception allows Wilde to suggest the hypocrisy of Victorian society, as the plot ‘makes a fool out of respectability’ [1] while simultaneously illuminating the amusing aspect to deception as the play progresses. Perhaps Wilde is attacking Victorian society as he knew they would never accept his life style. It also presents reality as trivial as society is created and moulded by the very people who aim to escape it. Many contemporary critics have dismissed the play as being entirely trivial, and some say it is ‘inspired nonsense,’ [1] as it primarily consists of aspects of satire, farce and comedy of manners, in addition to the use of ‘deus ex machina’ as a plot resolution, but they fail to acknowledge the use of hypocrisy. Although it is initially presented as an artificial, light comedy, its hidden meaning allows Wilde to comment on how hypocrisy was used to achieve social prestige in Victorian society through his