Important of being Ernest

Hello viewers 👋!

I am Kavita Chauhan , a student in sem 1 M.A. Department of English, mkbu.

This Blog is a part of Thinking Activity about the Oscar Wilde 's Importance of being Ernest .

-Assigned by Megha Trivedi Ma'am

Q- 1. Wilde originally subtitled The Importance of Being Earnest “A Serious Comedy for Trivial People” but changed that to “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” What is the difference between the two subtitles?

Ans- The change in Oscar Wilde's subtitle for "The Importance of Being Earnest" from "A Serious Comedy for Trivial People" to "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People" is a simple yet profound shift.

The original subtitle, "A Serious Comedy for Trivial People," suggests that the play is substantial and thought-provoking, despite being targeted at people who might not be seen as very serious or deep in their thinking. It hints that the comedy holds hidden depth and social commentary.

In contrast, the revised subtitle, "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People," flips the emphasis. It portrays the play as light-hearted and amusing, tailored for a more sophisticated and earnest audience. Yet, it implies that beneath the humor, there are layers of satire and social critique that serious-minded individuals can appreciate.

In essence, the change highlights a play that can be enjoyed by all, with humor on the surface, and also as a work with deeper, more profound themes that are accessible to those who approach it with a more serious mindset. It underscores the duality of the play's appeal, catering to both the light-hearted and the intellectually inclined.

 

Q- 2. Which of the female character is the most attractive to you among Lady Augusta Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax, Cecily Cardew and Miss Prism? Give your reasons for she being the most attractive among all.

Ans- I find Cecily Cardew to be the most attractive female character in The Importance of Being Earnest. She is a sweet, simple, and innocent girl who is full of life and energy. She is also very intelligent and has a quick wit. Cecily is not afraid to speak her mind, even when it goes against the social norms of her time. I admire her courage and her independence.

In addition, I find Cecily to be a very funny character. She has a natural sense of humor and a way of seeing the world in a unique and refreshing light. She is not afraid to laugh at herself or others, which makes her even more endearing.

Finally, I find Cecily to be a very caring and compassionate person. She is always willing to help others in need, even if it means sacrificing her own comfort. She is the kind of person who would give the shirt off her back to help a friend.

In last, I find Cecily Cardew to be the most attractive female character in The Importance of Being Earnest because of her sweetness, simplicity, innocence, intelligence, courage independence, sense of humor, and compassion. 

Q- 3. The play repeatedly mocks Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage and the pursuit of love in particular. Through which situations and characters is this happening in the play.

Ans-  The play The Importance of Being Earnest repeatedly mocks Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage and the pursuit of love in particular, through a variety of situations and characters.

The double lives of Jack and Algernon: Both Jack and Algernon lead double lives, each with an alter ego named Ernest. This allows them to escape the restrictive social conventions of Victorian society and pursue their own pleasures. It also mocks the Victorian ideal of respectability, as both men are able to maintain their social standing despite their double lives.

The marriage market: The play satirizes the Victorian marriage market, in which young women were expected to marry wealthy men in order to improve their social standing. Gwendolen and Cecily, the two female protagonists, are both obsessed with finding husbands, and they are willing to overlook many flaws in their potential suitors. This mocks the Victorian ideal of marriage, which was seen as a transaction rather than a union based on love and companionship.

The importance of social class: The play also makes fun of the Victorian obsession with social class. Lady Bracknell, the mother of Gwendolen, refuses to allow her daughter to marry Jack because he is not of a high enough social class. This mocks the hypocrisy of Victorian society, which claimed to value merit over class, but in reality was very rigid and elitist.

Characters:

Lady Bracknell: Lady Bracknell is a caricature of the Victorian upper class. She is snobbish, materialistic, and judgmental. She is also very hypocritical, as she claims to value respectability and morality, but she is perfectly willing to overlook Jack's illegitimate birth as long as he is wealthy. Her character mocks the Victorian obsession with social status and respectability.

Gwendolen Fairfax: Gwendolen is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, but she is also very shallow and materialistic. She is obsessed with finding a husband who is wealthy and of a high social class. Her character mocks the Victorian ideal of womanhood, which emphasized beauty, obedience, and domesticity.

Cecily Cardew: Cecily is similar to Gwendolen in many ways, but she is also more innocent and naive. She is also more independent and outspoken. However, she shares Gwendolen 's obsession with finding a husband. Her character mocks the Victorian ideal of childhood, which emphasized innocence, purity, and obedience.

Through these situations and characters, Wilde satirizes the absurdity and hypocrisy of Victorian society. He uses humor, exaggeration, and irony to expose the flaws in the Victorian way of life.

In addition to the above, the play also mocks Victorian traditions and social customs in the following ways:

The play's title itself is a joke, as it suggests that being "earnest" is important, when in fact the play shows that earnestness is often ridiculed and punished.

The play's many witty lines and epigrams often satirize Victorian values and beliefs. For example, Lady Bracknell's famous line, "A handbag?" is a mocking commentary on the Victorian obsession with social status and material possessions.

The play's plot is full of improbable coincidences and implausible events. This is a deliberate device on Wilde's part, as he is using it to show the absurdity of Victorian society.

Overall, The Importance of Being Earnest is a play that is full of satire and wit. Wilde uses the play to poke fun at the many flaws of Victorian society, including its traditions and social customs, its marriage market, and its obsession with social class.

Q- 4. Queer scholars have argued that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality, and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire" Do you agree with this observation? Give your arguments to justify your stance.

Ans- Yes, I agree with the observation that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality, and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire."

Here are some arguments to justify my stance:

The play's focus on identity and masks. The play is all about the way that people create and perform their identities. Jack and Algernon are both masters of disguise, and they use their masks to escape the social constraints of their time. This can be seen as a metaphor for the way that gay people were forced to hide their true selves in Victorian society.

The play's homoerotic subtext. There are many moments in the play that can be read as homoerotic. For example, Jack and Algernon are constantly flirting with each other, and they often seem more interested in each other than they are in the women they are pursuing. Additionally, the name "Earnest" can be seen as a pun on the word "uranist," which was a contemporary term for a homosexual man.

The play's subversive humor. Wilde's humor is often subversive and challenges the social conventions of his time. For example, the play makes fun of the importance of marriage and social status. This can be seen as a way for Wilde to criticize the society that oppressed him and other gay people.

It is also important to note that the play has been interpreted in this way by many queer scholars and critics. For example, Susan Sontag wrote in her essay "Notes on Camp" that the play is "a gay play" and that Wilde "was the first major artist to treat homosexuality as a subject for laughter."

In conclusion, I believe that there is strong evidence to support the claim that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality, and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire."

Q-5.Below are given various movie and radio adaptations of this play. Write your critique on various adaptations of this play

Ans-   Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the most popular and enduring plays in the English language, and it has been adapted for film and radio many times over the years. Here is a critique of some of the most notable adaptations

The Importance of Being Earnest (1932): This early adaptation, directed by Anthony Asquith, is a faithful and charming rendition of the play. It features a star-studded cast, including Wilfrid Lawson, Joan Greenwood, and Athene Seyler.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1952): This adaptation, also directed by Asquith, is even more lavish and visually stunning than the 1932 version. It features a star-studded cast, including Michael Redgrave, Edith Evans, and Joan Greenwood.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1992): This adaptation, directed by Kurt Baker, features an all-black cast, including Brock Peters, CCH Pounder, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. It is a fresh and innovative take on the play, and it highlights the play's universal themes of love, identity, and class.

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002): This adaptation, directed by Oliver Parker, is a stylish and witty rendition of the play. It features a star-studded cast, including Colin Firth, Ruper Everett, Judi Dench, and Reese Witherspoon.

All four of these adaptations are excellent in their own way, but I personally prefer the 1952 version. It is the most visually stunning and the most faithful to the play's original spirit. The cast is also superb, with Edith Evans giving a particularly memorable performance as Lady Bracknell.

Here is critique of each adaptation:

The Importance of Being Earnest (1932): This early adaptation is a charming and delightful rendition

of the play. It features a strong cast, including Wilfrid Lawson as Jack Worthing/Ernest, Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen Fairfax, and Athene Seyler as Miss Prism. The film is beautifully shot and directed, and it captures the play's wit and humor perfectly.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1952): This adaptation is even more lavish and visually stunning than the 1932 version. It features a star-studded cast, including Michael Redgrave as Jack Worthing/Ernest, Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell, and Joan Greenwood as Cecily Cardew. The film is beautifully shot and directed, and it perfectly captures the play's wit, humor, and social satire.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1992): This adaptation features an all-black cast, which gives the play a fresh and innovative perspective. The cast is excellent, with Brock Peters giving a particularly memorable performance as Jack Worthing/Ernest. The film is also well-directed, and it captures the play's wit and humor effectively. However, I found that some of the changes made to the play's plot and dialogue were unnecessary and distracting.

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002): This adaptation is a stylish and witty rendition of the play. It features a star-studded cast, including Colin Firth as Jack Worthing/Ernest, Rupert Everett as Algernon Moncrieff, Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell, and Reese Witherspoon as Cecily Cardew. The film is beautifully shot and directed, and it captures the play's wit and humor perfectly. However, I found that the film's tone was a bit too light and fluffy, and it didn't fully capture the play's social satire.

• Conclusion :

I think all four of these adaptations of The Importance of Being Earnest are excellent in their own way. However, if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the 1952 version. It is the most faithful to the play's original spirit, and it features a superb cast.

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