Friday, July 1, 2011

Satire In The Importance Of Being Earnest

Wilde
targets several social institutions for his .  One of the most obvious in the play is Wilde's
satrical view on marriage.  He does this by giving the girls (Gwendolen and Cecily) silly
prerequisites for marriage: only the name Ernest.  Nothing else matters to them, other than the
name Ernest.  Lady Bracknell, when inquiring as to Jack's suitability as a potential husband for
Gwendolen, asks about his income, his politics and whether his owns land and house--not if he
truly cares for her.  Wilde is satirizing marriage, showing these people thing it nothing more
than a social adventure rather than a loving union.

Another element of
society that Wilde satirizies is the upper class.  All of the characters (except for the
butlers) would be considered upper class, and each shows a sense of frivolity toward life and
serious issues.  Jack uses his brother's "death" as a way to excuse his Bunburrying;
Alergnon seems to take nothing seriously, except eating.  Gwendolen wants only to look
fashionable--and requires Jack to propose in "the proper way".  Lady Bracknell chases
after her daughter to the country, all to prevent a marriage.  At a time when there were
thousands of poor people suffering and barely making a living in England, these are trivial
concerns.

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