The Importance of Being Earnest

A detailed Summary of The Importance of Being Earnest


While reading the play The Importance of Being Earnest, one serious theme that I noticed was the consistent act of deception throughout the entire play. However this lack of honesty was not lonesome for insightful comedy and a visible foreshadowing of upcoming events accompanied it. Meaning that the play was cleverly written with humor and provided us with an obvious chain of facts that would lead up to us unraveling the end of the play. This play critiques the need to lie or exaggerate the truth, in order to "fit in" the norm of English society during the 1890's.

The unique characters in this play portray a nonchalant attitude along with subtle gestures in a tribute to not being (earnest); they were not being honest. Specifically, they all had unique characteristics that made it easier for them to not being honest. They also did little


things that supported their insincere personalities. This obvious hypocrisy can be noted as early as the first act of the play. Such a case as when Algernon's servant, Lane, openly lies and says..."(Gravely.) There were no cucumbers in the market this morning, sir. I went down twice." (p.38) This is where the first of many lies throughout the play originates. Even though one could consider this lie an unselfish lie, since Lane lied for his master and not himself, it is still lie, whether it is a white lie or more. The exposure of this lie sets the mood of the play, a mood of deception.

Carrying out the chain, Jack lies about his name being Ernest, a name that impresses Gwendolen. If only he originally knew the irony within the truth, he really is Ernest. He evades his association with Cecily "Well if you have to know, Cecily happens to be my aunt." (p.32)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Importance Earnest, Meaning Wilde, Gwendolen Cecily, Jack Algernon, Cecily Cecily, , name ernest, play importance earnest, play importance, importance earnest, characters play,

Approximate Word count = 581
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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