The Significance of Social Cla
In the play "The Importance of Being Earnest," Oscar Wilde introduces to the audience the significance social class bore in Europe at that time. Humorous portrayals of how high-ranking members of society might interact with others from that same social class are found throughout the play. This play also illustrates the comedic interaction that can occur between a master and a servant. Wilde shrewdly presents these character relationships in both a satiric and a romantic comedy form. Due to the confusion many of the characters experience through mistaken identity, the play is also endowed with a strong sense of farcical humor. Born in Dublin in 1854, Oscar Wilde was raised in a culture of class conscientious people. Wilde moved to England to pursue his writings in 1874, where a huge chasm separated the social classes in this country as well. Just as the Victorian era was about to wind down, political and religious upheaval commenced. This period of social turmoil is conveyed through Lady Bracknell's character as she mentions her contempt for Jack's family history in the second part of Act I. She likens Jack's negligence of a formal family upbringing to that of "the worst excesses of the French Revolution." Due to this, Lady Brack
On the other hand, Lane can be just as comical as any other character in the play. He portrays the view of an outsider to the upper class, looking inward. This is a position that most associates with Oscar Wilde's persona. Once charged with being a member of the homosexual community, Wilde was cast out of mainstream society and sentenced to forever be an outsider looking in. In the opening of the play, Algernon and Lane are set in a fine round of banter. Lane very quickly answers to each of Algernon's expressions with a wit equal to his. In doing this, Lane becomes a mocker of Algernon. Another character that is outside the high ranks of society and yet still manages to poke fun at the upper class is Merriman, Jack's butler. In Act II, Part 2, Jack orders Merriman to fetch a dog-cart, with the presumption that Algereon will be leaving the estate, only to have that order contradicted by Cecily, and he must then put the dog-cart away. It seems Merriman keeps a cool head, even when the only purpose his orders have served is to leave him out of breath! Later, Merriman goes about his everyday chore of laying out tea for his mistress, Cecily. Merriman remains steadfast in his chore, even though Cecily and her company, Gwendolyn, are engaged in a childish quarrel. (The irony presented in the character of Merriman is that he, the lower class servant, is able to control his emotions with superior restraint, whereas Cecily and Gwendolyn are of the upper class, and are unab
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 994
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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