The Importance of being Earnest

8 November 2023

Hello readers!!

I am Divya jadav a student of English Department at MKBU. In this blog I would like to share some different ideas about the Oscar Wilde " The importance of being Earnest" .

Question:1 ) wild originally subtitled" The importance of being Earnest " A serious comedy of Trivial people but the changed that to " A Trivial comady for serious people".what is the difference between the two subtitles?

Ans : 

The importance of being Earnest" suggests that the play is primarily about the significance of being sincere and honest in a world filled with trivial and insincere people. It highlights the importance of genuine character and integrity .

"A Trivial comedy for serious people" shifts the focus and suggests that the play is a lighthearted comedy meant to entertain serious-minded individuals. It emphasizes the humor and satire in the play, indicating that even serious people can enjoy and appreciate the wit and humor in the story.

Question: 2) Which of the following character is most attractive to you among lady Agusta Backnell, Gwedelon Fairfax,Ciclly Cardew , and Miss prism give your reason for  her being the most attractive among all.

Ans :

In Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest," the attractiveness of a character is subjective and can vary from person to person. However, Gwendolen Fairfax is a central character in the play and often considered an attractive character due to her wit, confidence, and assertiveness. She is known for her intelligence and the humorous exchanges she has with other characters. Gwendolen's beauty, combined with her strong personality, makes her a character that many readers or viewers find appealing.

Question:3) The play repedally mocks the Victorian tradition and social customs , Marriage and the pursuit of love in through which situation and characters is this happening in the play?

Ans:

1) Bunburying: 

The characters Algernon and Jack both use fictitious identities to escape their social responsibilities. This mocks the seriousness of social obligations and the importance placed on a person's name.

2)Gwendolen and Cecily's Obsession with  Name Ernest: 

Gwendolen and Cecily are fixated on marrying men named Ernest without considering their actual characters, highlighting the superficiality of romantic pursuits.

3)Lady Bracknell's Class Prejudice: Lady Bracknell represents the Victorian upper class and their rigid expectations for marriage. Her absurd questions about the suitability of potential spouses satirize the importance placed on social status.

Question: 4) Queer  scholar have argued that the play themes duplicity and ambilivance are inxtrocablly bound up with Wilds homosexuality and that the play exibits a flickering presence or absence of ... homosexual desire" do you agree with this observation ? Give your argument to justify the stance.

Ans: 

The interpretation of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" as containing themes of duplicity and ambivalence tied to Wilde's homosexuality is a subject of ongoing debate among scholars. While it's essential to acknowledge the potential influence of Wilde's personal life on his work, it's also important to remember that literary works can be open to multiple interpretations.

On one hand, you can argue that the play does exhibit elements of duplicity and ambivalence, as the characters engage in complex deceptions and double lives. These themes may reflect Wilde's own experiences and struggles with concealing his sexuality in the society of his time.

On the other hand, one could also argue that "The Importance of Being Earnest" can be appreciated in its own right as a social satire and a commentary on the trivialities of the upper class, irrespective of the author's sexuality. The play's wit, humor, and criticism of societal norms are independent of Wilde's personal life.

Question: 5 ) Write your critique on various adaptation of this play 

Ans: 

"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde has been adapted in various forms over the years, and each adaptation brings its own unique perspective and interpretation to the original play. Here's a critique of some notable adaptations.

Film Adaptations: 

There have been several film adaptations of the play. The 1952 film starring Michael Redgrave and the 2002 version featuring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are faithful to the original text and capture the humor and wit of Wilde's work. However, the 2002 adaptation modernizes the setting, which may not appeal to purists.

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