Social Satire in Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest

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Social Satire in The Importance of Being Earnest

Introduction

The Importance of Being Earnest is, from head to top, a literary satire. A satire is a literary device which is implied to ridicule the follies, abuses, stupidity and faults of either an individual or an entire society in the notion of not to defame it but to reform it. Oscar Wilde, a top tier satirist, develops satire in his "trivial comedy for serious people" to ridicule as well as reform the shallow Victorian society who took a great deal in forming many minute but noticeable social injustices through the flawed characters who are deformed by the morals of the Victorian civilization.

Satire within the Title

The importance of Being Earnest is in itself, a satire. Wilde subtly uses Earnest in two ways. Earnest for honest and Ernest for serious. But if we look closely in the play, no one is earnest in the play. Everyone is doing the opposite of what is set in the title. Jack is 'earnest' as Ernest, a fictitious brother, just to woo his Gwendolen who is passionately obsessed with the name Ernest. The same goes for Algernon and Cecily. Algernon resorts to bunburing, a similar but polite intrigue to ensnare Cecily in her devotional web of Ernest. When comic relief is achieved, Jack mockingly asserts to Lady Bracknell that he has finally realized the vitality of being Earnest. Thus the title and the play's ending lines suggest a moral lesson with a mild satire that it is essential to be earnest than Ernest, which is merely a name.

Satire on the Institution of Marriage

Marriage was a crucial problem as an institution during the Victorian Era. Women were not allowed to choose their future life partners, neither did the men. Both of them were selected based on their social status and the amount of wealth they possessed. In the particular play, we find Lady Bracknell hunting for the husband for her daughter who fits exactly to her three Cs rule. That is why she rejects Ernest in the garb of Jack because his orphanage is a hindrance in knowing his true identity despite his being wealthy. Marriage was dull and devoid of any constructive passion. Martial freedom was termed as a fantasy those days.

Satire of Character(s)

Characters play a significant role in highlighting themes and satires in the most prominent way possible. The Importance of Being Earnest is a satire of character(s) in two senses. Firstly, if we take the casual meaning of character [yes, I am talking about an individual's nature, Kirdar] then this play shadows a shallow characteristic trait. People's character in this play is not determined by their actual character, but by other socio-economic factors including cash and class. If we measure this play in terms of its characters (imaginary people), satire is seen in action in every character. For instance, Algernon, an aristocrat, throws parties during every notable occasion but still proclaims to be short of money. Jack is the opposite of the gaiety found in Algernon. He, sometimes, appears profoundly serious that Cecily tends to call her guardian "unwell". Speaking of Cecily, the girl is so enamoured of the name Ernest that she purchases a[n engagement] ring on the unknown man's behalf. Gwendolen, another aristocratic gentle-girl, is farcically obsessed with the name Ernest, calling it "divine" which has "a music of its own". Dr. Chasuble, although he is a Christian priest but he quotes references from pagan authors. Miss Prism is portrayed as an absent-minded lady who forgets her son in a railway station. [For an in-depth analysis on the satirical portrayal of characters, head towards the link 2 in the Sources section]. Thus such satirical follies of characters are depicted as "historical" absurdities of the prestigious Victorian Age.

Conclusion

Manifestly, Wilde represents the satirical image of the renowned Victorian society through character(s), title and marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest elegantly and playfully.

Sources, References and Suggested Readings

http://englishliterature24.blogspot.com/2017/04/discuss-importance-of-being-earnest-as.html
https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/examine-the-importance-of-being-earnest-as-a-social-satire/
https://www.bachelorandmaster.com/globaldrama/satire-in-importance-of-being-earnest.html
http://jackklinton.blogspot.com/2017/11/importance-of-being-earnest-as-social.html
http://www.askliterature.com/drama/oscar-wilde/the-importance-of-being-earnest/importance-of-being-earnest-is-a-social-satire/
Essays, UK. (November 2018). Satire In The Importance Of Being Earnest English Literature Essay. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/satire-in-the-importance-of-being-earnest-english-literature-essay.php?vref=1