LRJ #4

Malcolm Galligan

Ms. Johnson

English 10 IB Hour 5

5th of May, 2009

LRJ #4

The absurdity of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest becomes extremely apparent in the very end of the play when Jack discovers that his name is indeed Earnest, and he has been unknowingly telling the truth his whole life. Even more incredible, all the issues with Gwendolen are immediately dropped upon this revelation, “Jack. ‘it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?’ Gwendolen. ‘I can. For I feel sure that you are sure to change.’” (Wilde, Act 3 189).

Wit is another humorous aspect of Earnest, and Wilde uses it quite often, particularly with leading character Algernon “Jack. ‘Algy! Can’t you recollect what our father’s Christian name was?’ Algernon. ‘My dear boy, we were never even on speaking terms. He died before I was a year old.’” (Wilde Act 3 189). However, each character in Wilde’s play is brimming with attitude with the deliverance of many witty lines, adding more of a comedic element to his overall work.

Of course, the most important humorous aspect of Earnest is the use of social conventions to set up Wilde’s comedy. For example, when Gwendolen and Cecily think they are competing for the same Earnest Worthing and utterly despise each other, but still manage to politely drink tea together “Cecily. ‘It would distress me more than I can tell you, dear Gwendolen, if it caused you any mental or physical anguish, but I feel bound to point out that since Ernest proposed to you he has clearly changed his mind.’” (Wilde Act 2 164). This use of social convention is undoubtedly hilarious and also essential for tying in the theme of the play, which is the peculiarity of high society.