Hello,
Here, you will find some of the question-answers related to Oscar Wilde's comic play Importance of Being Earnest.
1) Wilde originally subtitled 'The Importance of Being Earnest : A Serious Comedy for Trivial People' but changed that to ' A Trivial Comedy for Serious People'. What is the difference between the two subtitles?
Ans
The play "Importance of Being Earnest" falls under the genre of Comedy of Manners. The play is considered as farcical comedy and intellectual farce.
Oscar Wilde, through this play and many of his other comical play had satirized the pompousness and rigid norms of contemporary Victorian society. This play is all about the trivial and comical incidents.
So it would be inappropriate to name the subtitle as A Serious Comedy for Trivial People. Moreover, Oscar Wilde had made pun on the later subtitle. In that he considered people as serious, but it is people that are trivial rather than the incidents.
2) Which of the female character is the most attractive to you among the Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax, Cecily Cardew or Miss Prism? Give your reason for her being the most attractive among .
Ans
Among all the female characters, I personally find Cecily as being most attractive of all.
Though, she also shares same mental trails with Gwendolen, as she is also had fixation on the name Ernest, that she also asserts that Ernest name "inspired absolute confidence".
Yet, she seems like a mature female character, with contrast to others. Her youthful innocence, romantic idealism, and whimsical nature contribute to her charm. Combination of her sweetness and comic incidents adds to her charm.
3) The Play Repeatedly Mocks Victorian Traditions And Social Customs, Marriage, And The Pursuit Of Love In Particular. Through Which Situations And Characters Is This Happening In The Play?
Ans
The play "Importance of Being of Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is brilliant satire on the Victorian society.
The play mocks its traditions and customs through various characters and events. The character of Jack Worthing becomes the imposter named as Ernest to escape from the harsh realities of life and the responsibilities at his home in the countryside, and would make excuse to help his fictional brother Ernest. On the other hand, Algernon becomes Ernest in seek of love of Cecily. In these two examples we can see the hypocrisy and frivolous nature of Victorian upper-class people.
In the character of Lady Bracknell, we see the fake pride and sense of superiority of upper-class people of the society. she was not initially happy with the marriage between Algernon and Cecily because she believed that Cecily had no money and she is also not aware about her parents, but after the revelation of her wealth Lady Bracknell instantly agrees for the marriage.
4) Queer scholars have argued that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality and that the exhibits "flickering presence - absence of homosexual desire" Do you agree with this observation? Give your arguments to justify your answer.
Ans
Certainly, the themes of duplicity and ambivalence are connected with the Wilde's homosexuality. Here, we can find two character who are in a way living the double lives, for example, Jack Worthing and Algernon both lives alias life as Ernest.
This we can connect with the homosexuality of Wilde, at that time being a gay is believed to be a taboo in the Victorian society and they are seen as lowly people. In the character of Jack Worthing we see the responsible and literary side of the of the Oscar Wilde and in the character of the Ernest which is a fictitious character, that we see and connect with flamboyant and homosexual side of Oscar Wilde.
5) Write your critique on various adaptation of the play.
Ans
The 1952 film adaptation of "The Importance of Being Earnest," directed by Anthony Asquith, is a timeless portrayal of Oscar Wilde's play. The cast, led by Michael Redgrave and Michael Denison, adds a charming touch, skillfully bringing out the wit and satire present in Wilde's writing. The movie successfully retains the comedic essence of the play, showcasing the absurdities of Victorian society.
The opulent period settings and costumes contribute to the overall visual appeal, creating a delightful backdrop that complements Wilde's satirical commentary. However, some critics contend that the film might fall short of fully capturing the depth of Wilde's social critique due to the constraints of the time, which often led to censorship or toning down of certain themes.
In essence, the film provides an enjoyable cinematic experience, immersing viewers in Wilde's world and delivering a humorous perspective on societal norms and expectations. If you appreciate classic adaptations and Wilde's clever humor, it's a movie well worth watching.
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