The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Hello readers,
This blog is based on Thinking activity task of The Importance of Being Earnest.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

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?

The original subtitle hints that the play is amusing but also has some deeper meaning underneath. The new subtitle suggests that the play is primarily meant for laughter, but it's designed for people who enjoy thinking about important topics while they're having fun. In simple terms, it means the play can be enjoyable on the surface, but there's more to it if you pay attention to the underlying messages.

2) WHICH OF THE FEMALE CHARACTERS IS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TO YOU AMONG LADY AUGUSTA BRACKNELL, GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX, CECILY CARDEW, AND MISS PRISM? GIVE YOUR REASONS FOR HER BEING THE MOST ATTRACTIVE AMONG ALL.

Lady Augusta Bracknell: She's a strict, high-class lady who's important in the play.

She's known for her clever humor and has very high standards about social class and marriage.

Gwendolen Fairfax:She's Algernon's cousin and the person that Jack Worthing loves.
She's stylish and determined to marry a man named "Ernest."
She's confident and has a strong personality.

Cecily Cardew: She's under Jack Worthing's care and a charming, romantic character.
She falls in love with Algernon, who pretends to be Jack's brother "Ernest."
Cecily is imaginative, innocent, and believes in love at first sight.

Miss Prism:She's Cecily's teacher and often lost in her own world of books.
She's part of the funny mix-ups and misunderstandings in the play.

Cecily is a likable character because of her innocence and her romantic nature. This makes the play more charming and funny. She strongly believes in love at first sight, and she really likes the name "Ernest," which creates some funny situations in the story. Cecily brings a youthful and imaginative spirit to the play, and that makes her a character you remember and like in "The Importance of Being Earnest."


Cecily is a kind character who enjoys writing. She keeps a diary and makes up stories, especially about her relationship with "Ernest," who she believes is Jack's brother. Her love for writing shows her creative and romantic side, and it causes confusion and humor in the play because people are puzzled by her stories. It's a cute and funny aspect of her character.


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?

The play is very funny because people pretend to be someone they're not. Algernon invents a sick friend named "Bunbury" to avoid his strict aunt, and Jack makes up a mischievous brother named "Ernest" to win his love's heart. This leads to amusing situations.


The play humorously mocks the idea of marriage. Young couples are portrayed as not really understanding marriage, and it's suggested that people didn't take marriage seriously during that time.


In the Victorian era, concerns arose about the rising middle class and the mistreatment of the poor. The play subtly criticizes the upper class for their moral hypocrisy.


The play also highlights the importance of appearing as a "gentleman" in Victorian society. In the end, a clever twist occurs when Jack learns his real name is Ernest John, showing that the society's emphasis on being "earnest" is not as important as it seems.



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 play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire" Do you agree with this observation? Give your arguments to justify your stance.


When we are looking at how male characters in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" might show signs of being gay. One can think that some of the guys in the play act in ways that suggest they are attracted to other men. In the play, the women are shown as not being very interested in romantic relationships, and they take on roles that are usually done by men in the family. Oscar Wilde, who wrote the play, was gay himself. At the time he lived, being gay was seen as bad and even against the law in some places. So, the authors are saying that Wilde might have put his own experiences and feelings into the male characters in the play. Wilde's writing often had hidden meanings and jokes. So, it's possible that he used the play to talk about being gay and what people thought about it.


Wilde's work may have been a part of changing how people thought about love and relationships, and it might have helped set the stage for big changes in the 20th century when people became more open about their sexuality and her rights.


5) WRITE YOUR CRITIQUE ON VARIOUS ADAPTATIONS OF THIS PLAY.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" movie from 1952 is a classic film based on Oscar Wilde's play. It's a funny and clever story with great acting that brings the characters to life. The costumes and settings capture the time period well, giving us a glimpse of life back then.

The humor in the movie is sharp and witty, keeping you laughing throughout. The story revolves around mistaken identities and secrets, adding to the comedy. The dialogue is full of clever wordplay and jokes.

It's worth noting that the movie has a stage-like quality, so it feels like you're watching a play. Some might enjoy this, while others might prefer a more cinematic approach.

The film might seem old-fashioned because it has a theatrical feel and doesn't explore the play's important themes as deeply as it could. It misses an opportunity to discuss social issues more meaningfully.

In summary, the 1952 version of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a delightful and humorous adaptation of a classic play. If you appreciate witty comedy and a glimpse into the past, it's definitely worth a watch.