Explore Wilde’s use of secrets and lies in ‘The Importance of the Being Earnest’
In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde endeavours to show the hypocrisy of
Victorian society, as he uses dramatic irony to add comedic elements to his play.
Similarly, he uses this to show the farcical ways in which, in particular upper
classes, used to protect their reputation.
The Importance of Being Earnest can also be viewed as a comedy of manners, as it
satirises the behaviours and manners of the upper class. It shows them to be
shallow, judgemental, having the wrong priorities, and above all dishonest, in
particular the men, in Jack and Algernon.
From the play’s exposition, the theme of lies is revealed to the audience, as Lane
Introduces ‘Mr Ernest Worthing’, but the character is called Jack, and referred to
as Jack, for the most part, from then on. A sense of deception is introduced early
on and continues throughout the play.
Wilde shows that the upper classes believe lying is below them, and it is implied
they see this as something the lower, working classes do. For example, when
Gwendolen meets Cecily for the first time, she states that her fiancé is the “very
soul of truth and honour”. She says this despite not knowing Cecily existed before
this meeting, let alone as the ward of her fiancé. This is clear to both
contemporary and modern audiences as untrue, as they have seen that Jack is not
that. Wilde uses the theme of secrets and lies in conjunction with dramatic irony,
to amuse his contemporary audiences whilst making a mockery of their values.
Underlying Wilde’s use of the theme of secrets that Wilde’s 18th century play
centres around is his desire to satirise of Victorian ways, which he achieves high
comedy. The protagonists employ made-up alter-egos, to escape their lives, for
example, Jack Worthing is known as ‘Ernest’ in London. The play culminates
humour in the twist at the end, but it can be generally assumed Wilde built the
play’s plot around a theme of secrets and lies.
To a contemporary Victorian audience, Wilde’s depiction of the theme of lies and
secrets could have been as a way to make these audience laugh at themselves,
but subtly, so as not to offend his principal audience. On the other hand, to a
more modern audience, the hypocrisy Wilde creates would be more evident, as it
he highlights Victorian’s preoccupations with their images, and the superficiality
of relationships, especially in these upper classes.
In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde endeavours to show the hypocrisy of
Victorian society, as he uses dramatic irony to add comedic elements to his play.
Similarly, he uses this to show the farcical ways in which, in particular upper
classes, used to protect their reputation.
The Importance of Being Earnest can also be viewed as a comedy of manners, as it
satirises the behaviours and manners of the upper class. It shows them to be
shallow, judgemental, having the wrong priorities, and above all dishonest, in
particular the men, in Jack and Algernon.
From the play’s exposition, the theme of lies is revealed to the audience, as Lane
Introduces ‘Mr Ernest Worthing’, but the character is called Jack, and referred to
as Jack, for the most part, from then on. A sense of deception is introduced early
on and continues throughout the play.
Wilde shows that the upper classes believe lying is below them, and it is implied
they see this as something the lower, working classes do. For example, when
Gwendolen meets Cecily for the first time, she states that her fiancé is the “very
soul of truth and honour”. She says this despite not knowing Cecily existed before
this meeting, let alone as the ward of her fiancé. This is clear to both
contemporary and modern audiences as untrue, as they have seen that Jack is not
that. Wilde uses the theme of secrets and lies in conjunction with dramatic irony,
to amuse his contemporary audiences whilst making a mockery of their values.
Underlying Wilde’s use of the theme of secrets that Wilde’s 18th century play
centres around is his desire to satirise of Victorian ways, which he achieves high
comedy. The protagonists employ made-up alter-egos, to escape their lives, for
example, Jack Worthing is known as ‘Ernest’ in London. The play culminates
humour in the twist at the end, but it can be generally assumed Wilde built the
play’s plot around a theme of secrets and lies.
To a contemporary Victorian audience, Wilde’s depiction of the theme of lies and
secrets could have been as a way to make these audience laugh at themselves,
but subtly, so as not to offend his principal audience. On the other hand, to a
more modern audience, the hypocrisy Wilde creates would be more evident, as it
he highlights Victorian’s preoccupations with their images, and the superficiality
of relationships, especially in these upper classes.
