The importance of being earnest by Oscar Wilde

The Satirical Nature of Social
Class in 'The Importance of Being
Earnest’

1. The Satirical Nature of Social Class in 'The Importance of Being Earnest’ Present by Jatin varu

2. Name :- Jatin varu Roll No. :- 19 Semester. :- Sem 1 Paper No. :- 104 Paper Name. :- Literature of the Victorians Presentation Topic. :- Satirical nature of social class in , the importance of being earnest Submitted To. :- Smt. S.B. Gardi Department of English (MKBU) Email ID :- [email protected]

3. 1). About Oscar Wilde 2). Short introduction about play 3). Analysis of social class in the play 4). Social satire in the play 5). Impact of satire on the play’s message 6). Refrence Content

4. About Oscar Wilde 1 Oscar Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright Know for his wit and Satire Born :- 16 Oct. 1854 , Dublin, Ireland His father William Wilde was a surgeon and his mother was a famous Irish poet and she known as her pen name “Speranza” Oscar’s elder brother Willie Wilde was a famous journalist He married with Constance Lloyd in 1884 In 1888 he published his first work of prose “The Happy prince and othe tales” Wilde is best known for his plays , An ideal Husband (1895) and The importance of Being Earnest (1895) Wilde died at 30 Nov. 1900 in Paris, France

5. Short introduction about play 2 The importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious people is a play by Oscar Wilde The play was first performed on 14 Feb. 1895 at ST. James ‘s theatre in London It is a satire of Victorian social hypocrisy In a play Jack Worthing is the main protagonist and he also played role of Earnest The theme behind the story is earnestness. The plot of the story runs around marriage The essential motivating factor which keeps the story going is marriage

6. Some major charecters of play 1). Jack Worthing/ Earnest. 4). Gwendolen Fairfax 2). Algernon Moncrieft. 5). Cecily Cardew 3). Lady Bracknell 6). Miss Prism In the end the characters get what they desire in a socially acceptable way.

7. Analysis of social class in the play 3 The upper class characters, such as Lady Bracknell, embody arrogance, superficiality, and a rigid adherence to social conventions. Upper Class Lower Class The lower class characters, like the miss Prism and lane, are portrayed as mere props, serving as a contrast to the upper class's extravagance.

8. Victorian upper class demands its members to keep up an important image in society and value money and appearance above all else, including people. Lower class was characterized by individuals who held working-class jobs, often involving manual labor, and had limited access to education and resources.

9. Social satire in the play 4 1).False Identities The play revolves around the use of false identities, with characters adopting the names "Ernest" to escape their social obligations. This highlights how easily individuals can manipulate their identities, reflecting the superficiality of social class. 2).Marriage as a Social Currency Marriage is portrayed as a means of securing or elevating one's social status rather than an expression of love. Characters like Gwendolen and Cecily are fixated on marrying a man named "Ernest" because of the name's social connotations.

10. 3).Genteel Hypocrisy Wilde exposes the hypocrisy of the upper classes who often pretend to be moral and righteous while engaging in questionable behavior. Characters like Lady Bracknell embody this hypocrisy with their strict adherence to social norms. 4).The Importance of Names The play's title itself is a satire. It suggests that a person's name (Ernest) is more important than their character. This ridicules the emphasis placed on external factors like names rather than true qualities.

11. 5).Superficiality The characters are preoccupied with trivial concerns, such as cucumber sandwiches and tea, which symbolize the superficial nature of their lives. This satirizes the upper-class obsession with etiquette and appearances. In "The Importance of Being Earnest," Oscar Wilde employs satire to mock the conventions and values of Victorian society, particularly regarding social class, revealing the shallowness and absurdity inherent in the pursuit of status and respectability. Overall, Wilde uses humor to satirize the strict social class divisions and to show their absurdity.

12. Impact of Satire on the Play's Message 5 Challenging Conventions The satire in the play challenges traditional notions of social class, exposing their flaws and urging the audience to question them. Breaking Stereotypes By portraying both upper and lower class characters in a satirical light, Wilde breaks stereotypes and exposes the absurdity of class hierarchies. Promoting Social Change Through sharp wit and humor, Wilde encourages society to reexamine the limitations imposed by social class and strive for greater equality.

13. Conclusion The satire on social class is a central theme. Through witty humor and clever dialogue, Wilde mocks the rigid and superficial nature of Victorian society. The characters in the play often use deception and false identities to navigate the constraints of their social class, highlighting the absurdity of the class system. Wilde's satire ultimately critiques the emphasis placed on social status, revealing the hypocrisy and shallowness of a society that values superficial appearances over genuine character.

14. Reference 6 Beckson, Karl. "Oscar Wilde". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Oct. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Wilde. Accessed 8 November 2023. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "The Importance of Being Earnest". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Importance-of-Being-Earnest. Accessed 8 November 2023. Jordan, Robert  J. Satire and Fantasy in Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” 1970, https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/ariel/article/download/31611/25687