Themportancefehhyyyhhhhhhwjejehheehshdhd

.

1. The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde A comedy of manners satirizing Victorian society

2. The Victorian Era • Period: 1837–1901 (Queen Victoria) • Strict morals and social codes • Emphasis on appearances, class, and respectability • Double standards and hypocrisy were common 👉 During this time, being 'respectable' was more important than being honest. Wilde makes fun of this obsession.

3. About Oscar Wilde • Irish playwright, poet, and wit • Aesthetic Movement: 'art for art’s sake' • Famous for clever plays and satire of upper-class society • The Importance of Being Earnest was his most successful play 👉 Wilde used comedy to criticize society, but in a light-hearted way.

4. Main Characters • Jack Worthing – lives a double life as 'Ernest' • Algernon Moncrieff – witty bachelor, Jack’s friend • Gwendolen Fairfax – Jack’s love interest • Cecily Cardew – Jack’s ward, Algernon’s love interest • Lady Bracknell – symbol of Victorian values 👉 Each character represents a social attitude Wilde wanted to mock.

5. Plot Summary 1. Jack pretends to be 'Ernest' in the city 2. Algernon pretends to be 'Ernest' in the country 3. Both men fall in love, but women only want 'Ernest' 4. Lady Bracknell disapproves of Jack’s origins 5. Truth revealed: Jack’s real name is Ernest! 👉 The play is full of mistaken identities, secret lives, and ironic twists.

6. Themes • Earnestness vs. Appearances – pretending vs. being true • Marriage – treated as social contract, not just love • Class and Status – wealth, family, reputation • Hypocrisy – moral on the outside, shallow inside 👉 Wilde shows society values appearances more than truth.

7. Comedy and Style • Wordplay: pun on 'Ernest' vs. 'earnest' • Witty dialogue and satire • Farce and exaggeration • Famous quotes full of irony 👉 Humor makes us laugh but also reflect on flaws.

8. Victorian Values in the Play • Lady Bracknell: obsessed with money, class, and rules • Gwendolen & Cecily: care more about name than character • Jack & Algernon: double lives to escape restrictions 👉 Wilde exaggerates values to show their absurdity.

9. Memorable Quotes • 'The truth is rarely pure and never simple.' • 'To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.' • 'In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.' 👉 These capture Wilde’s wit and social criticism.

10. Conclusion • Not just comedy—it’s satire of Victorian society • Exposes obsession with class, marriage, and appearances • Still relevant today: do we value truth or appearances? 👉 The real question: Are we truly earnest in our own lives?