Traditionally, satire is used to expose misguided
values and present positive alternatives. Humor and irony are used to reveal
the ridiculous aspects of society, the opposite of which suggest the author's
true critique. In Oscar Wilde's, "The Importance of Being Earnest,"
Wilde presents a satire of a satire because the play does not take itself seriously.
He presents problems within the Victorian era, such as class issues, the institution
of marriage, and the true meaning of being earnest, absurdly, without offering
any solutions.
In the opening scene, Wilde depicts the class
issue during a conversation between Algernon, an eccentric bachelor, and Lane,
his butler. The strict distinction between social orders during the Victorian
period was a real concern, but the discussion relating to it in this act is
absurd. It begins when Algernon asks why the servants always drink his champagne.
Lane attributes it to the "the superior quality of the wine," because
he has often observed that in married households, "the champagne is rarely
of a first rate brand" (1762). Algernon questions Lane's marital experience,
and he replies that he has had little except, "in consequence of a misunderstanding
between myself and a young person" (1762). Once Lane leaves, Algernon comments:
"Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth
is the use of them?" (1762). The conversation as a whole does not make
any sense, Algernon's last comment in the reverse of traditional view. Normally,
members of the upper class would never look towards to the working class for
any sort of example. Algernon's aside not only classifies the lower social orders
as a single unit, but also, by satirically stating that they have no use, he
suggests that society does not value the working class, as it should. However,
Wilde disregards the traditional format of satire, and offers no solution. Instead
of presenting an alternative situation that represents an equal relationship
between the upper and lower classes, Wilde leaves the audience up in the air
making the reference to the issue of class meaningless.
Throughout "The Importance of Being Earnest,"
Wilde addresses the institution of marriage with most of the characters. In
act one, Jack and Gwendolen make use of an isolated moment to discuss their
feelings for one another. Gwendolen, encouraging Jack's eminent proposal, reminds
him that they live "in an age of ideals," and that her ideal "has
always been to love someone of the name of Ernest" (1769). She claims that,
"there is something in the name that inspires absolute confidence"
(1769). Gwendolen's idea of "real life" is skewed and she reinforces
her naivety by placing such grand importance on a name. In act three, Gwendolen
and Cecily, who also has "a girlish dream to love someone whose name was
Ernest," (Wilde 1787) team up against Jack and Algernon over marital disputes.
The two women watch the men in an attempt to analyze their feelings and Gwendolen
states, "the fact that they did not follow us at once into the house…seems
to me to show that they have some sense of shame left" (Wilde 1795). Again,
the conversation, like Algernon and Lane's in act one is absurd, and Wilde appears
to comment on the disillusionment of marriage during the Victorian era, but
omits examples of proper ideals, or traits to expect within a marriage.
In the Victorian period, being earnest was an
important cultural value that symbolized not only a strong work ethic, but also
a serious, solemn, upfront mentality. In Wilde's play, the word "earnest"
is used frequently, but there is no real earnestness within the work to contrast
Wilde's empty representation. For example, the most serious occupation discussed
within the play is the idea of bunburying, or inventing a second identity in
order to lead a double life. This creation is addressed throughout the plot
as both Jack and Algernon attempt to "get rid of " (1767) their alternative
personality, but Wilde never describes another, more worthwhile job, that would
be socially acceptable. Lady Bracknell decides that smoking is an acceptable
occupation, but this only emphasized the absurdity of Wilde's play. A few other
examples characterize the irony of the word "earnest." In one, Jack
surprises Algernon by explaining his name is not really Ernest, and Algernon
replies, "You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest
looking person I ever saw in my life" (1765). The line is humorous and
ironic because the true definition of earnest represents sincerity and a straightforward
attitude, not dishonesty and deception, like false impersonation. The same play
on words is used in the last line of Wilde's work when Jack replies to Lady
Bracknell, "I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance
of Being Earnest" (1805). Again, Wilde uses "earnest" to represent
fraud instead of honesty. Jack makes the claim only after he discovers that
his birth name really is Ernest, however his mode for uncovering the truth is
haphazard, since he picks the first Ernest he sees on the list. Jack is also
deceived because he believes his earnestness derives from his new name and engagement
to Gwendolen, which, again, is nonsensical. True earnestness represents hard
work and devotion to a task.
Wilde's, "The Importance of Being Earnest,"
is a nontraditional satire because he never presents alternative values or suggestions
to his negative comments about social problems in the Victorian era. By presenting
absurd images of issues related to class, marriage, and moral seriousness, Wilde
baits the audience, deliberately disappointing them at the end when they wind
up empty-handed. In this manner, Wilde lightens the seriousness of his critiques
and suggests that the problems represent real life, which cannot be changed.
The effect is a comedy where even the actors "show that they are conscious
of the absurdity of their utterances," (1761) and the audience is left
with a social commentary, which represents the true ridiculousness of real life
instead of suggestions for a better future.