Setting
The play is set in Algernon's flat in the city and Jack's manor in the countryside. Both of these settings give the reader insight into the lives these characters lead.
For example, the description of Algernon's flat as "luxuriously and artistically furni
Universal concerns
The oppression of women and the homosexuals are not only relevant to the Victorian era but is universal.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was homosexual and hence had to carry out a double life to keep up with appearances. He therefore felt oppressed and expressed this through his work.
Social commentary
This play is a social commentary as it addresses and mocks the society and its problems. Examples of this are the upper class's attitude towards their servants, the social pressures are oppression etc.
Themes
Some themes within the play are role reversal, repression, confusion and reputation and appearances, Deceit, Lies, Secrecy, Appearence vs Reality
Deceit, Lies, Secrecy and the lack of honesty
Both Algernon and Jack are deceitful, an example would be their use of Bunburying to allow them to escape from social arrangements etc. This leads to them both lying and being secretive to protect their second life. The name Earnest in the title means hon
Food
Within the play, the upper classes are often described to be eating and engaging in conversation or arguments about food. This highlights their superficial actions, the lack of substance in their lives and the triviality of their lifestyle. Examples of th
Entrances and exits
The dramatic entrances and exits allows Wilde to add melodramatic elements to the play and heighten the drama of the dialogues happening previously. This often adds to the humour of the play
E.g. "Lady Bracknell sweeps out in majestic indignation"
Another
Servants
There is blurred line between the role of the servants.
E.g. Lane (Algernon's servant) behaves sarcastically towards Algernon. The use of the servants also allows Wilde to mock the attitude the upper class have towards their servants.
They enhance the ego
Opening and Ending
The ending of the play is cohesive to the opening as Wilde concludes with Jack: "i've now realised for the first time in my life the importance of being Earnest" This creates a cyclical pattern and suggests that Jack has learnt a moral lesson from what ha
Upper class
Greedy, self indulgent, selfish, self gratification, uncaring attitude towards servants, unsympathetic about loss
Lady Bracknell
represents the values of the upper class.
Miss Prism
Misprism means a lack of understanding, Ironic. Also sounds like imprison.
Chasuble
The robe that a priest wears
19th century
During the 19th century, Queen Victoria ruled the UK and this was a very oppressive time with a lot of social pressure. The Victorian era was also the time of the industrial revolution which highlighted social change. The upper class were in fear of the r
Cigarrette case
Cigarette case initially reveals Jack's double life through the inscription written on it, and it represents Jack's dual life in the country.
In addition to this, the card which Algernon reads also represents Jack's dual life as it has his pseudonym name
Sandwiches
they provide irony as Algernon is trying to prepare a great tea for his Aunt Augusta and he doesn't let Jack eat any however he is eating them and making it worse
Anticipation
Wilde creates anticipation for the play, by building tension and suspense. For example in page 8/9, Jack is revealed to be both Jack and Ernest. However the reveal for what his intentions are, is heavily delayed. Jack evades the questions asked to him. Al
Dramatic Irony
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Double life
The double life creates conflicts between characters and can also act as plot devices. They are presented as conflicts.
Farcical and melodramatic elements
Jack introduces farcical elements into the play as he exaggerates the experience trying to find his cigarette case. Other examples of melodramatic scenes are as Algernon mimics horror as he sees there are no cucumber sandwiches, when gwendolen describes h
Women and their role reversal
In the first Act, the women are presented as very strong and empowered. They seem to be intimidating both the male characters, will is a breakthrough of stereotypes. Both Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen, are both very independent women and are crucial to the
Comedy of manners
I would agree as the play satirises the upper-class through Lady Bracknell, who acts as the typical upper-class parent, who cares more about business and connections rather than actual people. Lady Bracknell also represents the typical old-fashioned paren
Contrast between Jack and Algernon
Wilde portrays Jack and Algernon as different in a variety of different ways. One way is through Algernon's opinion of marriage, which he describes as "unromantic" and businesslike. Jack on the other hand, sees at as one of the most romantic gestures of l
Punctuation
Within this act, Jack's speech contains many ellipses which creates hesitation. This highlights his uncertainty, lack of confidence and need for confirmation from the domineering females around him. Gwendolen's speech on the other hand is full of exclamat