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Examples Of Hypocrisy In The 19th Century

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Hypocrisy in the 19th Century
Hypocrisy is a common phenomenon in the contemporary society. The trait is observed in daily interactions, where an individual engages in actions that contradict their professed principles or ideals. Hypocrisy occurs in various platforms. The trait is observed in friendships, in church settings and in the learning institutions. In the play The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde decried the prevalence of hypocrisy in the 19th century. The author successfully conveys the double standards which pervaded the Victorian society. Through the character interactions and setting in the play, Wilde was able to convey the negative implications of hypocrisy in the society. Oscar Wilde highlights the hypocrisy in the …show more content…

For instance, despite wanting an exclusive marriage between him and Cecily, Algernon proclaims that faithfulness in marriage is unattainable. Algernon suggests that there cannot be a marriage that involves only two spouses. Equally, upon the discovery of Jack’s pedigree, Gwendolen sought to postpone her marriage on the premises that she would only marry an individual by the name Ernest. Such countenance is a reflection of the hypocritical nature of the character. It would be expected that if she truly loved Jack, she would be thrilled at knowing the truth about his pedigree. However, she is projected to have been more impressed by the manufactured exotic alter-ego presented in the form of Ernest. The character prides herself in being a sophisticated member of her society. However, her actions are a negation of the claim to since she shows a willingness to sacrifice her principles for imagined thrills. Gwendolen associates the name Ernest with grandiose. Upon being informed of Jack’s affinity to the name Ernest as a result of his kinship with previously iconic army personnel, Gwendolen agrees to marry him. Thus, “Ernest! My Own Ernest! I felt from the first time I met you that you could have no other name” (Wilde 78). The proclamation is hypocritical because the character knows that her partner’s real name is

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