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Social Conflict In Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest

721 Words3 Pages

Social etiquette,mannerisms, and formalities often define a society or time-period heavily influencing their customs. Social behaviors of such influence nevertheless going to face criticism and saterzation from those who find trivality within them.This concept endures thorough explanation in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, as the triviality of social conflicts relies heavily on the implausible behavior of characters and events to ultimately establish and resolve the ongoing conflict within the play The often ironic and erratic behavior of Lady Bracknell establishes a social conflict at the beginning of the play, delving into the critical view Oscar Wilde has developed on the Victorian value of marriage. Lady Bracknell seeks for the epitome of the …show more content…

At the end of the play Jack Worthing’s lineage becomes revealed, and it turns out he was the baby in the handbag Miss Prism lost so long ago. After further revelation it comes to light that Algernon and Jack are brothers, and Jack is actually named Ernest after all. Silly as it may seem this ending highlights Wilde’s criticism of Victorian triviality. Like magic in Lady Bracknell's eye’s Jack is now the perfect suitor for Gwindelon contradictory to what she thought before. Even more implausible is the fact that Jack can so easily forgive the woman who consistently questioned and belittled him. How easily the conflict resolved in the end portrays a society that is so involved in self-preservation that their values of responsibility and honesty remain obscurely muddled. In The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde showcases a society muddled by the focus of social formalities to the point it is comedic. The satirization of these formalities is often highlighted in the implausible behavior of Wilde’s characters in the way they establish and resolve social and moral

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How and why is a social group represented in a particular way? In his play The Importance of Being Earnest (1895, London St. James’ theater), Oscar Wilde portrays the attitudes and society of Victorian upper class through character interactions within the ‘Bunburyist’ adventures of Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing. The play’s comedic elements, in addition to the portrayal of power structures, are used as an effective medium to challenge the viewer to reflect upon Wilde’s criticism on institutions and values of the aristocracy. In conjunction to this, deeper analysis can be conducteds about marriage in Victorian aristocracy and their attitudes to members of other social groups.

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