In Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”, the inconsistencies between the characters' words and their actions are discovered by the use of irony, which actually brings about self-reflection within the audience. In this line, Jack criticizes Algernon for talking "like a dentist when one isn't a dentist" (Act 1, sc. 1, pg. 344). Jack believes it is "very vulgar" and not socially acceptable for Algernon to act like someone he is not. What Jack doesn’t realize is that he pretends to be Ernest, and lives by this false name in town. Just like Algernon, he is creating a "false impression". The irony allows the audience to see how easy it is for Jack to find fault with Algernon and still not see the relation these words have to himself. Even more so is the very fact that the audience immediately recognizes and laughs at this irony. This demonstrates Wilde's point that like Jack, it is easier for the audience to identify Jack's fault rather than to reflect on their shortcomings. For those in the audience who detect this hidden …show more content…
In this play, what is on the outside seems to be the main concern with most characters. This idea is seen in Gwendolen and Cecily. Their ideal man's name is Ernest, and their “girlish dream”(Act. 2, sc.1, pg. 366) is also to fall in love with Ernest. Both fail to see the importance of having an earnest husband as well. The definition of earnest is to show depth and sincerity of feeling, and have a serious intention or purpose. The disillusionment of this way of thinking is even more apparent when the girls later agree that the need of the name Ernest is an "insuperable barrier"(Act 3, sc.1, pg. 374). From this illustration of the irony in the play, the audience becomes more sensitive to the fact that it might not be so crazy after all, since they probably and subconsciously look at others that way