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What about this play, "The Importance of Being Earnest" is realistic? What is not? Posted by jma on May 14, 2008. |
The Importance of Being Earnest Group
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The Importance of Being Earnest is a Victorian satire that pokes fun at Victorian morality and social order. The double life of Jack in an effort to cover up his unacceptable behavior while in London is used against him by Algernon who takes on the identity of Earnest, Jack's alter ego. Bringing Earnest to life as Jack's brother creates a comic situation where Algernon, an individual who also escapes with the use of a fake friend intrudes on Jack's life, this is a bit of a farce. When Algernon arrives at Jack's home and falls in love with Cecily, it is a little hard to believe, especially because Cecily has already decided that she is going to marry Earnest, because she loves his name. When Algernon decides that he will be Earnest for her because he loves her, this is real. Also realistic, is the idea that men in the Victorian era, in an effort to protect their reputations and their families, used fake names when they visited the city for a little freedom from their country estates. Realistically, there is also a discussion of the separation the classes with regard to Jack and Gwendolyn. Victorian society had a particular social order and Jack is not eligible to marry Gwendolyn because of his status below her in social rank. But then, his real identity is revealed, that is unrealistic. Posted by pmiranda2857 on May 14, 2008. |

