The Importance of Being Earnest Group

Question:

yasindemirkant
yasindemirkant
Student
College - Senior

"Comedy is a serious business.’ In what ways does Wilde's play present serious meaning?

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Posted by yasindemirkant on Sunday May 24, 2009 at 1:00 AM and tagged with comedy, satire, the importance of being earnest.

Answers:

  1. herappleness
    herappleness Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    Wilde's play present serious meaning in that he is drawing facts and mocking them, but they are facts nevertheless. The facts are:

    a. The Victorian "polite society" is hypocritical, amoral, elitist, and intolerant

    b. The upper classes cared nothing about humanity despite of their claims to better society through charity

    c. Most upperclassmen lived above their means and for the sake of appearances

    d. Women married for nothing but money and prestige- the search for a rich aristocratic husband took centerstage

    e. Victorian London was just the cradle of snobbery and hypocrisy of its time.

    ----Hope this helps!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/importance-being

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    Posted by herappleness on Sunday May 24, 2009 at 8:19 AM