Illustration of Jack Worthing in a top hat and formal attire, and a concerned expression on his face

The Importance of Being Earnest

by Oscar Wilde

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The Importance of Being Earnest Questions on Miss Prism

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The Importance of Being Earnest

The role of women in The Importance of Being Earnest, particularly mothers and single women, is the pursuit of marriage. Mothers like Lady Bracknell seek marriage for their daughters, while...

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The Importance of Being Earnest

Chasuble refers to Miss Prism as "Egeria" in a flirtatious manner, drawing on two connections. Egeria, like Laetitia (Prism's first name), is a Roman goddess, serving as an adviser and lover, which...

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The Importance of Being Earnest

Mrs. Prism serves as the governess to Cecily and represents Victorian values and social norms in "The Importance of Being Earnest." Her misplaced manuscript and backstory also provide crucial plot...

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The Importance of Being Earnest

One favorite scene is in Act 2, where Cecily, Miss Prism, and Dr. Chasuble engage in humorous dialogue full of contradictions and euphemisms. Cecily manipulates Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble’s...

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The Importance of Being Earnest

Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest starts with Cecily and Miss Prism to introduce Cecily in her natural environment, paralleling Gwendolyn’s introduction in Act I. Cecily differs from other...

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The Importance of Being Earnest

The four female characters in "The Importance of Being Earnest"—Lady Bracknell, Gwendolyn, Celia, and Miss Prism—are satirical caricatures rather than realistic representations of Victorian society....

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