Student Question
What pun from The Importance of Being Earnest could replace its title without using "Earnest" or "Ernest"?
Quick answer:
In "The Importance of Being Earnest," a suitable pun to replace the title could be "A Dreadful Invalid," referring to Algernon's fictional friend Bunbury. This pun highlights Bunbury's chronic illness as well as the idea of being "invalid" or not genuine, capturing the play's theme of deception. Another option could be "Bunburying," reflecting the double lives led by the characters. Both titles convey the play's exploration of identity and sincerity.
There are any number of puns in the text that could have served as the title; the actual importance of the word "earnest" and the name "Ernest" are more to do with the motivations and actions of the characters. For example, Jack's friend Algie calls the same concept "Bunburying," after his fictional friend Bunbury who is often ill, allowing him an excuse to avoid events and people.
Lady Bracknell. It is very strange. This Mr. Bunbury seems to suffer from curiously bad health.
Algernon. Yes; poor Bunbury is a dreadful invalid.
(Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, gutenberg.org)
Algie's comment that Bunbury is "a dreadful invalid" is a pun, as it states both that Bunbury is commonly sick, and that he is "invalid," that is, not valid. The title could have been A Dreadful Invalid , and worked on similar levels, but it would have lost...
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the direct meaning of the actual title, as well as the final line of the play.
What pun from the book could replace the title of The Importance of Being Earnest?
Wow! What a clever question!
This question could be open to a discussion post given that the play is loaded with epigrams and puns, all geared to kind of laugh at being sincere, or having a virtuous life of honesty.
This being said, we would have to look into Algernon's lines, particularly in Act I, when he describes the need for leading a double life or, as he calls it, "Bunburying". This is a good act in which you can look for puns as well because Ernest discloses his double life as Jack/Ernest, to Algernon's delight.
Think about the following:
You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life.
From that quote alone we could come up with:
- Looking like an Ernest.
-A most earnest- looking man.
Another place in the play where you can find good puns on honesty can be found between the dialogues between Jack and Lady Bracknell in Act III, after Prism discloses how she lost the baby she was supposed to care for (Jack/Ernest). Jack refers to Gwendolen, his fiancee, with the following quote:
Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?
To which she says: "My own Ernest" over and over throughout.
Hence, we can conclude that another good title from a pun would be that: My own Ernest.
Like I said before, there are so many puns in the play that maybe in a discussion post you may get even more great answers!