Introduction
During the Victorian Age, when many social, governmental, and economic structures were undergoing transition, The Importance of Being Earnest had its West End debut. At its peak, the British Empire controlled a sizable portion of the world, including Wilde’s native Ireland (Pencarelli and Forlani 149). The English aristocracy, which was far away from the British middle class and the poor, was powerful, snobby, and affluent. In the Victorian era, numerous writers, essayists, poets, philosophers, and playwrights addressed societal issues, notably those related to the effects of the Industrial Revolution and cultural and ideological transformation.
In a time of social transition, their writings and those of Oscar Wilde inspired people to consider the erected boundaries that defined society and allowed the wealthy to live privileged lives at the expense of the working class. This work discusses the social aspects of the Victorian era using the play The Importance of Being Earnest as an example. Humanity has gone through many stages of development, and in order to study a particular era, namely its social aspects, one should refer to the works of art of those times that vividly reflect what is happening. The Importance of Being Earnest is a good example of a play that can be used to study the social aspects of the life of the people of the Victorian era.
Culture
Wilde’s humor also touches on literary criticism, books, and the prevailing views of the French of the time. In a clever statement, Wilde claims that Victorians think that France only sometimes produces remarkable things, like a lesbian maid. Otherwise, France is a great spot to be executed and ask for Ernest to be buried. As the good reverend says, “I fear that hardly points to any severe state of mind at the last” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act III).
Literary criticism is for “people who have not been to a University. They do it so well in the daily papers” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act III). Modern novels rarely provide pure or unambiguous truths, and scandalous books should always be read in private. Once more, Wilde condemns the Victorians for elevating appearance over reality. He uses this as a chance to include numerous examples of common wisdom, exposing prejudice, social discrimination, carelessness, and innocence.
Compassion
Mortality and morbidity were two situations in which Victorians lacked empathy or compassion. Lady Bracknell believes Bunbury acted right because he received sound health advice when she learned that he passed away after his physicians told him he could not live. “Any type of illness should not be fostered in others. The main purpose of life is health” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act III). Like most aristocracy, Lady Bracknell is too preoccupied with her own life, the benefits of her daughter’s engagement, and her nephew’s poor decisions to have sympathy for others. Gwendolen is self-absorbed and confident in her goals because she learned these traits from her mother.
She tells Cecily, “I never travel without my diary. One should have something sensational to read on the train” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act II). Wilde seemed to be criticizing a socioeconomic elite that has little empathy for others who are less fortunate and just cares about itself.
Respectability
Duty and decorum were highly valued by the aristocratic Victorians. The main principle of the code of behavior was sincerity. Everything was about looks, and style was far more significant than content. As long as the illusion of propriety was preserved, society would look the other way if someone had a secret life, had affairs while married, or had children out of wedlock (Pencarelli and Forlani 151).
Because of this, Wilde wonders if vital contemporary issues are being disregarded in favor of unimportant worries about appearance. The epitome of this ideal is Gwendolen. “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing,” is Gwendolen’s aristocratic approach (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act II). Her brother even follows the right advice when making her marriage proposal, which is necessary; the unimportant is crucial, while the serious is ignored.
Class Conflict
It could be assumed that aristocrats would recognize their mistakes and make an effort to uphold higher moral standards. However, they feel that their attitudes are morally superior and that other social classes should adopt aristocratic attitudes and realize their errors. Miss Prism seems to think it is a matter of thrift when she criticizes the lower classes for having so many kids for Chasuble to baptize. “I have often spoken to the poorer classes on the subject.
But they do not seem to know what thrift is” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act I). Chasuble makes light of the aristocracy’s propensity to dabble in noble causes that do not significantly interfere with their own lives. He makes reference to a sermon he delivered for society to stop unrest among the upper classes. For the Victorians, reform meant preserving the established social and economic structure by upholding the virtues and economy of the upper classes.
Religion
Religion is a serious subject that is also the subject of ridicule. The issue of worries about the hereafter would be suitable for those living in this world, but it seems to be ignored in the Victorian age. Canon Chasuble is a representation of religious philosophy, and Wilde makes use of him to highlight how little the Victorians cared about behaviors that reflected their religious beliefs (Pencarelli and Forlani 150).
With interchangeable lectures full of worthless cliches, Chasuble can instantly rechristen, marry, bury, and motivate. Christenings are a costly and time waste, according to Lady Bracknell. Chasuble’s outward religiosity exposes his desire for Miss Prism: “If I were to be Miss Prism’s pupil, I would hang upon her lips” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act II). The clergyman quickly corrects his mistake while using metaphor to mask his less-than-holy aims. In this sweet and funny satire, Wilde criticizes a civilization for its conceit.
Marriage
Oscar Wilde believed that courting and marriage, which had their customs and rituals, helped to maintain these Victorian values. Marriage was a carefully considered decision. When Lady Bracknell learns that Algernon intends to marry Cecily, Jack’s ward, she judges that “some preliminary inquiry on my part would not be out of place” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act I). For a formal marriage between the two families to be allowed, Jack’s responses to Lady Bracknell’s barrage of questions concerning parents, politics, riches, addresses, aspirations, family attorneys, and outstanding legal debts must be legal and acceptable.
Fortune is essential, and when Jack and Cecily’s fortunes are both appropriate, the next problem is family background. Because Jack does not know his parents, Lady Bracknell suggests he find a parent and find one quickly. Appearance, once again, is everything. Duty is essential, further substantiating Algy’s contention that marriage is a loveless duty: “A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it” (Wilde, Gielgud, and Evans Act II). Marriage is presented as a legal contract between consenting families of similar fortunes; background, love, and happiness have little to do with it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Importance of Being Earnest highlights the distinctions between upper-class and lower-class behavior. The upper class exhibits a lot of pride and pretension because they believe they are naturally entitled to their wealth and better social status. Oscar Wilde mocks Victorian rituals and traditions in his drama The Importance of Being Ernest, especially marriage and the pursuit of love. Sincerity was seen as one of the highest goals for rehabilitating the lower classes throughout the Victorian era; later, it also reached the wealthy elite.
Works Cited
Pencarelli, Tonino, and Fabio Forlani, editors. The Experience Logic as a New Perspective for Marketing Management. Springer Cham, 2018.
Wilde, Oscar, John Gielgud, and Edith Evans. The Importance of Being Earnest. Palkettostage, 1954. Web.