Importance of Being Earnest - Context Flashcards
how was Wilde a social outsider
he was gay (Lord Alfred Douglas) and born in Dublin
what was the character that Wilde created in his plays with links to the aesthetic movement
the ‘dandy’ - often based on himself
what characterises a ‘dandy’
pays excessive attention to his appearance
is metaphor for the hypocrisy of Victorian society and morality
shallow and ineffectual
often a stand-in for Wilde
what were key morals of the aesthetic movement
‘art for arts sake’ - concept that beauty takes precedence over narrative/meaning
aspects of Victorian melodrama in Wilde’s work
derived from ‘well-made play’ (French) - classically involving abandoned children of uncertain parentage
also dark secrets from the past, letters involved
how did Wilde twist the genre of Victorian melodrama
he made tIoBE part satire and part comedy of manners (serious subtext below comedy)
gender in Victorian times
women expected to be ‘pure and clean’ and to keep private lives (below men) - whereas men had ultimate freedom
women expected to marry in order for their husband to be her ‘protector’, staying unmarried was strongly discouraged
Victorian class system
upper, middle lower classes - Algeron and Lady Bracknell particular examples of the aristocratic (upper) class extreme differences in power, and separated in society
when was tIoBE published
1895
religion in Victorian England
vast majority Christian - religion strongly influenced all political matters such as marriage or sex
however, Victorian era began to have science vs religion debate (Darwin, 1859) - possibly represented by town/country antithesis
strong, upright morals (sex was a taboo subject)
what is a comedy of manners
a type of play which mocks or hypocrises its characters to give a satirical portrayal of a specific group of people
