The importance of being earnest Flashcards
What does this play expose
Victorian Society for its false notions of superiority, class-counsciousness and status
Why did Wilde write this play?
As a cunning satire, to break free, through its characters and scenarios, of the ethical constraints that society propounds
What is this play also called
A comedy of manners
What is a comedy of manners
a satirical comedy that comments upon the manners and social conventions of a sophisticated, though artificial, society
What has the play been subtitled
A trivial comedy for serious people
“artistically furnished”
related to the artistic movement, which focuses on the idea that one’s actions must serve to create maximal beauty and pleasure in one’s life
“as far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for life.”
- a distinction between science and life
In act one with the piano, forte is…
A play on words:
strength and a music theory term
“Is marriage so demoralizing as that?”
A recurring critique of victorian society suggesting that marriage is a social convenience (not profitable)
This points at a lack of logic in relation to their sense of morality.
“But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted.”
example of inversion
What is an inversion
An inversion, not in the sens of altering syntax, but an alteration of a common expression which provides a contrary impression
The Albany=
A famous complex in Piccadily, London
“It produces a false impression”
Irony, since they’re talking about impressions and leading double lives
Dandy=
Someone who is self-made, and strives to imitate an aristocratic background despite being middle-class
Bunburyust=
Term invented by Wilde. A neologism.
“When one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects. It’s one’s duty to do so.”
Irony
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
Epigram, a witty saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever or amusing way.
“Literary criticism is not my forte”
One of many jabs at the wealthy. Wilde, meanwhile, was very well educated, but he was a deviant and was once suspended.
Invalid
weak, injured, sick
sent down
to sit next to
“In married life three is company and two is none”
Inversion of the saying “two is company and three is a crowd”
Sententiously
pompously moralizing
cynical
who has a negative view on life, doesn’t trust people
wagnerian
overly dramatic, as one could describe Richard Wagner’s operas
“It would leave no room for developments, and I intend to develop in many directions”
double-entendre, one which is often indecent
Ready money
Readily available, instead of credit.
(Cohen likes the repetion first by Lane and then Algernon bc it adds to the humorous effecct)
“I had some crumpets with Lady Harbury, who seems to me to be living entirely for pleasure now.”
Bc her husband died
“I am going to send you down with Mary Farquhar. She is such a nice woman and”
Subtle foreshadowing
“I think it is high time that Mr Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or die”
- Dying would be freedom for other
- Inversion and dark humour
Expurgations
Removing content that is thought to be objectional and inappropriate
Recumbent
lying down
“A man should always have an occupation of some kind. There are too many idle men in London as is”
Irony, because it is actually women who were expected to stay at home at that time
“The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately, in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square”
Sarcasme doubled down by exageration
“You have a town house, I hope?”
commentary on class
there was a shift from rural to urban
Tories
Relating to the Conservatives and a conservative ideology
“To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regard as misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness”
An epigram, a witty remark expressed in a clever or entertaining way
the worst excesses of the French revolution
it established liberal practices and diminished the focus on religion
Trivet
a plate placed beneath a dish
Gorgon
Ex. medusa
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”
There are female traits that men should adopt; probably an opinion based of Wilde’s effeminate nature.
Apoplexy
incapacity or death resulting from a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage
“Cecily is not a silly, romantic girl, I am glad to say. She has got […] and pays no attention to her lessons”
Antithesis (hypocritical humour), suggesting that she is actually a romantic girl
“Cecily and Gwendolen are perfectly certain to be extremely great firends”
A sense of hyberbole undermines this statement
It adds humour, like setting up a punchline - anticipation and payoff
“Algy, kindly turn your back”
Absurd, bc he can still hear them
“Algy, you always adopt a stricly immoral attitude toward like. You are not quite old enough to do that.”
Commentary on the fact that age does not bring wisdom; instead immorality and corruption.
(Is this gender-targeted?)
“But although she may prevent us from becoming man and wife, and I may marry someone else, and MARRY OFTEN”
jab at the purpoted sanctity of marriage
ALSO
in the Victorian Era, only men could request a divorce
utilitarian
In this context, useful, practical. Or, in regards to Utilitarianism as a philosophy, beneficial for the greatest number of people.
“I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility. I suppose that is why he often looks a little bored when we three are together.”
Commentary on the stifling nature/restrictions or Victorian society, prompting Jack to take on an alter ego.
Vacillating
Indecisive
“modern mania for turning bad people into good people at a moments notices”
“that is why I want you to reform me”
Comment on the upper class’s responsibility to reform the lower class
Three-volume novel
It was economical to publish a novel in three volumes, so that the money brought in from the sales of the first would pay for the writing and publishing or the second, and so on
“I would hang upon her lips”
it should be every word
Expression of subconscious feelings, freudian slip
egeria
a divine (mythological nymph) consort to a Roman king
Evensong
A christian evening prayer service
Debonair
confident, stylish
“pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy”
inversion
Australia
known at the time for being a penal colony
“It is rather Quixotic of you”
from Cervantes, Don Quixote, meaning exceedingly idealistic or attempting to complete and inplausible task
mistanthrope
a person who avoids human contact3/society
womanthrope (neologism) is someone who avoids women
precept
a general principle intended to regulate behavior
thrift
using money carefully
“Oh, I might trot round about five if that would suit you”
very informal, lightheartedness on the border of trivializing
dog-cart
two-wheeled horse-drawn cart, with a space for dogs under the seat
impetuous
impulsive, reckless
philanthropic
generous in helping others, usually through donations
“outside the family circle, Papa, I am glad to say, is entirely unknown. I think that is quite as it should be. The home seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man.
Inversion about gender roles.
a man who takes care of his home would be considered effeminate. This had actually been a critic of Wilde himself.
short-sighted
narrow minded
lorgnette
glasses you hold up to your eyes, or opera binoculars
“I am glad to say I have never seen a spade”
wordplay (double-entendre) pointing out class differences/perceptions
chafe
to sit in a state of annoyance
agricultural depression
moving to the city would be indicative of progress, industrialization, wealth and conservative views
upper class landowners suffered a crisis as grain shipments from the US and Canada affected the local production
superciliously
behaving as though one thinks they are superior
machinations
plots/schemes
effrontery
insolent behaviour, audacity
“in matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing”
truth is not as important as the effort to court her. This is the crux of this play. Beauty is the heart of the aesthetic view.
insuperable
impossible to overcome
pretty ironic, since they haven’t been earnest at all, the whole time
“I am glad, however, that he made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action, and acted under proper medical advice”
absurd, morbid discussion on death
“never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that.”
Lady Bracknell is a bit of a paradox. She frowns on those without money but she had no money and married into wealth.
“he has nothing, but he looks everything”
abt appearances and pretension
oxonian
studied at Oxford
so did Wilde
perambulator
stroller (baby carriage)
temperance
abstinence from alcohol
ex. temperance bar = alcohol free establishment
Interpretation of the final line:
“On the contrary, Aunt Augusta,I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”
- Play about aesthetic, not truth
-trivial
-Paradox bc all of Jack’s lines were true in the end
trivial
(of a person) concerned only with trifling or unimportant things
