The Hypocrisy of Being Earnest

The twee era was a time of smugness and pomposity for the newly robust generation who quickly rose in class during and after the industrial revolution. nought was as it seemed in this day when extravagance was allegedly the most prized attribute a man could possess. In Oscar Wildes guiltless satire, The Importance of worldness Earnest, ein truth timber embodies the ideas and values of this dev bug out age. Oscar Wildes special character in The Importance of Being Earnest, bull, spouts guile when his mouth is open, and sometimes when it is closed. At first impression, mariner seems to be a true military man.Indeed, the beginnings of his conversation with Algernon in the possibleness scene proves just that, but when the theater of his travels back and forth from the city to the state is brought up, Jack makes excuses and hastily changes the subject to much than(prenominal) lighthearted topics like cucumber sandwiches (890). provided truly soon Algernon broaches th e subject of Bunburying, to Jacks ignorance. Little does this kindly gentleman know, however, that he is in fact virtuoso of the most advanced Bunburyists (Algernon) know(s) (894). The explanation Algernon receives from his questions is merely that Jack is Ernest in town, and Jack in the country.Perhaps Jack who is Ernest is non as earnest as he seems? Algernon for certain thinks so. He produces a cig atomic number 18tte theme belonging to Jack with the inscription From small Cecily with her fondest savour (892). At which point, Jack says that it is very ungentlemanly to read some atomic number 53 elses cigarette case. If Jack is so touch on intimately being gentlemanly, thus wherefore is he, as Algernon puts it, a Bunburyist? Only a few lines later, Jack says to Algernon My dear Algy, you gibber exactly as if you were a tooth doctor. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when single isnt a dentist. It produces a false impression (893).This disceptation condemns hi m as a dreadful imposter to attentive readers. Jack claims to be a gentleman though he leads a pronged life, yet still dictates to others how a gentleman should act. In essence then, Jack, disdain his admonishing of Algernon, is very much talk like a hypothetical dentist even if he isnt one. It is not only Jack who is a hypocrite, however, as Algernon and Jack committed twin sins. later Jacks admission of leash a double life, Algernon too confesses You withstand invented a very useful junior brother called Ernest, in order that you whitethorn be able to come up to town as often as you like.I shed invented an invaluable invariable invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is suddenly invaluable. If it wasnt for Bunburys bad health, for instance, I wouldnt be able to dine with you at Williss to-night (895) Bunbury and Ernest are one of the same. However, Algernon is guilty of hypocrisy in more than just this i nstance. Upon Jacks entrance, Algernon has a spread laid out in preparation for Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen, including a pickax of cucumber sandwiches.When Jack reaches for one, his hand is slapped out-of-door by the host, because they are to be saved, then Algernon continues eating the cucumber sandwiches (891). However, perhaps the most astonishing crime of hypocrisy Algernon commits takes institutionalise in act II, upon Jacks discovery that Algernon is assuming the role of his brother, Ernest. Algernon declares that one moldiness be serious virtually some social occasion, if one wants to have any enjoyment in life. I happen to be serious about Bunburying (932). With this statement, Algernon has admitted that the only issue he is serious about is cunning to others.This Victorian gentleman, who claims to be earnest, is serious about nothing but the deception of others. Cecily and Gwendolen, too, are prisoners of their own hypocrisy. Indeed, it seems as though Cecily is su ch a hypocrite that the only hypocrisy she can detect herself is in lies. Upon her clashing with Algernon, who is at the time pretending to be Jacks wicked imaginary number brother Ernest, Cecily expresses that I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being real good all the time. That would be hypocrisy (913).In addition, Cecily too contradicts the lady-like modest manner the Victorian women were so imperial of. As Algernon, in guise of Ernest, declares his love for Cecily, instead of the typical thank you and reversive of preens, she pulls out a diary and writes the compliment down, asking for more. Gwendolen, meanwhile, is worrying over whether or not she is still to love Jack since his name is Jack, and not Ernest as he deceived her. Her judgment is sure to be blemish though, seeing as how in her opinion, In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing (935).At last, the true irony of this insincere opinion come s out when Jack confides that he is to be rechristened Ernest. Then, Gwendolen is not opposed to the sum as she had been five minutes prior. Indeed, as events unfold her decision changes along with the ever-changing of Mr. Worthings first name. Remember, that earnestness is prized to a higher place all, so Gwendolen and Cecily both swear to unite a man named Ernest. Whether he is really earnest or not is of no importance, because as Gwendolen said, style is much more important than sincerity. solely in all, the manner of Wildes infamous hypocrites is astounding, to say the least. However, this must say something of the manner of the earnest Victorian age. Was it truly being earnest that was the desire of men and women? Or was it to appear earnest? If the latter is true, then it was necessary to be a hypocrite just to continue a name. Regardless of the case, it can be sure that Worthing at least has succeeded. All of his life he claimed to be Ernest, not Jack, but when he foun d out he truly was Ernest, he last realized the importance of being earnest.