An Essay For The Importance Of Being Earnest Essay

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“An Essay for The Importance of Being Earnest,” written by Arnold Schmidt, discusses being earnest in Victorian English society in Oscar Wilde’s famous play. Schmidt first explains the pun and paradox of the title and the actual definition of the word “earnest.” While it has multiple meanings, it is essentially synonymous with being eager and sincere. He explains how the trait of earnestness was and was not found in Victorian society and in The Importance of Being Earnest. From the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, Britain has made many advancements over the long run, but not without harming individuals in the short run. During Queen Victoria’s reign, British society was divided between the haves and have-nots: wealthy educated men with their adorned wives contrasted against ill-educated and …show more content…
The ruling class justified their invasions with claiming to spread civilization caused by religion and industrial advancement. They knew they were causing damage, but they excused their actions by citing utilitarianism, which presumed justness based on what benefitted the most people. The characters in The Importance of Being Earnest do not fit into any of these molds of earnestness but rather display a combination. Wilde shows that an upper class does not contribute to utilitarianism ideals when it creates the idle. However, the earnest colonialism itself allows for Algernon and Jack’s lifestyle. Even Jack’s father had been a general for the British Raj. The play also uses satire to critique moral ideals, education, and gender roles in Victorian society. While reformers stressed that the upper classes should set an example for proper behavior, Algernon believes the opposite. Education, especially for upper-class women, was often futile, and Wilde mocks the fear that a better education system would lead to the working class to
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