Comic Devices in The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde Essay

The enormousness of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners that is used to fraudulence social aspects of a straight-laced cabaret. Wilde does this by incorporating farcical elements that would appear plastered to an audience and satirises Victorian social norms and values. Wilde also subverts the ideals of marriage by undermining the opinion as a whole and at the same time he inverts traditional sexual practice roles and degree in society. Wilde has included serious and contentious subjects such as the influence of religion which implies Wildes comedy is non a game but a serious criticism of Victorian society. However, Wilde presents these ideas in a humorous, light-hearted manner by the use of farce and satire. For this reason, it fuel be argued that Earnest does reflect the view that comedy is game vie to throw reflections upon social life. Wilde inverts the gender roles in the Victorian society in order to show reflections upon social life, particularly with noblewoman B racknell, who embodies the British Victorian aristocracy. It is through Lady Bracknell that the inversion of gender roles is highlighted as she is arguably the most dominant figure in the play obtaining the most post over every other character. It is clear from Gwendolens and Lady Bracknells comments that Lord Bracknell, who remains absent in the play, appears to be passive in the female orientated household. Gwendolen remarks that her father is entirely unknown outside their family circle, and reflects, the office seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man and speaks of a mans domestic duties. This is a comic inversion of the stereotypical expectation in Victorian times that a womans role was in the home. Moreover, Lady Bracknell interviews Jack about his suitab... ...es the morality of Victorians by centring the comedy nearly marriage, which arguably should be a serious religious ceremony, yet Wilde portrays it as a trivial affair, suggesting that he views marriage, or th e way people handle it, in a Victorian society as a joke. Also, Wilde uses Lady Bracknells haughty comments to create elements of a satire comedy that parodies the upper class society in a Victorian era. Wilde also uses inversions and subversions of gender roles in society to challenge the social order. Through this Wilde exposes the upper class and their morals concerning social matters, therefore it can be said that the decide of Wildes comedy was to educate people of the Victorian society and heading their social norms and values. Works CitedThe Importance of Being Earnest Oscar WildeComic Devices in The Importance of Being Earnest