Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde’s ingenious mastery of the satirical technique is displayed for all its glory in The Importance of being Earnest. Wildes clever turns of phrase captured the imagination of many Victorian theatre goers. Many Victorian values are presented in an exaggerated inverted form, humourously exposing what Wilde considered fundamental flaws and hypocrisies rife in the prevailing mores. In order to examine this claim in more detail I intend to concentrate on the binary opposition of sincerity and style. The characters of this play display a blatant, exaggerated preference for remaining stylish. By ridiculing these characters Wilde is, in fact, ridiculing Victorian culture, in that although they may pretend to value sincerity over style, the opposite is true.
Let us begin by exploring Wildes treatment of the dichotomy between sincerity and style within the actual text. In the opening act Jack is intending to propose to Gwendolen. They have the opportunity to discuss their rela...