"The Importance of Being Earnest"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Oscar Wilde's famous play, "The Importance of Being Earnest", is a humorous tale of the misunderstandings and gaffes of the upper class. It also discusses how the play is Wilde's jab at the upper class of society, satirizing their value of education.

From the Paper:

"Another character that Wilde uses liberally to show his disdain for the upper class and the lack of emphasis they put on education is Jack's niece and ward, Cecily. Throughout the play, Cecily exhibits a strong sense of dislike for education, dreading her lessons with the kindly but uninteresting Miss Prism. She herself speaks sarcastically of education, saying, "I wish Uncle Jack would allow that unfortunate young man, his brother, to come down here sometimes. We might have a good influence over him, Miss Prism. I am sure you certainly would. You know German, and geology, and things of that kind influence a man very much (1714)." Wilde's own satirical personality comes out in this statement, as Cecily is subtly making fun of the idea of learning when she feels her time would be much better suited to writing in her diary and using her imagination."

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