Overview
Synopsis
Oscar Wilde’s brilliantly clever comedic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, was once called by critic W.H. Auden, “the only pure verbal opera in English.” Earnest tells the story of two young gentlemen in London, who each live a double-life, creating elaborate deceptions to find some balance in their lives. John Worthing escapes the burdens of responsibility to have an exciting life in the city, pretending to be his fictitious younger brother Ernest. Algernon Moncrieff, meanwhile, has invented a convenient invalid, Bunbury, whom he uses as an excuse to gallivant off to the country whenever he pleases. When John falls in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, he is determined to come clean, but when Gwendolen reveals she can only love a man named Ernest, it somewhat complicates things. When Algernon discovers John’s secret and decides to visit John’s pretty little ward in the country, posing as the debauched “Ernest,” the situation gets entirely more complicated! Hijinks ensue, and the two gentlemen and their ladies are in for more than they ever anticipated when formidable Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen’s mother, begins sleuthing around to uncover the far-fetched truth. Oscar Wilde's brilliant comedy captures with wit and charm the absurdity and delight of the Victorian "age of surfaces" (as Lady Bracknell calls it,) while capturing the struggle of four passionate lovers trying to conform to expectations and, in the most roundabout and delightfully funny way possible, love who they wish and live how they want.
Show Information
Context
Show Origins
The Importance of Being Earnest was Oscar Wilde’s final play and was written during the height of his fame. There was great speculation over the subject and title of his latest play and so Wilde used the working title Lady Lancing to reduce gossip and speculation about the play. He revised the play continually over the course of a year and was almost certainly inspired by the people and places he knew. For example, Lady Queensberry (the mother of Lord Alfred Douglas,
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Act One
The Importance of Being Earnest opens in dashing young Algernon Moncrieff’s flat on Half-Moon street in London, where he is playing piano with “wonderful expression” but not very well. He talks to his manservant Lane about the happenings of the previous few evenings and plans for Algernon’s aunt, Lady Bracknell’s, arrival later in the afternoon. She has expressly asked for cucumber sandwiches, and Algernon inspects them with much pomp, before stuffing his face with them. A
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Character Portrayals
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Monologues
Scenes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Identity
The question of identity is raised in the play’s title, before the opening scene has begun. Wilde toys with the audience by giving the play a deceptive title with more than one meaning. Rather than a form of the name Ernest, the title implies earnestness as a quality one should seek to acquire, as in being honest, sincere, sober, and serious. However, the idealised seriousness or sincerity that comes with being ‘earnest’ is rejected by both Gwendolen and Cecily as they
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The truth is rarely pure, and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!
(Algernon Moncrieff, Act 1)
Context: Algernon is talking with his good friend, Jack Worthing. Algernon has just discovered that Jack is leading a double life, calling himself Ernest in town and reverting to Jack when at home in the country. He is curious to get to the bottom of Jack’s decision to adopt an alter ego.
Analysis: Algernon’s musing
to read our analysis of select quotes from The Importance of Being Earnest and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
Aesthetics refers to the set of principles that guide the creation and appreciation of beauty, particularly in the arts. In theatre, it encompasses visual style, emotional resonance, and philosophical ideas that shape the production's overall look and feel.
An alter ego is a second self or alternate personality that differs from a character’s outward persona. In drama, it can be used as a dramatic device to explore internal conflict or duality.
A fictional persona invented to escape social obligations, coined from Oscar Wilde’s play *The Importance of Being Earnest*.
A Comedy of Manners is a dramatic genre that satirizes the customs, behaviors, and social norms of a particular class or group, often through witty dialogue and clever banter. It typically focuses on relationships, courtship, and social pretensions, exposing human vanity and hypocrisy. This style thrives on sharp humor and quick repartee, making it both entertaining and socially revealing.
A flamboyantly dressed male character obsessed with fashion and refinement, often used for satire in English Renaissance drama.
Farce is a comedic style that emphasizes exaggerated situations, improbable coincidences, mistaken identities, and rapid pacing. It often includes physical humor such as slamming doors, frantic chases, or characters hiding in plain sight. Farce is designed to generate nonstop laughter, often prioritizing chaos and absurdity over realistic storytelling.
A literary device that reveals a truth through contradiction, often used in dramatic dialogue and themes.
Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.
A play on words that exploits multiple meanings for humorous or rhetorical effect. Puns are especially prevalent in Shakespearean and comedic writing.
Satire is a dramatic style that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize human behavior, social institutions, or political systems. In theatre, it highlights flaws and hypocrisies through wit and parody, encouraging audiences to laugh while also reflecting on serious issues. Satire can range from lighthearted comedy to biting social commentary, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Subtext refers to the unspoken thoughts, emotions, or intentions that lie beneath a character’s dialogue or actions. It provides depth and complexity to performances, allowing audiences to sense hidden conflicts or desires. Directors and actors often rely on subtext to create nuance and tension in storytelling.
A character who courts another romantically, often central to plots in classical and romantic comedies.
Characters representing the aristocracy or wealthy elite, often portrayed with distinct costume, accent, and mannerisms.
Relating to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901), which influenced theatrical style, costume, and themes.
A district or division, sometimes referring to the care or guardianship of another, used in early modern plays to suggest duty or protection.
Relating to Oscar Wilde’s distinctive wit, satire, and social commentary found in his dramatic and literary works.
Wit in theatre refers to the quick, clever use of language to create humor or reveal deeper truths about characters and situations. It often relies on sharp wordplay, irony, or unexpected turns of phrase to keep audiences engaged. Wit is commonly found in comedies and serves both to entertain and to highlight human flaws in a lighthearted way.
