The Very Title Of The Play Is Indicative Of The Theme Of The Double. Why?

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The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde, which was first performed in 1895. It is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personæ to escape burdensome social obligations / conventions of late Victorian London, and institutions such as marriage and the Victorian ways are throughly trivialized.

1. The Very Title Of The Play Is Indicative Of The Theme Of The Double. Why?

The Two Protagonists (Jack And Algy) Lie About Their Identity - Lead A Double Life And All The Characters Keep Secrets. But This General Hypocrisy Is Accepted Because Image Is Intact - Form Is Preserved. The Characters' Behavior Is Socially Impeccable - Although They Are False.
Wilde Attacks The Institution Of Marriage. Marriage In Victorian Times Was One Of Convenience - A Legal Contract - A Tool To Achieve A Social Status - Or Financial Security Or Climb The Social Ladder. Marriage Is Not The Result Of Love - The Characters Are Not In Love - There Is No Reference To Their Feelings. Courtship Is Only A Game - A Ritual.
The Title Of The Play Is A Pun - A Play-on-words - Because 'earnest' Means 'sincere - Honest' - But None Of The Characters Is. The Protagonists Have A Double Identity ( Their Alter-egos Are Called Ernest Which Is A Different Spelling Of The Same Word) - They Are 'someone Else' (Jack Is Respectable When He Is In The Country And Is Free To Misbehave When He Is In Town) - And In General All The Characters Keep Secrets. Jack's Entire Life Is A Riddle And Is Based On Lies And Secrets.
Wilde Uses His Wit And Irony To Unveil - To Unmask The Victorian Spirit. He Makes Fun Of The Contradictions And Pseudo-respectability Of The Victorian Society - A Society Where Appearance Is Everything And Reality Is Not What It Seems - But Nobody Bothers. Wilde's Satire Is Not Violent - Aggressive - But Light. It Doesn't Want To Attack Or Criticize - Its Intention Is To Mock Society.

The Very Title Of The Play Is Indicative Of The Theme Of The Double. Why?

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The Very Title Of The Play Is Indicative Of The Theme Of The Double. Why?

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know?
Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com