The Hypocrisy of Being Earnest

The Victorian era was a time of smugness and pomposity for the newly m staryed generation who quickly rose in class during and after the industrial revolution. Nothing was as it seemed in this day when transport was allegedly the to the highest degree prized attri besidese a humanity could possess. In Oscar Wildes classical satire, The impressiveness of Being Earnest, every character embodies the ideas and values of this hot age. Oscar Wildes primordial character in The Importance of Being Earnest, diddley, spouts delusion when his mouth is open, and sometimes when it is closed. At first impression, Jack seems to be a received gentleman.Indeed, the beginnings of his chat with Algernon in the opening scene proves just that, but when the keep down of his travels prickle and forth from the city to the country is brought up, Jack makes excuses and hastily changes the subject to more(prenominal) lighthearted topics care cuke sandwiches (890). But very soon Algernon broache s the subject of Bunburying, to Jacks ignorance. Little does this kindly gentleman know, however, that he is in fact one of the most advanced Bunburyists (Algernon) know(s) (894). The explanation Algernon receives from his questions is simply that Jack is Ernest in town, and Jack in the country.Perhaps Jack who is Ernest is non as earnest as he seems? Algernon certainly thinks so. He produces a prat case belonging to Jack with the inscription From little Cecily with her fondest love (892). At which point, Jack says that it is very ungentlemanly to read someone elses ass case. If Jack is so concerned rough being gentlemanly, therefore wherefore is he, as Algernon puts it, a Bunburyist? Only a few lines later, Jack says to Algernon My adept Algy, you dress down exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isnt a dentist. It produces a false impression (893).This statement condemns him as a dreadful impostor to attentive readers. Jack cl aims to be a gentleman though he leads a prongy life, yet still dictates to others how a gentleman should act. In essence then, Jack, despite his admonishing of Algernon, is very much talking like a hypothetical dentist even if he isnt one. It is not only Jack who is a hypocrite, however, as Algernon and Jack committed vis-a-vis sins. After Jacks admission of leaders a double life, Algernon too confesses You have invented a very useful younger blood brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like.I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is perfectly invaluable. If it wasnt for Bunburys bad health, for instance, I wouldnt be able to dine with you at Williss to-night (895) Bunbury and Ernest are one of the same. However, Algernon is guilty of hypocrisy in more than just this instance. Upon Jacks entrance, Algernon has a spread pri med(p) out in preparation for Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen, including a selection of cucumber sandwiches.When Jack reaches for one, his hand is slapped away by the host, because they are to be saved, then Algernon continues eating the cucumber sandwiches (891). However, perhaps the most astonishing crime of hypocrisy Algernon commits takes place in act II, upon Jacks discovery that Algernon is expect the role of his brother, Ernest. Algernon declares that one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any amusement in life. I happen to be serious about Bunburying (932). With this statement, Algernon has admitted that the only thing he is serious about is lying to others.This Victorian gentleman, who claims to be earnest, is serious about nothing but the deception of others. Cecily and Gwendolen, too, are prisoners of their own hypocrisy. Indeed, it seems as though Cecily is such a hypocrite that the only hypocrisy she can detect herself is in lies. Upon her skirmish wit h Algernon, who is at the time pretending to be Jacks squiffy imaginary brother Ernest, Cecily expresses that I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being rightfully good all the time. That would be hypocrisy (913).In addition, Cecily too contradicts the lady-like pocket-size manner the Victorian women were so proud of. As Algernon, in dissembling of Ernest, declares his love for Cecily, instead of the typical thank you and returning of compliments, she pulls out a diary and writes the compliment down, asking for more. Gwendolen, meanwhile, is worrying over whether or not she is still to love Jack since his name is Jack, and not Ernest as he deceived her. Her judgment is sure to be flawed though, seeing as how in her opinion, In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing (935).At last, the true irony of this hypocritical opinion comes out when Jack confides that he is to be rechristened Ernest. Then, Gwendolen is n ot opposed to the marriage as she had been five minutes prior. Indeed, as events unfold her decision changes along with the changing of Mr. Worthings first name. Remember, that earnestness is prized above all, so Gwendolen and Cecily both desire to marry a man named Ernest. Whether he is really earnest or not is of no importance, because as Gwendolen said, style is much more important than sincerity.All in all, the doings of Wildes infamous hypocrites is astounding, to say the least. However, this must say something of the manner of the earnest Victorian age. Was it genuinely being earnest that was the desire of men and women? Or was it to appear earnest? If the latter is true, then it was necessary to be a hypocrite just to keep a name. Regardless of the case, it can be sure that Worthing at least has succeeded. All of his life he claimed to be Ernest, not Jack, but when he found out he truly was Ernest, he finally realized the importance of being earnest.