Societal Expectations in The Importance of Being Earnest, a Play by Oscar Wilde

As much as people prefer to see themselves as individuals, society controls us more than we admit or even recognize. Oscar Wilde’s lighthearted look at societal expectations in The Importance of Being Earnest ironically suggests that society provides pressure to appear perfect, but often this pressure warps or destroys one’s perfectly genuine self.

In Wilde’s comedy, Jack’s dual identity and Algernon’s “Bunburying” illustrate the societal pressure of keeping up appearances. Jack, presenting himself as “Ernest” in the city, deceives his city friends in an attempt to maintain his good reputation as a solid country gentleman. While this may seem harmless, both to himself and to others, his alter ego often serves as a scapegoat for lying and poor behavior. For example, his story begins to unravel when Algernon finds his cigarette case engraved to “Uncle Jack.” This puts him at Algernon’s mercy, as he must explain why he is Emest in the city and Jack in the country, and now his secret is in the hands of someone who is known for his own shameless behavior. Even worse, when he proposes to Gwendolen, he learns that part of his appeal for her is his false name, rather than his true identity.

This not only diminishes his own genuine self but also eventually almost causes him to lose Gwendolyn’s love. Algernon also uses deception to keep up appearances, inventing an invalid friend Bunbury to offer him the freedom to escape his societal obligations. He often uses Bunbury’s illness as an excuse to avoid dinners and social engagements with Aunt Augusta, escaping to friends’ country houses for long visits. This allows him to live lavishly at the expense of others while avoiding the unpleasant social obligations that his upper-class position requires of him. The fact that he needs Bunbury at all reveals that keeping up with societal expectations is draining; he must resort to lies. Ironically, lying about Bunbury is much more socially acceptable than admitting the truth that he would prefer not to attend these social engagements. Eventually, these social pressures cause problems for both men, forcing them to abandon their deceptions and reveal their genuine natures.

Ironically, the character of Lady Bracknell serves as both a symbol of the hypocritical upper-class society that each man seeks — at least on the surface — to please and as a catalyst of the ultimate revelation of their genuine selves in the end. As a ruthless social climber and spokesperson for the status quo, Lady Bracknell’s behavior enforces social discrimination and excludes those who do not fit into her class. When finding out about Jack’s proposal to her daughter, Lady Bracknell’s reaction reveals, rather than excitement or pleasure, a concern about Jack’s social status. To her, marriage is an alliance for property and social security; love is not part of the mix. Jack’s ability to support Gwendolen is not as important as his family background and reputation. Lady Bracknell scolds Jack’s upbringing, being born in a “handbag”, and emphasizes his lack of social status. In order to be an eligible suitor for Gwendolen, Jack must: have a good reputation, a good social standing, and a good last name. Lady Bracknell refuses to let her daughter marry Jack and effectively dehumanizes him by comparing him to a “parcel”. Wanting to please and conform to the standard’s of the upper-class society.

Jack rids of his double life and kills off his fictitious “brother”, Ernest. In addition to Jack’s proposal, Algernon later admits to Lady Bracknell (Aunt Augusta) that he is engaged to Cecily. Knowing that Cecily is Jack’s ward, Lady Bracknell is quick to judge Cecily the same way she criticized Jack. She insists that someone like Cecily does not belong in her society. Yet, once Lady Bracknell finds out that Cecily is from a wealthy background, Cecily looks much more attractive to her and even declares that Cecily has “distinct social possibilities”. However, Jack impedes on the union and refuses to consent to Cecily and Algernon’s marriage. Under the chaos of it all, the truth is revealed. Lady Bracknell’s overbearing and prying nature, ultimately, reveals Jack and Algernon’s genuine self. Declaring Bunbury’s death, Algernon lies to free himself from future lying. By killing off the fictional, Bunbury, Algernon sets himself up to speak the truth for the rest of his life, which enables him to live a better and more ethical life with Cecily. On the other hand, Miss. Prism’s confession – provoked by Lady Bracknell – leads to the discovery of who Jack really is: his name is really Ernest. This is perhaps the most ironic revelation. It shows that Jack has not been lying this entire time to Gwendolen. Jack has been earnest about being Ernest. Because Victorian norms were repressive and suffocating, characters in The Importance of Being Earnest lived secret lives or created false impressions to express who they truly are. Jack and Algernon create personas to be free; these other lives allow them to neglect their duties — in Algernon’s case — or leave their duties and pursue pleasure — in Jack’s case. However, society’s pressure to appear perfect– although capable of destroying one’s genuine self — often leads one down the road of self-discovery.

Cite this page