OSCAR WILDE
The Importance of Being Yourself
SUMMARY
Born into the British Elite
Spent his life poking of the British Elite
A “British Dandy”
• What we now call a “metrosexual”
• But we think it’s cute, they thought it was evil
Married with Two Children
Lord Alfred Douglas
“ D E V I A N T S E X UA L B E H AV I O R ”
A Silent Hidden World
THE FAMOUS OSCAR WILDE
Importance of Being Earnest
• Launches Oscar Wilde into Meteoric Fame!
Lectures around the world
Toast of the town
Everybody loves Oscar Wilde
Until . . .
WILDE VS MARQUESS OF
Q U E E S B E R RY
Father of Lord Alfred Douglas
THE LIBEL TRIAL
• Wilde Drops the charges
• He is arrested for sexual deviancy
WILDE IS CONVICTED
• Sentenced to two years of hard labor
• Financially Ruined
• Professional Life Ruined
• The term “Homosexuality” is
created
THE DESTRUCTION OF AN
ARTIST
IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST
British Elite Realism matched with Turn of the Century absurdist Style
The is just like the characters and the lives of the TV series Downton Abbey
Parody and Satire: Poking fun at the British elite of which Wilde is a member
PARODY AND SATIRE
The play is a vehicle to make fun of:
The Absurdity of The British Upper Crust
• Their rules, and propriety
• Their judgment
• Their elitism
Absurdity of Religion
• The hypocrisy
The Absurdity of Relationships
SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF
Heightened Language – Poetic Dialogue
Cartoonish Characters
Cartoonish Situations
In the guise of Realism
• Very real comments on society
Make them laugh while you attack
CHARACTERS
Jack Worthing
• Merriman – Country Home
Algernon Moncrieff
• Lane – Butler
Gwendolen Fairfax
Cecily Cardew
Duality of Characters
THE BRITISH ELITE
Lady Bracknell
• No duel character
• Her own two sides
• Alone: symbol of Victorian Rules
• Public: Judgment – judge, jury, executioner
Miss Prism
•
•
Sarcastic Schoolmarm
Wilde’s way of getting back at his children's nanny
CAN’T FORGET THE
CHURCH
Dr. Chausuble
Wilde’s opportunity to make fun of the
hypocrisy of religion.
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