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This line sounds amusing. But it also shows that Algernon and people in general often hide behind lies. We see this when Algernon often lies about his imaginary sick friend Bunbury. Whenever he wants to avoid boring social duties in London, like his aunt’s dinner, he lies to go see his sick friend Bunbury. Throughout the play, Wilde’s wit keeps the audience smiling. For example, Lady Bracknell says,
“To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
Here, she turns a serious subject into comedy. Wilde’s style uses this kind of smart speech to make serious ideas sound humorous and light.
Satirical Tone: Wilde’s humor is not only for fun — it also criticizes the upper-class people of his time. Victorian society cared too much about names, wealth, and manners. Through characters like Lady Bracknell, Wilde shows how shallow they were. When Lady Bracknell rejects Jack because he was found in “a handbag,” it becomes both funny and meaningful. She is not shocked that a child was lost, but only that he was found in a handbag. This shows the false pride of the upper class. So, Wilde’s style mixes laughter and criticism smoothly and gently. It allows the audience to enjoy the humor while understanding the truth behind it.
Comedy of Manners: Wilde’s style also follows the tradition of “comedy of manners.” This means the play makes fun of how rich people behave in society. Characters speak in polite tones but behave foolishly. For example, when Gwendolen says she can only love a man named “Ernest,” the audience realizes how meaningless such social rules are. Wilde uses such situations to laugh at the silly customs of love, marriage, and respectability.
Irony and Wordplay: Another important part of Wilde’s style is irony. It means saying one thing but meaning another. The title itself, The Importance of Being Earnest, is a clever joke. The word “Earnest” means honest and serious, but both Jack and Algernon are dishonest when they pretend to be someone else. So the title is ironic. No one in the play is really “earnest.” However, we understand the importance of being “Ernest” at the end of the play, because Jack discovers that his name is Ernest. Only this name allows him to marry Gwendolen.
Light but Meaningful Tone: Wilde’s writing looks light and playful, but it has deep meaning. His jokes reveal how empty and foolish society can be. For example, Gwendolen says:
“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”
This is a clever wordplay from Oscar Wilde. He alters “style” and “sincerity” to make this situation humorous. At the same time, he makes fun of the upper-class foolishness. This is why his language feels funny yet powerful.
In “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde’s style is full of wit, irony, and charm. He makes people laugh while also opening their eyes to the false values of his age. His dialogues are bright and polished, his humor is gentle but sharp, and his criticism is hidden under laughter.
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