Table of Contents

Dedication Page.......................1

Themes and Motifs of the Play....................4

Meet the Characters...................................6

About the Author:Oscar Wilde......................8

Act I Summary.................................................10

Act I Vocabulary .............................................12

Act I Connections.............................................14

Act I Discussion Questions..............................15

Quick and Fun Facts About the Victorian Era.........16

Recipe for English Tea Cucumber Sandwiches....18

Act II Summary...............................................20

Act II Vocabulary....................................................22

Act II Connections....................................................24

Act II Discussion Questions......................................25

Did you know?.............................................................26

Muffins Recipe...........................................................28

Act III Summary.......................................................30

Act III Vocabulary.....................................................32

Act III Connections....................................................34

Act III Discussion Questions......................................35

Closing Statement........................................................36

Themes and Motifs of the Play

This classic play takes place during the Victorian Era in England (1837-1901). That being said, many of the themes and motifs present in The Importance of Being Earnest have to do with how society functioned back then. Mainly the themes touch on superficiality, societal standards, and one's social class. Here are a few:

-Secret Lives (one had to live a secret life to do the things they could not get away with in real life).

-Respect and Reputation (the Victorian upper-class was so worried about being respectable, to the point where they had to lie about everything. One's reputation really mattered.)

-Society and Class (the upper class act very pretentious and prideful. They do anything to maintain the status quo, whereas the lower class is much more humble.)

As for the motifs, many are simply criticizing the Victorian society

Here are a few:

-Marriage (it is taken lightly in the play and demonstrates the characters immaturity, which essentially is criticizing Victorian Society.

-False Names (false identities are major in this play, further enhancing how superficial people of the Victorian Era were)

-Puns (they add a double meaning to words which parallel the way many individuals had to live double lives to fit it.

Meet the Characters

Jack Worthing: He represents the idea of leading a life of responsibility in the country and a life of deception in the city. His role in the book is to express social attitudes and rituals.

Algernon Moncrieff: Younger than Jack, takes less responsibility and is always frivolous and irreverent. As a symbol his wittiness and aestheticism personified, functions with a life of deception like Jack.

Lady Bracknell: A formidable victorian woman who represents upper class society and its values and opinions. She is a symbol of victorian earnestness and the happiness it brings as a result. She’s powerful, ruthless, and arrogant to the extreme.

Gwendolen Fairfax: Provides the opportunity to discuss marriage, courtship, and the absurdities of life. She is a confident and worldly woman

Cecily Cardew: Provides the opportunity to discuss dull and boring education, victorian values, money, social security, and the repression of passion.

Miss Prism: Shows what happens when a dream is not pursued in a society of strict social structure and straight moral guidelines.

Dr. Chasuble: Symbolizes Victorian religion and respectability.

About the Author: Oscar Wilde

QUICK FACTS

Full name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

Born: October 16, 1857

From: Westland Row, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Famous Works: The Importance of Being Earnest, Salome, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Lady Windermere's Fan.

Oscar Wilde was a writer, playwright, and poet. Wilde was a popular figure during the Victorian era in England. Wilde was born into a very wealthy family; his father was a doctor and his mother was a poet and linguist. He attended the best schools, and always received the highest honors. Wilde graduated from Oxford in 1874. A couple years later in 1884, he married a wealthy Englishwoman name Constance Lloyd, and had two sons. Although he married her, it was well known that he was a homosexual. Wilde had a brilliant wit and very flamboyant style. He also was a strong follower of aestheticism- beauty really mattered to him.

Act I

Setting: Algernon Moncrieff's flat in Half-Moon St, W.

Summary: Algernon Moncrieff is awaiting the arrival of his aunt Augusta, however is suddenly visited by his good friend "Earnest" Worthing. "Earnest" comes with the sole purpose of retrieving his cigarette case. Of course before he can get it back, Algernon has a little fun with the situation. In the end, he finds out that "Earnest" is actually named Jack. Algernon then goes to explain bunburying to Jack. Finally aunt Augusta comes accompanied by her daughter Gwendolen. Jack ends up proposing to her, much to the dismay of Lady Bracknell (aunt Augusta). Jack and Gwendolen plan to meet soon at Jack's country home. While he tells her the address, Algernon overhears and writes it down. He plans on doing some bunburying.

Act I Vocabulary

Bunbury- An assumed or fake identity (pg.35)

Languid- Lacking spirit or liveliness (pg.38)

Invalid- Incapacitated by a chronic illness/injury (pg.39)

Earnest- Devout or heartfelt

"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"

-Algernon Moncrieff

Act I Connections

-Jack pretending to be someone else to be accepted in marriage relates to people who are pretending to be someone else to fit into society.

-The time frame (Victorian Times) is the same as the play, Pygmalion’s, time frame.

-The tension between the rich and poor classes is relatively the same today. There is a disconnection between the two groups and both do not make the effort to put themselves in each other's shoes.

-Jack pretending to be Ernest in order to be accepted in marriage relates to Huck, in Huckleberry Finn, pretending to be Tom Sawyer in order to be accepted for who he is.

-What did you think when Algernon expressed his belief that “the only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else if she is plain.”?

-How do you feel when Gwendolen said she would not marry a man by the name of Jack?

-Can this section relate to how relationships are nowadays?

-Overall, what to do you think of the term “bunburying”? Do people actually do this?

Act I Discussion Questions

Quick and Fun Facts About the Victorian Era

-Period of Queen Victoria’s reign from June 20, 1837 to her death on January 22, 1901.

-The period is characterized as one of relative peace among the great powers, increased economic activity, “refined sensibilities” and national self-confidence for Great Britain.

-Theatre, arts, music, drama, and opera were very popular.

-Electric power, telegraph, telephones, and photography was introduced.

Quick and Fun Facts About the Victorian Era

-people would read aloud for entertainment

-the British Empire was increasing

- people were put into geological zones based on class: poor in the inner city and rich away from city core, power moved from aristocracy to wealthy business owners.

-Clothes determined your class and status in society.

-Music began emerging as entertainment for wealthy.

Ingredients

1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,softened1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion salt

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

1 (1 pound) loaf sliced bread, crusts removed

1 pinch lemon pepper

Total time it takes: 25 minutes

Makes 12 servings

202 Calories

English Tea Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe

Steps

-Place cucumber slices between 2 paper towels set in a colander. Allow liquid to drain, about 10 minutes.

-Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion salt, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl until smooth.

-Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on one side of each bread slice.

-Divide cucumber slices over half of the bread slices; sprinkle lemon pepper on cucumber.

-Stack the other half of the bread slices with spread sides down over the cucumber slices to make sandwiches.

COURTESY OF ALLRECIPES.COM

Act II

Setting: The garden at the Manor house, Woolton

Summary: The act starts in the garden at the Manor House, Jack's country estate. We are introduced to Cecily Cardew, Jack's warden, and Miss Prism. Later on Dr.Chasuble enters, who Miss Prism is obviously crushing on, and vice versa. They go for a walk and Merriman the butler announces to Cecily that Earnest Worthing has just arrived. "Earnest" Worthing is actually Algernon! He has come to do some bunburying. He basically flirts with Cecily to the point were they later become engaged. They go inside to eat, and then John arrives! Miss Prism and Dr.Chasuble find Jack grieving over his brother, yet Algernon comes in pretending to be Earnest, surprising everyone! Loads of lying goes on however, to make things even worse, Gwendolen comes. She has a whole altercation with Cecily because for a moment they think they are engaged to the same man. Everything gets resolved and the act ends with Jack and Algernon arguing, and the eating of many muffins.

Act II Vocabulary

-Melodramatic: characteristics of melodrama, especially in being exaggerated, sensationalized or over emotional

-Celibacy: the state of being abstained from marriage and sexual relations

-Horticultural: relating to the art or practice of garden cultivation and management

-Canonical: according to or ordered by canon law

-Grotesque: comically or repulsively ugly or distorted

-Philanthropic: seeking to promote the welfare of others especially by donating money to good causes

-Aristocracy: the highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles