The conflict in the play, The Importance of Being Earnest, is strongly tied to the characters’ pursuit of pleasure, which is, according to Henry Popkin in the introduction to the text, Wilde’s favorite pattern.
In two well developed paragraphs that begin with TAG (title, author, genre), discuss the pursuit of pleasure of at least two of the characters and how those pursuits relate to conflict in the play. Cite textual evidence to support your claims.
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TAG: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Play
In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the pursuit of pleasure is indeed a central theme, as noted by Henry Popkin in the introduction to the text. Two characters, Algernon Moncrieff and Gwendolen Fairfax, exemplify this pursuit and the conflicts that arise as a result.
Algernon Moncrieff, a witty and hedonistic bachelor, is constantly seeking pleasure in his pursuit of indulgence. He fabricates an invalid friend named Bunbury as a means to escape social obligations and engage in activities purely for his own enjoyment. Algernon's pursuit puts him at odds with the expectations of Victorian society, leading to conflicts when his double life is discovered. In Act II, when Lady Bracknell confronts him about his involvement with Bunbury, Algernon responds with humorous nonchalance: "Oh! I keep a diary. I'd be lost without my Bunbury." This conflict arises because Algernon's pursuit of pleasure clashes with the rigid moral expectations of society, causing tension and drama.
Similarly, Gwendolen Fairfax, Algernon's love interest, also seeks pleasure by attempting to manipulate her life to fit into her romantic fantasies. Gwendolen is infatuated with Algernon partly due to his deceptive identity as Ernest. She believes that his name represents "absolute earnestness," a trait she desires in a partner. Gwendolen's pursuit of pleasure through love creates conflict when she discovers that her lover's name is not Ernest. In Act II, Gwendolen remarks, "My ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest. There is something in that name that inspires absolute confidence." This conflict arises as Gwendolen confronts the reality that her pursuit of pleasure is based on a superficial ideal that contrasts with the truth.
In conclusion, the pursuit of pleasure is a significant aspect of The Importance of Being Earnest, affecting the actions and motivations of characters such as Algernon and Gwendolen. Their endeavors for self-indulgence and romantic ideals respectively lead to conflicts that engage with the societal norms and expectations of Victorian society, as demonstrated through their dialogue and actions in the play.
TAG (The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde, Play)
In Oscar Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Earnest, the pursuit of pleasure is intricately woven into the lives of the characters, leading to conflicts that drive the storyline. Algernon Moncrieff and Gwendolen Fairfax are two characters whose pursuit of pleasure plays a significant role in the development of conflict throughout the play. Algernon, in particular, engages in various pleasures such as fine dining, leisurely activities, and indulging in vices. This pursuit becomes a source of conflict when it clashes with the social expectations of his role in society. For example, in Act 1, Algernon confesses to his butler, Lane, that he often pretends to have friends in order to escape tedious social obligations: "I don't play accurately - any one can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression" (Wilde, Act 1). This pursuit of pleasure creates conflict when his fabricated engagements are discovered, causing him to deceive those around him.
Similarly, Gwendolen Fairfax, in her pursuit of pleasure, is fixated on marrying a man named Ernest. She believes the name Ernest to be synonymous with an upstanding and admirable man. Gwendolen's obsession with the name creates conflict when she meets Jack Worthing, who is initially introduced to her as Ernest. Gwendolen reveals her infatuation in Act 2 when she exclaims, "I pity any poor married woman whose husband is not called Ernest" (Wilde, Act 2). This pursuit of pleasure through marriage based on a fictional name creates conflict as Jack becomes entangled in a web of lies, desperately trying to maintain the false identity of Ernest to please Gwendolen.
Overall, the pursuit of pleasure by Algernon and Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest contributes significantly to the conflicts within the play. Algernon's pursuit clashes with societal expectations, while Gwendolen's fixation on a name creates deception and misunderstandings. Through these conflicts, Oscar Wilde masterfully explores the absurdity and hypocrisies of the upper-class Victorian society, providing a satirical commentary on the pursuit of pleasure.
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