In The Importance of Being Earnest, Jack and Algernon clearly have a preoccupation with food. In this lesson, you explored the deeper meaning of this preoccupation. Using what you learned in this lesson and what you have read in the text, discuss how food serves as a symbol for obedience to impulse and the pursuit of pleasure. How does this symbol help Oscar Wilde to comment on and satirize society? Do not restrict your discussion to your reading for this lesson; include Acts I and II in your analysis and commentary.
In "The Importance of Being Earnest," Oscar Wilde cleverly uses food as a symbol to comment on and satirize society's obsession with indulgence and pleasure. Both Jack and Algernon display a consistent preoccupation with food throughout the play, highlighting their obedience to impulse and pursuit of pleasure.
From the beginning of the play, food serves as a recurring motif. Algernon's desire for cucumber sandwiches seems to represent his insatiable appetite for pleasure and instant gratification. He says, "I can't eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite calmly. It is the only way to eat them." Here, he suggests that one should indulge in life's pleasures without any concern for consequences or self-control.
Similarly, Jack's imaginary character, Earnest, becomes an excuse for his actions and a symbol of his own pursuit of pleasure. He explains his double life, saying, "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." Jack's creation of Bunbury represents his desire to escape the constraints of society and responsibility in pursuit of personal enjoyment.
Furthermore, the character of Lady Bracknell and her strict adherence to societal norms brings a contrast to this theme of indulgence. She represents the conservative Victorian society and its rigid rules and expectations. When Algernon proposes to Cecily, Lady Bracknell's primary concern is whether Cecily has any fortune. This highlights the materialistic and pragmatic nature of society, valuing wealth and social status over personal happiness or individual desires.
Wilde's use of food as a symbol ultimately helps him comment on and satirize society. By emphasizing the characters' preoccupation with food and pleasure, he exposes the shallow nature of their pursuits. He mocks the society's aimless pursuit of instant gratification without considering the consequences or the impact on others. Wilde challenges the values of the upper class by portraying their indulgence as frivolous and misguided, thereby highlighting the superficiality of their existence.
In Acts I and II, food continues to serve as a symbol for obedience to impulse and pleasure-seeking. Algernon's obsession with eating is evident when he interrupts a serious discussion with Jack to ask, "Have some bread and butter." This interruption, along with his other actions centered around food, portrays Algernon's inclination to prioritize his own pleasure over anything else.
Furthermore, Jack's food-related deception is revealed when Algernon discovers Jack's cucumber sandwich in his case. This incident not only adds humor to the play but also serves as a reminder of the characters' constant pursuit of indulgence and their willingness to deceive others to achieve their desires.
Overall, by using food as a symbol for obedience to impulse and the pursuit of pleasure, Oscar Wilde effectively satirizes the society of his time. Through the preoccupation with food, Wilde comments on the shallow nature of the upper class, their materialistic values, and their lack of concern for responsibility and consequences. The use of this symbol throughout the play helps highlight the absurdity of their pursuits and exposes the hollow nature of their existence.