a. Explain the significance of the full title of the play: The Importance of Being Earnest (A Trivial Comedy for Serious People). Discuss the meaning of the word earnest and the name Ernest as well as how Wilde communicates his message regarding trivial and serious matters. Use examples from the play.
b. How is the consumption of food used as a symbol in the play? What does food stand for in the play? How does Oscar Wilde use symbolism in his social commentary? Use examples from the play to support your answer.
a. The full title of the play, "The Importance of Being Earnest (A Trivial Comedy for Serious People)," holds significant meaning in relation to the themes and messages expressed throughout the play. The word "earnest" plays an important role as it has multiple meanings and is used as a pun throughout the play. On one hand, it refers to the virtue of being serious, sincere, and genuine. However, it is also a play on the name "Ernest," which is used by both Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff as a fictional persona to escape their social obligations.
Wilde plays with the concepts of triviality and seriousness throughout the play, using irony and satire to mock the societal expectations and pretensions of upper-class Victorian society. The characters in the play prioritize a superficial adherence to social norms and appearances, while their real selves are often concealed behind facades. For instance, both Algernon and Jack lead double lives by assuming the name Ernest in London, allowing them to indulge in their own desires and escape their social responsibilities.
Wilde uses humor, wit, and paradox to highlight the triviality of societal conventions, such as the emphasis on trivial matters like fashion, status, and marriage. Characters like Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen are obsessed with societal norms and the ideal husband, leading to comical situations and absurd dialogues. Wilde's message is that when people prioritize superficial appearances over genuine emotions and relationships, their lives become meaningless and hollow.
One example of Wilde's message regarding trivial and serious matters is seen in Gwendolen's infatuation with the name "Ernest." She confesses her love for Jack simply because she believes his name is Ernest, which she considers to be the epitome of sincerity. This highlights the superficiality of her feelings, as she is more interested in the name than in the true character of the person. This scene satirizes the shallowness of society's obsession with appearances.
b. The consumption of food serves as a symbol in "The Importance of Being Earnest" to represent the indulgence and excesses of the upper-class Victorian society. Food is often associated with the characters' self-indulgence, their lack of restraint, and their preoccupation with their own desires and pleasures.
For instance, the consumption of cucumber sandwiches becomes a recurring motif that signifies the triviality and shallowness of the characters. Algernon is famously obsessed with cucumber sandwiches, and his gluttonous behavior suggests a lack of genuine concern for others. When he has eaten all the sandwiches prepared for Aunt Augusta's afternoon tea, his self-centeredness is revealed as he prioritizes his own pleasure over social etiquette.
Wilde also uses food to symbolize hierarchy and social class. The elaborate spreads and luxurious meals prepared by servants like Lane and Merriman become a display of wealth and status. Lady Bracknell, for example, interrogates Jack about his family background while eating tea and delicacies, emphasizing her class superiority and her intention to judge him based on his social standing.
Through symbolism, Wilde critiques the excesses and superficiality of upper-class society. The characters' obsession with food indicates their self-centeredness and their disregard for the concerns of others. By using food as a symbol, Wilde effectively exposes the pretension and shallowness of Victorian social norms and the lack of sincerity in human relationships.