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 answe
In Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest," the consumption of food is used as a symbol to represent social class, sensibility, and manners. Food serves as a form of social currency, reflecting the characters' status and sophistication.
One example of this symbolism is Lady Bracknell's obsession with cucumber sandwiches. She uses the sandwiches as a way to assert her authority and express her upper-class status. In Act 1, she famously declares, "To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." This line is spoken while she is eating cucumber sandwiches, emphasizing her detachment and lack of empathy towards the loss of one's parents.
Additionally, the consumption of tea is a recurring motif throughout the play. Tea-drinking is a social ritual in Victorian society that reflects refinement, etiquette, and civilization. In Act 2, the characters engage in a comical exchange over the proper way to drink tea, highlighting their attentiveness to social norms and propriety.
Food in the play also symbolizes deception and disguise. The characters frequently use food as a prop to cover up their true intentions and identities. For instance, Jack frequently makes up excuses to eat muffins in order to escape awkward situations or avoid revealing his true identity. This manipulation of food highlights the characters' tendency to prioritize appearance over authenticity.
Overall, Oscar Wilde uses food symbolism to comment on the superficiality and artificiality of Victorian society. By emphasizing the characters' preoccupation with food as a status symbol and a tool for deception, Wilde critiques the facade of respectability and social conventions. Through these examples, Wilde demonstrates how food can function as a powerful symbolic tool to convey deeper meanings about his characters and their society.