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The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) - Coggle Diagram
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
Comedy of Manners
upper-class characters and settings
marriage and relationship between the sexes as a frequent theme
a satire of contemporary manners
an intricate plot
contemporary setting
use of witty dialogue
Language
It's used as a tool to criticise the hypocrisy of Victorians
A means to transform reality
The dialogue is full of aphorisms – short and clever sayings generally expressing a well-held truth - producing a comic effect.
A veil hiding the truth about people and their intentions
The Title
Critics against the hypocrisy of Victorian society
Being Earnest (accepting the restrictions of Victorian society) is criticised since the apparently earnest characters are hypocrites and the playful male characters have true and honest feelings
It is a pun between the adjective "Earnest" meaning "honest/sincere" and the name "Ernest"
Themes
THE CONSTRAINTS OF MORALITY
THE DOUBLE LIFE
THE NATURE OF MARRIAGE
Characters
Gwendolen
Cecily
Algernon (The Dandy) - Ernest (in the countryside)
Jack Worthing (in the countryside) - Ernest (in the city)
Lady Bracknell