The Importance of Being a Wit by Oscar Wilde

Like the rest of his plays, sheer wit, and sparkling dialogues are the very pride of “The Importance of Being Earnest”. He flouted morality and avoided serious issues to establish the autonomy of literary art. The aesthetic beauty of literatureĪn earnest ambassador of the nineteenth century was ‘Art for Art’s Sake’ dictum, Oscar Wilde was fascinated by the aesthetic beauty of literature. In a letter to an actor-producer friend, Wilde frankly admits that the real charm of the play is certainly the dialogues. Wilde’s ability to craft these sayings is what made him famous, and his true source of inspiration for the play. They are often general reflections on life and can be lifted straight out of the text and used on your friends. His epigrams are succinct, typically witty, and paradoxical sayings. So, Lady Bracknell is the paragon of cunningness and humor. When Lady Bracknell interrogates Jack, we learn that she interestedly investigates his money, trendiness, and family name. Wilde constantly exaggerates the upper class’s shallowness and frivolity to show the corrupt morals which they provide as examples. When she arrives late at Algernon’s place, she explains that she was visiting Lady Harbury who looks quite twenty years younger after her poor husband’s death. Lady Bracknell is very proud, and she is very much fond of scandal. Almost all the characters are members of the elite class.

The drama is sarcastic because it gives fun to its characters. His humor in the play “The Importance of Being Earnest” relies on creating absurd situations, reversals, and characters whose lack of insight causes them to respond to these situations inappropriately. Oscar Wilde (1854 –1900) is a fabulously funny and witty writer. The Wit and Humor in The Importance of Being Earnest.

Question: Discuss the wit and humor of the play “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

The Importance of Being a Wit by Oscar Wilde