The Importance of Being Earnest: Character & Key Quotes: The Reverend Canon Chasuble

Character Analysis: The Reverend Canon Chasuble

The Reverend Canon Chasuble is the vicar of St. Mary’s Church near the Manor House, and his character symbolises religious authority.
In spite of being a religious figurehead, he shows flexibility in his theological views when it suits his needs or desires, which Wilde uses to critique the Church’s hypocrisy.
Dr. Chasuble harbours affection for Miss Prism, his views on celibacy changing when confronted with personal romantic feelings, making him somewhat of a comic figure.
He also plays a significant role in the comedy of mistaken identities, being drawn into the farcical baptism of ‘Ernest’ by his eager pursuit of Miss Prism.

Key Quotes

“Indeed I have always been of the opinion that a man who desires to get married should either know everything or nothing. Which do you know?” Here, Chasuble encapsulates the idea of ignorance being bliss in marriage.
“Were I fortunate enough to be Miss Prism’s pupil, I would hang upon her words. I spoke metaphorically.—My metaphor was drawn from bees.” This quote portrays his romantic interest in Miss Prism and his attempts at flirtation.
“My sermon on the meaning of the manna in the wilderness can be adapted to almost any occasion” This quote displays his flexible approach to religion and an insightful critique on the usage of religion for one’s convenience.

Themes:

Religious Hypocrisy: Chasuble’s convenient flexibility in theology underscores Wilde’s critique of religious hypocrisy.
Romance and Marriage: Chasuble’s sudden shift from celibacy to pursuing Miss Prism illustrates Wilde’s satirical take on Victorian attitudes towards romance and marriage.

Language and Style

Wit and Satire: Wilde uses Chasuble’s character to satirise the Church’s hypocrisy and the fickleness of human behaviour.
Farce: The situation around Chasuble’s willingness to baptise ‘Ernest’ contributes to the comedic farce of mistaken identities.
Metaphoric Language: The character of Chasuble often resorts to metaphoric language which adds layers to his personality.