The Importance of Being Earnest: Narrative

Narrative Structure and Techniques

Setting: Set during the Victorian era, the play’s setting shifts between Algernon’s flat in fashionable West London and the Manor House in rural Woolton. These contrasting settings depict the upper-class lifestyle in both town and country.
Linear Plot: The narrative unfolds linearly with no flashbacks or significant temporal distortions, allowing audiences to follow the action easily and focus on the wit, irony and satire.
Farce: The play uses farcical elements such as mistaken identities, outrageous coincidences, and witty banter, all in service of satirizing Victorian norms and expectations.
Irony: Wilde employs situational and dramatic irony, contributing to the comic and satirical tone of the play. Characters often say things that mean something different to the audience than they do to other characters, contributing to the comedy.

Characterisation

Jack Worthing: A responsible and respectable country man who leads a double life as Ernest in London. His character illuminates the theme of dual identities and the extent people go to uphold societal norms.
Algernon Moncrieff: Algernon typifies the idle upper class, being more concerned about food and social engagements than serious matters. His character is a satire of Victorian nobility.
Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew: The female leads are driven by their romantic fantasies and are particular about their future husband’s name being Ernest. Their characters highlight the idealized notions of love and also the superficiality of Victorian society.
Lady Bracknell: Lady Bracknell is the symbol of Victorian earnestness who values status and propriety over everything else. Her character is a tool for Wilde to criticize the Victorian upper class and their superficial values.

Narrative Voice

The narrative voice in the play is primarily driven by the dialogue among characters. The use of epigrams adds to the comic effect and highlights the play’s socio-political commentary.
Wilde uses the third person perspective with an omniscient narrator; however, the characters unwittingly reveal their own follies and inconsistencies through their interactions.

Themes and Motifs

The Importance of Not Being Earnest: Wilde satirizes the Victorian societal norms that emphasize artificiality over sincerity.
Social Criticism: Wilde uses the narrative to critique the conventions, morality, and expectations of the Victorian society, especially those belonging to the upper class.
Masks and Duplicity: Characters in the play like Jack and Algernon lead double lives to escape societal obligations, reflecting the theme of deception and duplicity.
The Ideal of Marriage: Marriage is depicted as a social obligation rather than a union born out of love, further satirizing Victorian societal norms.