The Importance of Being Earnest: Structure

Play Structure

“The Importance of Being Earnest” is structured in three acts with each act set in a different location. This tripartite structure creates a rhythm which serves to balance comedic elements and plot development.
The first act is set in Algernon’s flat in London, the second act moves to Jack’s country estate and the final act returns to the city but in Jack’s city house. This allows Wilde to satirise both city and country lifestyles.
Wilde uses obligatory scenes common to well-made plays such as the moment of recognition (when Jack learns that he is indeed Ernest) and the happy ending which reinforces its farcical element.
Exposition is kept to a minimum and the information about characters and plot are revealed through the dialogue and dramatic irony, e.g. the audience learns about Jack’s double life before Gwendolen does.

Structure and Theme

The themes are interwoven with the structure. For example, the revelations in each act serve to underline the play’s exploration of duplicity and identity.
The movement from country to city in the structure also elaborates on the theme of countryside versus city life, examining the contrasting notions of morals and manners in each location.
Each act ends in a moment of tension, which propels the audience into the next act, maintaining the lively pace of the play. This approach is not just a function of Wilde’s farce. It also serves to draw attention to the social hypocrisies and pretensions Wilde satirises.

Language and Structure

Wilde’s sharp, witty dialogue is central to the play’s structure. The dialogue is laden with ironic statements which reveal the characters’ true motives and thoughts.
The structural device of mistaken identity, particularly the motif of ‘Ernest’, plays a significant role in the play. As identities crisscross between acts, it lends humor and chaos to the structure of the narrative.
The structure of the dialogue in terms of timing and repartee is crucial to the wit of the play. Witty exchanges, filled with epigrams and paradoxes, provide comedic effect as well as critique societal norms of the Victorian era.