The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde, Discuss the play as a comedy: Part Two
All the characters in the play are concerned much concerned about saving their repute but the comedy lies in the fact that their repute must be lost as the play progresses. Jack plays "Ernest in town and Jack in the country". It is the social dilemma of man that he is always concerned for appearances than reality. But Jack is exposed everywhere. All this brings no tragedy rather it is taken as light heartedly by other characters in the play. Gwendolen is willing to forgive if Jack excuses for the lie. Same is the case with Algernon; he is exposed in his family as well as against Cecily for having no Bunbury as well as himself being no Ernest. This discovery also leads to nothing but to the serious proposals of marriage. Again, like the two young men, the repute of Lady Bracknell seems to be on stake. She struggles hard but to no avail. And the dialogues as well as characters amuse us.
Women have been presented in a real farcical manner. Their social etiquettes and day dreaming nature of sentimental thinking is exposed. They are impractical and they can be easily impressed by certain aesthetic and appealing idealized characters. Both the young ladies have created a craze for the name of "Ernest". None of them would like to be married to anybody other than this name. This is really absurd and comic. Both the men baptize to "Ernest". The ladies, having known the lies and real names, still decide to marry them because now their names are "Ernest". The male characters treat women and show such attitude which is laughable in several aspects i.e. situation, their comical philosophy, witty tone and some solid philosophy. Jack is of the opinion that "the truth isn't quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined girl" while Algernon believes "girls never marry the men they flirt with".
Food is the source of energy and vitality of life. The playwright has introduced food for several layers of comical meanings. The casual attitude of Algernon is revealed while he has eaten all the cucumber burgers especially prepared for his aunt. Though food serves as a medium of gather and social gossiping and flirting through lunch and dinner parties, yet to Algernon it always offends when offered by his aunt because of the seating affront of a lady fond of her own husband. Food also reveals, though laughably, the tastes of the aristocracy in town and in the country. The most laughable scene is when Jack is all tense and Algernon is eating muffins all the while. The girls are looking out of the window and guessing if there will be an apology.
