The Importance of Being Earnest

     In the play, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Jack Worthing's physical journey from Hertfordshire to London and back again, transforms into a complex situation with vivid reflections of the Victorian time period. The protagonist is known to be "Jack" in Hertfordshire, but is ironically known to be "Ernest" in London. His journey from place to place complicates the relationships he develops with people like Algernon Moncrieff. Jack's double life parallels with the meaning of the work as a whole. The hypocrisy of the Victorian time period is shown with Jack's choice of name: Ernest. Not only is he completely lying about his background and lifestyle while in London, he is falling into the typical pomposity that is the Victorian period. The title clearly recognizes that Ernest is supposed to represent a person who is serious and honest, the complete opposite of Jack and Algernon. However, in this era, the only thing of importance was impressions.
     The complications occur when confronted by Gwendolen and Cecily. Jack and Algernon both adopted the name "Ernest" in the process of trying to flirt with Gwendolen and Cecily. The smug girls only appreciated the name "Ernest". Not only do they only care about shallow appearances, they were actually in possession of a diaries with fictional engagements and arguments between their fiances and themselves. "Yes, but it usually chronicles the things that have never happened, and couldn’t possibly have happened" (Wilde 22). Cecily's statement toward her diary easily wraps up the ridiculous standards of the time period. It conveys the idea that a young girl must make up their life's stories in order to be entertaining to others. This event ties back into Jack's physical journey between London and Hertforshire. He felt as though he was not up to society's standards and therefore creating a fictional character with a more enthusiastic lifestyle just like Gwendolen and Cecily felt the need to do.
     However, the real hypocrisy occurs toward the end of the work when Jack finds out that he actually has been telling the truth about his name and imaginary brother. At this point in the novel, it is obvious that there is no real intellect going on with these characters. They are merely pawns in their society. They all do not comprehend that there is more to life than appearances. The concept of this story was evident from the beginning of the work throughout the conclusion. Jack's physical journey from Hertfordshire to London created an abundance of superficial struggles that reflect the Victorian time period flawlessly.

Sound and Sense

A Light Exists in Spring

Page 281

Poem Number 214

In this poem, imagery is used to portray the “light” of spring controlling the transition of seasons. “A color stands abroad on solitary fields” (5-6). This line depicts the transition between winter and spring by having the fields be bare while the “light” lay upon them. The “solitary fields” resulted from the unforgiving winter and the “color” standing abroad is a comparison to the arrival of spring.

The emotional tone in this poem provides an abundance of information to the entire meaning. “That science cannot overtake but human nature feels” (7-8). With this line, it is evident that the poem is portraying that spring is something that one has to feel and live through as opposed to dissecting it with science reasoning. The tone is able to express that spring should be recognized with light and suspense as opposed to a dreaded approach.

My interpretation of this poem is that it emphasizes the beauty of spring by making a comparison to light. I think spring is interpreted as holding suspense and value that no other time of the year compares to. Spring is known as a season of things being reborn. At the end of the poem, it says “it passes, and we stay- a quality of loss” which implies that spring is a growing and developing time for the majority of people.

The Lipstick on the Mirror

Page 283-284

Poem Number 217

In this poem, allusions are used to portray the sinister “Wicked Queen” that the poem refers to. The “Wicked Queen” is a reference to Snow White’s antagonist. The phrase “Who is fairest of them all” is also an allusion to Snow White’s plot where the sadistic queen betrayed Snow White because of her personal appearance in the mirror.

Repetition of the phrases “Wicked Queen” and “Mirror” emphasis the main points of this poem. The mirror is used to portray the horrid consequences that can arise from one being overly obsessed with physical appearances. The “Wicked Queen” is repeated to emphasis how horrid one can become after being absorbed in superficial aspects.

My interpretation of this poem is that it reflects on the pressures of society toward physical appearances. “What is the Wicked Queen wearing tonight? Where did she buy her adorable shoes? How large are her sapphires? How are Her pearls?” With the incorporation of these questions, it announces that the pressure amongst this lady is overbearing. I believe that this instance parallels our own society. “Girls throughout the realm would lap it up, gazing in their lesser mirrors…” (6-8). With this line, the poem introduces the envious attitude girls hold for someone who is viewed as having it all. “Were the envy of women half her age, whose compact mirrors would whisper: Crone, you’d seem chiseled of the same Parian, with a milder soap, a better dentifrice”. This poem informs the reader of the way society has built its values with the base being physical appearance.