British Social Customs Every writer is to some extent a product of his or her time. During the days when Jane Austen and Mary
Wollstonecraft were writing, the roles of men and women were very sharply defined. Roughly speaking, men had power through their
control of the family fortune, and women ran the household. The manners and customs of the time were built on the foundation of
these contrasting roles. Austen and Wollstonecraft, unlike many of their female contemporaries, engaged in the “masculine” activity
of refining thoughts and perceptions through writing.
Mary Wollstonecraft personified early feminism. She was not only well educated, but also extremely vocal about the rights of
women. Her clear-thinking denunciation of the oppressive social mores of her day ultimately won her a place in literary history. Jane
Austen’s literary works are steeped in the manners of the day. Her books show all the grace—and often the idiocy—of those manners.
By focusing on the place of her characters in society, Austen was able to show in great detail the elaborate social underpinnings of her
time.
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions ON A SEPARATE SHEET!!!! about the manners and social structure of the
pastand the present.
1. During a courtship in Austen and Wollstonecraft’s time it was considered appropriate for a young man and a young woman to have
a female chaperone—usually a friend or relative of the young woman—with them at all times. How might this custom have affected
the relationship of the young couple?
2. As Jane Austen mentions, the bulk of a man’s money and land upon his death went to his eldest son. What problems do you think
this might have caused for some families?
3. As Wollstonecraft notes, young girls were encouraged to spend most of their energy on making themselves attractive and finding a
husband. Is this different from the way things are today, and if so, how?
Love
Compatibility
Money
Respectability
Compare and contrast courtship in the 19th century to courtship today.
Love
Compatibility
Money
Examples for today
Respectability
Examples from
letter
Importance
Importance
1.
2.
How has society’s view of courtship and marriage changed (or has it?)?
Has it changed for the better or the worse? Explain.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at
the stars.
Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892
his plays, his life and his inimitable
style. He was born to Jane and
William Wilde, both extremely
accomplished
individuals in their own right.
William Wilde was knighted for his
work as an internationally recognized
ear and eye specialist; his mother was
referred to as one “of Ireland’s noblest
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in
1854, lived a gloriously notorious,
eccentric
and decadent life until his
tragic demise in 1895, and died in
obscurity
in Paris, 1900. More than one
hundred years later we are still
celebrating
Wilde’s life.
daughters” for her outspoken and
unfailing nationalist views. She was a
regular columnist in one of Ireland’s
leading newspapers, as well as the
author
of articles, plays and poems. She
was perhaps the greatest influence on
Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow
older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.
When he was 27, following his
notoriety in Europe, Oscar
Wilde took the U.S. and Canada by
storm on a whirlwind
lecture tour, spreading the beautifying
gospel of the British
“Aesthetic Movement”, of which he
considered himself a
The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
true “Professor”. With unabashed selfpromotion, he
achieved remarkable celebrity status,
well known for his famous
eloquence on all things regarding
society, philosophy,
beauty, manners and fashion. His fame
as a writer, and his
tragic infamy as a lover of men, were
still years away. The
tour made him famous as a wit and an
eccentric, but some
painted him as a dilettante and a clown,
even an unhealthy
influence. These conflicting views
followed him all of his life.
Men know life too early. Women know life too late.
That is the difference between men and women.
A
Wilde
had
married
Constance Lloyd
in 1884. She was a linguist, beautiful
and intelligent, and they had two
Woman of No Importance, 1893
sons, Vyvyan and Cyril. But after
essay about his father’s brilliant
Wilde’s imprisonment in 1895,
collection
Constance
of fairy stories, Vyvyan Holland
changed her name to protect
credits Constance for his early
her two young boys from the
introduction to the world of
devastating
imagination.
effects of his notoriety. She
Poignantly, he remembers only
too died young, shortly before Oscar;
her, and not his father, reading him
tragically, the boys were not allowed
his bedtime stories.
to see their father and were
subsequently
raised by guardians. In an
The truth is rarely pure and never simple.
In 1891, Oscar met Lord Alfred 'Bosie'
Douglas, the third
son of the Marquis of Queensberry, and
they soon became
lovers. But in April 1895, the Marquis
accused Wilde of
homosexuality and in return Oscar sued
for libel. He withdrew
The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
his case but was ultimately arrested and
convicted of
gross indecency and sentenced to two
years hard labor.
He never recovered from the prison
experience, never finished
another play or novel, and in 1900 he
died penniless
in Paris, shunned by all but his closest
friends. Still, the
Wildean wit was not easily suppressed.
In the final week of
his life, bedridden, he confided to a
friend, “My wallpaper
and I are fighting a duel to the death.
One of us has to go.”
Find and correct all the misused homophones! Total: 65
Oscar Wilde is renowned four his acerbic wit and it is never more prevalent than inn his satirical plays.
The Importance of Being Earnest is won of Oscar Wilde’s most famous plays. He notoriously called it “A trivial comedy four serious
people.” The play premiered inn London in 1895 at the height of Wilde’s career. [5 homophones]
Context of The Importance of Being Earnest [34 homophones]
Wilde’s previous works such as A Woman of know Importance and An Ideal Husband had buy this thyme all ready marked
hymn out as a brilliant writer of witty satire. The play ran four 83 performances, butt ultimately Wilde’s own tumultuous personal life
overshadowed his plays during his own lifetime.
However, the play is now considered a true classic of knot only Victorian, butt any English-language theatre. It is still widely
performed and is espoused as won of the greatest comedies ever written.
Famously, the premiere was inn itself a drama. As is now widely known Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas whir lovers.
However, when the play opened knot only was homosexuality taboo and frowned upon, it was illegal. On the opening knight of The
Importance of Being Earnest Lord Douglas’ father attempted two expose the pear’s sexuality. Although he did knot succeed, this
eventually lead two Wilde being convicted and imprisoned four homosexual ax.
The play is perhaps an unlikely hit with modern audiences and is vary much entrenched inn the upper-class Victorian whirled
witch the play portrays. Nonetheless, Oscar Wilde’s wit and scathing satire has transcended the play’s context. It is still widely
performed buy touring and provincial companies. It has also bin adapted four the screen on several occasions; most recently inn 2002,
starring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett
The Importance of Being Earnest has even bin translated with sum success, despite the fact that won of the big jokes of the
peace depends upon the to words 'earnest' and 'Ernest' being homophones.
Anticipate
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet (Romeo and Juliet
II.ii.1-2)
Your Opinion before reading
Author’s opinion after reading
Agree Disagree Explain
Explain
Agree Disagree
Juliet’s statement
above is true
Names today are
irrelevant
Changing your name
to suit another is
reasonable
Family names carry
great importance
Names carry a great
deal of meaning
Identity and names
are the same
Synopsis of The Play [26 homophones]
The Importance of Being Earnest opens inn Algernon’s living rheum wear he and his best friend, Jack, otherwise known as
Ernest, discuss there shared talent four deceit. Jack, lives inn a provincial manner and masquerades as Ernest when he ventures into
town.
Algernon on the other hand has created a friend called Bunbury, who is constantly coming down with mysterious illnesses,
witch gives Algernon an excuse two dismiss any engagements he does knot wont two attend.
Jack, as Ernest, has professed his love too Gwendolyn, who also happens two bee Algernon’s cozen. Gwendolyn's mother,
Lady Bracknell, is a formidable and larger than life character, who upon learning that ’Ernest’ was found at a railway terminal, refuses
two allow the pear two merry.
Algernon, on the other hand, visits the country two sample Jack’s lifestyle and unbeknownst two Jack presence himself as
Jacks’ brother, Ernest. Wile their Algernon becomes smitten with Jack’s young ward, Cecily.
Meanwhile, Jack determines to end his double life, sew returns two his country estate with the news that Ernest is dead.
Confusion, mistaken-identity, and farcical comedy follows. Butt will the deceitful men ever discover the importance of being earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest
John Worthing, J.P.
Algernon Moncrieff
Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.
Merriman, Butler
Lane, Manservant
Lady Bracknell
Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax
Cecily Cardew
Miss Prism, Governess

Key Terms: satire, irony, farce, comedy of manners, epigram, pun, conflict, motif

Themes: definition of love, appearance v. reality (or style v. substance), high society, Late Victorian mentality
Act One
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Describe the relationship between Lane and Algernon.
By what name does Algernon call Jack?
How does Jack distinguish between his life in town and that in the country?
What is Jack’s true motive for coming to town?
What does Algernon have that belongs to Jack?
How does Jack account for his double name?
Who are Miss Cecily Cardew and Miss Prism?
What is a Bunburyist?
What is Algernon’s view of marriage? Explain.
Who is Lady Augusta Bracknell?
How does Algernon get out of going to Lady Bracknell’s dinner?
What is Gwendolen’s ideal? Explain.
Describe and comment on Jack’s proposal.
What is Gwendolen’s reaction?
What does Lady Bracknell require of Jack if he intends to marry Gwendolen? Why?
How does Algernon feel about family?
What do you surmise is Algernon’s plan?
Act Two
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
What is ironic about Cecily’s and Miss Prism’s characterization of Jack?
Why does Cecily keep a diary?
Why didn’t Miss Prism publish her novel?
What reputation does “Ernest” have in the country?
Describe Miss Prism’s relationship with Reverend Chasuble.
What does Jack announce on his return?
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
What favor does Jack ask of the reverend?
What is Cecily recording in her diary?
How does Cecily reply to Algernon’s proposal?
Describe Cecily’s interaction with Gwendolen.
Describe the end-of-act interaction between Algernon and Jack.
Act Three
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Why do the women decide to forgive the men?
How does Lady Bracknell react to all of the news?
Why does Lady Bracknell’s opinion of Cecily change?
Under what circumstances was Lady Bracknell married?
Under what circumstances will Jack approve of Cecily’s marriage to Algernon?
How does Lady Bracknell know Miss Prism?
How does Lady Bracknell resolve all identity conflicts once and for all?
What is Jack’s real name?
HIGHLIGHT 5 QUOTES THAT “SPEAK TO YOU”
ACT I
“I don’t play accurately—anyone can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression.”
“I have come to town expressly to propose to her.” / “I thought you had come up for pleasure. I call that business.”
“My dear Algy, you talk as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false
impression.”
“Pray don’t talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite
certain that they mean something else. And that makes me so nervous.”
“I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing.”
“I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom
is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no
effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes.”
“A girl with a simple, unspoiled nature, like Gwendolen, could hardly be expected to reside in the country.”
“You always want to argue about things.” / “That is exactly what things were originally made for.”
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”
“I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can’t go anywhere without meeting clever people. The
thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left.”
“The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain.”
ACT TWO
“I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be
hypocrisy.”
“Well, to speak with perfect candor, Cecily, I wish that you were fully forty-two, and more than usually plain for your age.”
“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read.”
“Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite
calmly. It is the only way to eat them.”
ACT THREE
“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”
“We live, I regret to say, in an age of surfaces.”
“Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that.”
“To speak frankly, I am not in favor of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character
before marriage, which I think is never advisable.”
“He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?”
“And what makes his conduct all the more heartless is, that he was perfectly well aware from the first that I have no brother, that I
never had a brother, and that I don’t intend to have a brother, not even of any kind. I distinctly told him so myself yesterday
afternoon.”
“London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years.”
“The General was essentially a man of peace, except in his domestic life.”
“Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can
you forgive me?”
Now… for those 5 quotes (on a separate sheet of paper—or the back of the packet)
1. Identify the speaker.
2. Explain what the quote means and what the author’s purpose might have been in stating it
3. Make a connection to something outside the text