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THE IMPORTANCE OF
BEING EARNEST
Felicia
Types of Irony
Dramatic irony
situational irony
When the reader knows
When the outcome of a
information that the
situation is the opposite
character(s) in the story don’t. of what was expected.
verbal irony
When a character says
something but actually
means the opposite.
Verbal Irony
Wilde uses verbal irony in the play to make characters speech sarcastic and exaggerarted,
satirizing the shallowness and hypocrisy of Victorian aristocrats.
When Jack suggests that they should do nothing after dinner, Algernon replies“ It is awfully hard work doing
nothing“(Wilde 22).
When Algernon says “It’s a very painful parting” before he was sent away from Jack’s Manor house, Cecily replies “It
is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time. The absence of old friends
one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been
introduced is almost unbearable” (Wilde 39).
When Algernon asks Cecily about the rector, Cecily replied” Oh, yes. Dr. Chasuble is a most learned man. He has
never written a single book, so you can imagine how much he knows” (Wilde 42).
When Gwendolen and Cecily first meet at the Garden of the Manor House, Gwendolen says to Cecily “...Something
tells me that we are going to be great friends. I like you already more than I can say”, Cecily replies “How nice of you
to like me so much after we have known each other such a comparatively short time “ (Wilde 43-44).
When Gwendolen and Cecily discovers that Jack and Algernon have been bunburying, Algernon says sarcastically
“Yes, and a perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in my life“ (Wilde 51).
Dramatic Irony
Wilde uses dramatic irony in the scenes about mistaken identities to entertain the audiences,
exposing that Victorian aristocrats make up fake identities to avoid social obligations and persue
satisfaction.
In the scene Jack and Gwendolen confess their love to each other, Jack asks “But you don’t really mean to say that
you couldn’t love me if my name wasn’t Ernest?“ , Gwendolen replies “But your name is Ernest” (Wilde 14).
In the scene Algernon pretends to be Ernest and meets Cecily at the manor house, Cecily says “But I am your cousin
Cecily. You, I see from your card, are Uncle Jack’s brother, my cousin Ernest, my wicked cousin Ernest” (Wilde 29).
When Cecily “announces” Algernon the engagement between she and “Ernest”, Algernon asks”. . . if my name was
Algy, couldn’t you love me?” Cecily replies “I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear that
I should not be able to give you my undivided attention”(Wilde 42).
Situational Irony
Wilde uses situational irony to create plot twists to surprise the audiences.
When Lady Bracknell informs Jack “...You are the son of my poor sister, Mrs. Moncrieff, and consequently
Algernon’s elder brother”, Jack says in surprise “Algy’s elder brother! Then I have a brother after all. I knew I
had a brother! I always said I had a brother! Cecily,—how could you have ever doubted that I had a brother?...”
(Wilde 66–67)
When Jack found out his Christened name is actually Ernest, Jack said calmly “...Ernest John. I always told you,
Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest” (Wilde 68).
At the very end of the play, Jack reflects “On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realised for the first time in
my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest“ (Wilde 68).
Discussion
01
02
How does the pun on “Ernest/Earnest”
function in the story ? What is Wilde
satirizing about Victorian society by it?
Which scene/moment in the play do you
Pun : A joke about words with similar or identical
sounds but with different meanings.
think is the most successful use of irony?
Postcolonial
Terms
Social Class :
The main characters in the story are in the
upper social class.
work cited
Wilde, Oscar. The of the Importance of Being Earnest. Moodle. Columbia International College. PDF. 2025
All pictures and designs are taken from canva
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you!