CONTENT:
Student`s nameInstructor`s nameCourse titleSubmission dateThe Importance of Being EarnestSatire uses follies, vices, shortcomings, and abuses, with the intention of shaming people in the society so that they can improve their behavior. The play The Importance of Being Earnest through the life of the protagonist, Jack Worthing shows how people can lie about their responsibility in the society. The Victorian era brought about very many changes in the lives of the British people and as a result, the lives of the people changed too. “The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria`s reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901†(Dixon 35). Cardew who adopted him as a young boy raises Jack. The life of Jack shows that the people can lie about their lifestyles in a bid to earn respect in the society.Jack Worthing is a much-respected man in the society that he lives in. However, people do not know that this man is liar because he has an imaginary brother whom he (Jack) blames for the problems that face him. However, it is of paramount importance to note that Jack does not want to be irresponsible in the society. During the Victorian days men where supposed to act responsibly and this is the reason why Jack has to pretend that he has a brother who does the wrong things in the society. Moreover, Jack is the one with the responsibility of taking care of a teenager by the name of Cecily Cardew, a granddaughter of the man who raised Jack up. Thomas Cardew adopted Jack as a kid. Since Jack has several dependants who include his employees, he has to act like a noble man in the society.Wilde satirizes the ideas of “respectability, self sacrifice, moral rectitude, and high mindedness†that were closely associated with the Victorian aristocracy in this play (Singer). During the Victorian era Britain was peaceful so all the people wanted to show that to the other people in the society. Jack has two identities because his best friend Algernon Moncrieff knows him as Ernest. In addition, Jack has a girlfriend named Gwendolen Fairfax who is the cousin of his friend. The play opens as Algernon is suspecting something fishy with Jack after he finds a writing addressed to Uncle Jack which claims to come from little Cecily. The fact that Jack lives a double life does not surprise Algernon because the latter believes that this is common in modern life.When Jack proposes to Gwendolen, he is alarmed after he learns that she is not ready to marry a man who is not named Ernest. Jack has already confided to his b...