OSCAR WILDE The Importance of Being Yourself

SUMMARY  Born into the British Elite  Spent his life poking of the British Elite  A “British Dandy” What we now call a “metrosexual” But we think it’s cute, they thought it was evil  Married with Two Children

Lord Alfred Douglas

“DEVIANT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR” A Silent Hidden World

THE FAMOUS OSCAR WILDE  Importance of Being Earnest Launches Oscar Wilde into Meteoric Fame!  Lectures around the world  Toast of the town  Everybody loves Oscar Wilde  Until...

WILDE VS MARQUESS OF QUEESBERRY Father of Lord Alfred Douglas

THE LIBEL TRIAL Wilde Drops the charges He is arrested for sexual deviancy

WILDE IS CONVICTED Sentenced to two years of hard labor Financially Ruined Professional Life Ruined The term “Homosexuality” is created

THE DESTRUCTION OF AN ARTIST

IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST  British Elite Realism matched with Turn of the Century absurdist Style  The is just like the characters and the lives of the TV series Downton Abbey  Parody and Satire: Poking fun at the British elite of which Wilde is a member

PARODY AND SATIRE  The play is a vehicle to make fun of:  The Absurdity of The British Upper Crust Their rules, and propriety Their judgment Their elitism  Absurdity of Religion The hypocrisy  The Absurdity of Relationships

SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF  Heightened Language – Poetic Dialogue  Cartoonish Characters  Cartoonish Situations  In the guise of Realism Very real comments on society  Make them laugh while you attack

CHARACTERS  Jack Worthing Merriman – Country Home  Algernon Moncrieff Lane – Butler  Gwendolen Fairfax  Cecily Cardew Duality of Characters

THE BRITISH ELITE  Lady Bracknell No duel character Her own two sides Alone: symbol of Victorian Rules Public: Judgment – judge, jury, executioner  Miss Prism Sarcastic Schoolmarm Wilde’s way of getting back at his children's nanny

CAN’T FORGET THE CHURCH  Dr. Chausuble Wilde’s opportunity to make fun of the hypocrisy of religion.