The Importance of Being Earnest

Interesting Facts

• The play is one of Oscar Wilde's most famous comedies and is considered the pinnacle of his dramatic craft.
• The work mocks Victorian social norms and hypocrisy using witty dialogues and satirical situations.
• The title of the play in English — «The Importance of Being Earnest» — is a play on words, as 'earnest' means 'serious' and is also the name of one of the characters.
• The play premiered in 1895 in London and was a huge success, but shortly after, Wilde was arrested, affecting the future of the production.
• The play is filled with paradoxes and aphorisms that have become famous quotes, such as the well-known phrase: «Whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be wrong.»
• One of the central themes of the work is double life and deception, reflected in the behavior of the main characters who use fictitious identities to achieve their goals.
• The play has been adapted for film and television numerous times, demonstrating its enduring popularity and relevance.