The Importance of Being Earnest

Style and Technique

Oscar Wilde's play «The Importance of Being Earnest» is a prime example of a comedy of manners, where the author skillfully uses wit and satire to critique Victorian society. Wilde's style is characterized by elegance and lightness, filled with paradoxes and aphorisms that make the dialogues lively and memorable. The language of the play is rich and varied, with elements of irony and sarcasm, allowing the author to emphasize the absurdity and superficiality of the social norms of the time. Literary devices such as wordplay, puns, and allusions are actively used to create comedic effects and highlight the duality of the characters. The structure of the play is classic for comedies: it consists of three acts, where the exposition, climax, and resolution follow one another, maintaining the audience's interest and engagement. Wilde expertly constructs the plot around misunderstandings and false identities, leading to unexpected and amusing situations that reveal the true motives and characters of the protagonists.