“Oh! it is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn’t. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read.” – Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 1
Most people have a general appreciation for the merit of classical books, but many try to steer as clear from them as possible for fear that they will die of boredom! And even though we often refer to these books as timeless, no one really expects to open Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” and be easily entertained. All these things combined, I approached Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest, with deep respect but also with a precursory dislike of the pretentious mannerisms that are evident in literature of that time. In the least, I can say that I was surprised when it turned out that the play aimed to underscore these same mannerisms and did so with humor that was actually funny!
The humor in the book is characteristic for Wilde, who is known for his keen wit and remarkable sarcasm. He spits out witty phrases as if its nothing and this light hearted approach is what makes his work interesting- the reader feels that they are receiving valuable trinkets of wisdom but are not bogged down by them at all. There is a lot of irony to the plot (even the title doesn’t mean what it seems!) and it ranges from situational and dramatic irony to pure sarcasm. Because it is a play, the dialogue helps to progress the actions very quickly and it seems to be over all too soon. There is not much time to take a breath, both from reading and laughing!
No one and nothing is what it seems in this play :from made up relatives who have vibrant personalities and then suffer an unfortunate death, to people with overlapping names and lovers and to long lost mothers who have been near by their children without them knowing it all along. The plot is impossible to characterize as any one thing and any synopsis will not do it justice. It’s just an amazing read which you will regret parting with as soon as you put it down. Take heed though, for Wilde’s poignant sarcasm is dangerously addicting so that you may soon agree with him that, “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing,” among other heretical thoughts!
