Death Penalty
In the late 1890's, the upper class English society talked in a dignified, proper manner. Everything they said had either a positive or negative effect on their family members, associates, even themselves. Basically it was all a show people put on to remain in the non-scandalous side of society. In "The Importance of Being Earnest", the playwright displays the characters in such a way that the stupidity of the upper class language and actions is portrayed through aspects of the play.The differentiation between the upper and lower classes of society was clearly demonstrated through "The Importance of Being Earnest". In Victorian times the lower class people were out-casts, considered as nothing and often shunned by the upper class. We see an example of this when we are first introduced to Lane (the butler) and Algernon (the master of the house) when they are discussing family life. Algernon rambles on about his family while Lane listens with patience. As soon as Lane says one thing about his past Algernon won't have a bar of it. "I don't know that I am much interested in your family life Lane." Here, Algernon acts as though his family is superior to Lanes, even though he knows nothing about Lane's family. This is just a typical
This allowed the two men to escape form society's pressures once in a while. "You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to down as often as you like. There was a certain fear in the air that you might go down to the lower class with them, and bring all your family and other acquaintances with you. In the end, Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" was a perfect, mocking portrayal of what aspects society really did have in those days. We see this importance of money when Lady Brackenell was checking out Cecely's background to see whether or not she was suitable for her young nephew. Waists like wasps, and brilliant wigs and hats were all part of this fashion. There would have been a terrible amount of pressure on a person to act, think, and do, just as society thought you should. This shallow, selfishness was common in women of Victorian times and was expected by the men. Money was of great importance in those olden days. In those days the lower class would dare not insult those that belonged to an upper class. "A hundred and thirty pounds! And in the funds! Miss Cardew seems to me the most attractive young lady, now that I look at her. There are distinct social possibilities in your profile. In the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" the two characters Jack and Algernon invented people so they could pretend to be them. The men and women of the Victorian times were not what you could call "equal sexes".
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