The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a drama and a satire of Victorian society. Post here about the funniest lines from the play, the parts you liked or found confusing, or anything you may know about Oscar Wilde.
(Did you recognize the pun in the title? Why is he talking about “earnestness” in this play?)
English 2323-020 
The lovely nature of this title is its change in meaning with the context of the play; prior to reading the play, one may suspect that the title refers to the importance of having the trait of earnestness. Some time between reading the title and finishing the play, one may come to the realization that this title refers to how important it is to be known as Earnest, literally being named Earnest. I think it’s a bit of an odd distinction to make, as, throughout the play, the characters who want to be known by the name of Earnest succeed in their goals through earnestness, but wouldn’t have had to overcome the issues they had to had they been earnest to begin with.
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The funniest lines to me where when Cecily explains to Algernon that they have been engaged for three months, that she wrote letters to herself pretending they were from him and that she broke off their engagement but engaged again. Her explanation reminds me of a childhood crush on a person or celebrity. I find it interesting that Algernon was not freaked out by her revelation. Many people who have reacted differently when told that they are engaged and that the person broke off their engagement but they are engaged again. I honestly did not recognize the pun in the title. I find it cool that the title gave us a clue about the second act of the play. Oscar Wilde is talking about “earnestness” because people should be earnest and the fact that some characters were not earnest in the play is funny.
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