What is the cause of Lady Bracknell’s rejection of Jack Worthing’s proposal to marry Gwendolen?
The Importance of Being Earnest is a notable literary work by Oscar Wilde. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Answer
What is the cause of Lady Bracknell’s rejection of Jack Worthing’s proposal to marry Gwendolen?
Lady Bracknell’s rejection of Jack Worthing’s marriage proposal with her daughter Gwendolen is a significant moment in Oscar Wilde’s (1854-1900) play The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). This rejection is rooted in Lady Bracknell’s inflexible views on social class and respectability, which play a central role in the play’s exploration of Victorian society’s superficial values.
Jack’s Background: Lady Bracknell’s primary reason for rejecting Jack as a suitable match for Gwendolen is his uncertain lineage. During their conversation, she interrogates Jack about his background. She discovers that he was found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station. Lady Bracknell’s response to this revelation is one of horror, as she declares,
To be born, or at any rate bred, in a handbag… seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life.
Social Status and Respectability: Lady Bracknell values social status and respectability above all else. She believes marriage should be a strategic alliance between families of equal social standing. Jack’s lack of known parentage means he does not meet her strict criteria for a suitable husband for her daughter. This focus on social rank reflects the superficial values of the society. It is proved when Lady Bracknell says to Jack:
You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter…….to marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel?
Gwendolen’s Opinion: Despite Gwendolen’s love for Jack, Lady Bracknell’s opinion holds more weight in this situation. Gwendolen is eager to marry Jack but is bound by her mother’s authority. Lady Bracknell’s refusal is a clear indication that, in her eyes, love is secondary to social propriety and family background.
In termination, Lady Bracknell’s rejection of Jack Worthing’s proposal to marry Gwendolen is driven by her obsession with social status and the importance of a respectable family background. Her decision highlights the absurdity of placing such value on appearances and lineage.