Trace the farcical absurdities in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Answer

Trace the farcical absurdities in “The Importance of Being Earnest.” [NU: 2017] ★★★

Or, In what ways is “The Importance of Being Earnest” a farcical comedy?     

Oscar Wilde’s (1854–1900) play “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895) is full of farcical absurdities. Wilde turns serious social issues into comic exaggerations. He uses lies, mistaken identities, and silly rules to mock Victorian society. The play shows how trivial concerns dominate the lives of the upper class.

The Idea of “Bunburying”: One of the funniest absurdities is Algernon’s invention of a sick friend named Bunbury. He uses this excuse to escape boring dinners. In Act I, he says, 

“If it wasn’t for Bunbury’s extraordinary bad health, for instance, I wouldn’t be able to dine with you at Willis’s tonight.” 

This shows the ridiculous way he avoids duties.

Jack’s Double Life: Jack also lives a double life. In the city of London, he is known as  “Ernest,” but in the country, he is known as Jack. In Act I, he says,

“My name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country.” 

This creates confusion and comic scenes, especially when both identities crash. It highlights the silliness of living with false names. 

Love Based on Names: Romance itself becomes absurd in the play. Gwendolen says in Act I, 

“The only really safe name is Ernest.” 

She loves Jack only because she thinks his name is Ernest. Cecily, too, imagines she is already engaged to “Ernest” before meeting Algernon. Love becomes a joke about names, not true feelings.

In short, Wilde fills the play with absurd lies, false identities, and trivial love. These farcical situations expose the foolishness of Victorian society. Wilde makes serious rules look silly, while making silly things look serious.