Comprehensive essay plans for The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Includes 3 bullet points, each including quotes and context, for 23 possible themes for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature exam
13 pages, 7000+ words
Helped me get an A* in A-Level English Literature!
Jack
Algernon
Lady Bracknell
Gwendolen
Cecily
Young Men
Young Women
Older Women
Marriage/Relationships
Morality
Class/The Wealthy/The Upper Classes
Deception/Lies
Gender/Men and Women
Double Lives
Identity
Victorian Society
Comedic Devices/Comedy
Props
Settings/Locations
Social Status
Reputation
Conversation/Dialogue
Fiction/Writing
Jack
Points:
Hypocrisy of Victorian expectations - “When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in
the country one amuses other people.”, “When one is placed in the position of guardian, one
has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects. It's one's duty to do so.”, &“ a high moral
tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one's health or one's happiness”
Lack of care of men for the implications of their actions upon their female counterparts – “I think
I'll kill him in any case. Cecily is a little too much interested in him.”, it is very painful for me to be
forced to speak the truth.”
Stubborn and unwilling to admit to deceit – “I'm not a Bunburyist at all.”, “I wanted to be
engaged to Gwendolen, that is all.”
Context:
A man’s proper sphere was seen to be in the public world of action and/or commerce. He would
also be expected to adhere to values of duty, honour and respectability, at least publicly.
Algernon
Points:
Pleasure can be drawn from defying Victorian standards – “I haven't the smallest intention of
doing anything of the kind. To begin with, I dined there on Monday, and once a week is quite
, enough to dine with one's own relations.”, “A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a
very tedious time of it.”
Ridiculousness of Victorian triviality and seriousness – “I hate people who are not serious about
meals. It is so shallow of them.”, “I love hearing my relations abused. It is the only thing that
makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven't
got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die.”, “I think
it has been a great success. I'm in love with Cecily, and that is everything”
Satirise many respected pillars of Victorian society and point out the flaws in these institutions
–“Is marriage so demoralising as that?”, “tedious time”, “nothing will induce me to part with
Bunbury”, “business” & “pleasure”, “distinct social possibilities” & “a hundred and thirty
thousand pounds in the funds”
Context:
The dandy figure (popularised by Wilde) is a man who pays particular attention to his
appearance, dress and lifestyle, almost to the point of excess, whilst using his wit and charm to
point of society’s hypocrisy and double standards. He is also seen as entirely individualistic and
absorbed in his own feelings.
Lady Bracknell
Points:
Enforcer of Victorian standards, removing pleasure from situations - “That's not quite the same
thing. In fact the two things rarely go together.”, “When you do become engaged to some one, I,
or your father… will inform you of the fact. An engagement should come on a young girl as a
surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be
allowed to arrange for herself”
Constantly contradictory, emphasising the hypocrisy of Victorian society - “Health is the primary
duty of life. I am always telling that to your poor uncle, but he never seems to take much notice .
. . as far as any improvement in his ailment goes.”, “I do not approve of mercenary marriages.
When I married Lord Bracknell I had no fortune of any kind. But I never dreamed for a moment
of allowing that to stand in my way.”, “To my own knowledge she has been thirty-five ever since
she arrived at the age of forty, which was many years ago now.”
Judgemental of all around her, demonstrating lack of sympathy harboured by Upper Classes - “I
had some crumpets with Lady Harbury, who seems to me to be living entirely for pleasure
now.”, “Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it
morbid.”, “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both
looks like carelessness.”
Context:
Older, upper-class members of Victorian society were seen to be concerned with appearance,
manners and tradition, displaying an absence of compassion and an intent to maintain their
wealth and status quo. Additionally, they disapproved of the movements of the younger
generations in becoming more progressive and resistant to the constraints of Victorian society.
Gwendolen
Points:
Conventional Victorian woman, allowing Wilde to satirise these values - “I may marry some one
else, and marry often”, “I am known for the gentleness of my disposition, and the extraordinary
sweetness of my nature”, “I nearly always speak at the same time as other people.”
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