Die Arbeit untersucht, inwieweit Oscar Wildes Stück die Werte des Viktorianischen Zeitalters satirisch beleuchtet und dabei auch mit den damals gängigen dramatischen Konventionen bricht.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PARODYING DRAMATIC CONVENTIONS
3. MAKING FUN OF VICTORIAN MORES AND SOCIETY
4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this academic paper is to provide a comprehensive interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s "The Importance of Being Earnest" by analyzing his use of irony and subversion. The central research question examines how Wilde employs dramatic conventions to mirror and lampoon late-Victorian society, ultimately revealing the superficiality of its moral values.
- Analysis of dramatic conventions and the play's generic classification as a "farcial comedy."
- Deconstruction of Wilde's use of irony and parody regarding Victorian social norms.
- Examination of character archetypes, specifically the role of women and the dandy.
- Investigation into the themes of hypocrisy, artificiality, and the "double life."
Excerpt from the Book
The well-made play
The well-made play is a further genre that can be seen with Wilde´s eyes. During the 19th century “[lebte] [das britische Theater] […] vorwiegend von den Adaptionen französischer well-made plays, deren Konstruktionsprinzipien auch auf die heimischen Gattungen von Farce und Melodrama übertragen wurden.” The well-made play is, nomen est omen, well-constructed and follows a certain pattern. But there is no unequivocal definition and so a clear description depends on the source. The internet sources provide the following elements:
1. The plot is based upon a withheld secret which is known to only some of the characters. It is revealed at the climax of the action and turns the tide in the hero´s favor.
2. The initial exposition provides information, usually by means of question and answer, about the events that precede the start of the play (“antecedent action”) and leads torward the secret and withholds it.
3. A series of ups and downs in a battle of wits between two adversaries, suspense being initiated by the planting of clues to imminent events, i.e. preparation, and by the withholding of information from certain characters;
4. A microcosmic repetition of the overall structural pattern in each act;
5. Tendency to have a stage prop at the centre of the action
6. A revelatory or “obligatory” scene (“scéne à faire”) in which the audience and the characters of the play learn the secret.
7. A plausible dénouement designed to make everything that has occurred “believable”
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces Oscar Wilde’s biographical background and the historical context of the play, outlining the research focus on Wilde’s critical view of Victorian society.
2. PARODYING DRAMATIC CONVENTIONS: This section explores how Wilde integrates and subverts established theatrical genres like farce, melodrama, and the "well-made play" to create a parodic effect.
3. MAKING FUN OF VICTORIAN MORES AND SOCIETY: This chapter analyzes Wilde's critique of Victorian upper-class norms, focusing on hypocrisy, etiquette, and the rigid expectations placed upon social identity.
4. CONCLUSION: The final chapter summarizes the analysis, suggesting that Wilde's mastery of generic conventions allowed him to craft a "perfectly-made-play" that effectively exposed the absurdities of his time.
Keywords
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Victorian society, parody, dramatic conventions, farce, melodrama, well-made play, irony, social critique, Bunburying, Lady Bracknell, aesthetics, dandyism, social norms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Oscar Wilde uses his final play to critique the late-Victorian era through irony and the parody of existing dramatic forms.
Which theatrical genres are central to the analysis?
The study highlights farce, melodrama, the "well-made play," and elements of romance as the structural instruments Wilde subverts.
What is the primary objective of the work?
The goal is to analyze Wilde’s intention to hold up a "mirror" to Victorian society, revealing its underlying hypocrisy and superficial moral values.
What methodology does the author use?
The author employs a two-fold analytical approach: a literary interpretation focusing on genre parody and a socio-cultural interpretation of Victorian mores.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers the subversion of dramatic conventions, the mockery of standard character types, and the use of artificiality to expose social pretensions.
What are the key terms associated with this study?
Key terms include parody, farce, Victorian society, irony, social hypocrisy, and the well-made play.
How does Lady Bracknell function within the narrative?
Lady Bracknell acts as the embodiment of the Victorian upper class, representing social snobbery, arrogance, and the enforcement of rigid status rules.
What is the significance of the term "Bunburying"?
It represents the hypocrisy of the Victorian age by illustrating how characters split their identities to navigate and survive strict social expectations.
- Quote paper
- Bernadette Wonner (Author), 2003, Oscar Wilde: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' - Making fun of Victorian values and society and parodying dramatic conventions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/20509
