The Importance Of Being Earnest Double Life

The Importance of Being Socially Acceptable.
Often times we find ourselves living a double life at the very least and sometimes we even share multiple variations of ourselves with the world. In Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of being Earnest there is a strong central theme of living a dual life and then doing what is socially acceptable even when mocking the idea as the ridiculous concept that it is. From the beginning of the play Algernon Moncrieff is showcased as an irresponsible dandy who is not fit for what Society would call the civilized and respectable world. Alternatively we are given Earnest “Jack” Worthington who on the surface at the begging is seen as his counter part until Algernon reveals that Jack is also hiding a double life, his country life and his city life. Two secret lives led by well off Society men.
Algernon is painted as a rake in London Society, with the capital ‘S’. Society is a social body that sets the tone for what is acceptable or not in the greater community. He has the privilege of his family name and his position but is still looked down upon
Lady Bracknell is pictured as a rather “manly” woman in her appearance and mannerisms, she is loud and brash and takes charge. Traditionally, these are the actions of a man. No one questions this in the play and in fact seem to bend to her will even when she makes demands that one would not be able to complete with any seriousness. When she asks Jack to produce parents by seasons end knowing full well that he has already explained what has happened and that there is nothing he can do about the situation. This is a good example of Society, which Lady Bracknell is a major player, being able to use what is acceptable to limit the people who make up society based upon often arbitrary rules and guidelines that will also be disregarded if that will suit their purposes