Love in The Importance of Being Earnest Essay -- Oscar Wilde Papers

Love in The richness of Being EarnestLove is mayhap the most actively sought moralistic objective of ones life. And though marriage is often thought to be the logical consequence of love, it is Oscar Wildes contention in his satire, The Importance of Being Earnest, that love begets bliss and marriage thwarts this course of bliss. Algernon Moncrieff spends very little time falling in love and the rest of the time striving toward engagement. Wilde demonstrates by him that once one becomes intent upon achieving a goal, the individuals motivation becomes a matter of action rather than truth. Algernon is no longer driven by a moral objective instead, he becomes intent upon achieving a societal standard. The truth is rarely pure, and never simple (35). Love is truth. Marriage results in the systematic complication of love. Algernon becomes disenchant in the process of seeking truth. In defining Algernons preconceived notion of marriage and then describing the subsequent earnest pursuit of engagement, Wilde achieves a consequential mop up that satirizes marriage. Algernon is a pompous man of seemingly strong, albeit unconventional, convictions. Wilde uses him for the sole purpose of mocking the sanctimonious institution of marriage. In the beginning of the play, Algernon considers Jacks intent to propose to Gwendolen to be business, not pleasure (30). Yet eventually Algernon also resolves to propose to Cicely, discrediting his own established belief I really dont see anything wild-eyed in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is cryptograph romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is un... ...man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing entirely the truth (108). Though Algernon, by the plays close, does not realize this, it is the inevitable that he will eventually realize that the truth is no longer with him . For, Algernon initially speaks nothing but the truth. Yet on his path toward achieving his moral objective, he becomes so intent upon the actions that he loses the truth Algernon is so set on becoming employed that he forgets that divorces, not marriages, are made in heaven (30). Wildes initial intention is for Algernon to appear to be the antithesis to societys spokesperson. As Algernon, contrary to expectation, abandons his own truth, and the play ends gayly ever after, Wilde reveals to the reader his view that marriage is ridiculous. Bibliographythe importance of being earnest -- oscar wilde