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    The Importance of Being Earnest
    The Importance of Being Earnest
    The Importance of Being Earnest
    Ebook127 pages1 hour

    The Importance of Being Earnest

    By Oscar Wilde

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateJan 1, 1940
    Author

    Oscar Wilde

    Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet and playwright who rose to global fame in the 1880s as a larger-than-life public persona with plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, and Lady Windermere's Fan. The author of countless brilliant epigrams that form part of our popular lexicon, he was sentenced to two years of hard labor in prison for having relations with men, which ruined his reputation and career. Upon his release he exiled himself in France, where he died penniless. Today Wilde is celebrated as a courageous crusader for free expression, gay love, and anyone oppressed by hypocritical conventions.

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    Reviews for The Importance of Being Earnest

    4/5

    2,459 ratings100 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I've always enjoyed this play and couldn't turn down the opportunity to listen to this audio production with James Marsters (SPIKE!) in one of the lead roles. The play remains as funny and charming as ever, and while not all of the actors rocked the English accent as well as others, it was a delightful and fast listen. Highly recommended.
    • 1/5
      A cute little trifle, just a middle-of-the-road blip, though. At least now I can say I’ve been exposed to it, and exposure is good - unless you’re arrested for it, or die from it.
    • 4/5
      Very funny, in the ridiculous sense, and often quotable. (I think Wilde could go further into illogic and non-sequiturs, and should try some longer-running gags.) Edited nicely; the humor doesn't overstay its welcome. Jack: You never talk anything but nonsense. Algernon: Nobody ever does.
    • 4/5
      The 2 narrators on this version were incredible, immediately switching voices without missing a beat. I don't know how they did it. The book was amusing in a stuffy English way. Silly can be fun.
    • 3/5
      I found the play amusing, so I'm giving the book three stars. However, I have to give one star to the homophobic creator biography and literary analysis that is contained in the edition I actually read, a 1959 book in the Barron's Educational Series. When it wasn't offensive, the literary analysis was just boring as hell and written in dry, tortured, overly academic prose that contrasted greatly with the witty dialogue in Wilde's play. Wilde's work stands the test of time, while the introductory matter is best left in the past.
    • 2/5
      man pretends to be ernest; comedy
    • 4/5
      Oscar Wilde is a very witty Sass Master. This was a great comedy, and I'm sure it'd be even better on stage.
    • 5/5
      This is a hilarious and quick play centered around two couples and the name Ernest.
    • 5/5
      After encountering references to this play in a book I recently read, I decided it was high time I "took in the play", which was rather easy to do with access to the audiorecording of a L.A. Theatreworks production. Now I understand why this play is considered by some to be the apogee of Wilde's work and such a wonderful precursor to the English farcical comic novel style perfected by P.G. Wodehouse. An entertaining Victorian story of courtship and manners, assumed names, mistaken lovers and the epitome of the "dragon" aunt. A whimsical mayhem romp!
    • 5/5
      As scrumptious a play as was ever penned.
    • 2/5
      zeer flauw, vol klassieke Wilde-oneliners. Misschien moet ik het nog eens herlezen.
    • 5/5
      After what feels like a millennium, I have read The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and I totally get the hype now. Oscar Wilde's play focuses on two men who independently of the other have invented alternate personas that allow them to cut loose without (hopefully) any repercussions. One of the men has created Ernest who is by all rights a scoundrel and his creator has finally decided to do away with him so that he can settle down and get married. The problem is that his friend (the other deceitful man) has decided to take on the mantle of Ernest so that he can win the heart of a girl that he's just met. (I recommend reading this in one sitting because otherwise you're liable to get confused.) Wilde uses word play and absolutely ridiculous circumstances to discuss the folly of youth and poke fun at the whims and fancies of people who believe they are really truly in love even if they don't truly know the other person. For instance, the two women of the play are determined that they will only marry someone named Ernest but as it turns out no one is named Ernest there is a bit of a kerfuffle. After all is said and done, no one comes out on top and everyone is depicted as foolish and unimpressive. It was thoroughly amusing and I guess now I'll have to see the movie that was based on it. :-P If you haven't read it yourself and you'd like a quick, fun read this will do just the trick. 9/10I was staring at the book's title and then it hit me: "Oh because it's about two men proclaiming to be Ernest and they do it will all earnestness." *facepalm*
    • 5/5
      So glad I had to read this for my AP British Literature class. This satire of Victorian England made me laugh more than most books and plays I have read. The humor is just unbeatable... I can't wait to read more from Oscar Wilde!
    • 4/5
      A classic.
    • 5/5
      This play is a delight. It's filled with Oscar Wilde's wonderful humor. The only thing that could be better than reading this gem is seeing it performed live.
    • 5/5
      An entertaining play full of wit and charm. I found myself laughing out loud now and then, wearing a constant smile. I thoroughly enjoyed the absurd humor and cleverly entangled story line.
    • 5/5
      Probably Oscar Wilde's most famous play, and certainly one of his best works. The story revolves around a couple of society gentlemen who have fallen in love with women who have the idea that they should marry a man by the name of Ernest. Since neither of the young men are named Ernest, this leads to a lot of pretense, and suddenly the world is blessed with two Ernest Worthingtons. The resolution might seem somewhat contrived, but since the entire play is a satire, this can be forgiven, since it is intended to appear that way. A fun work, and a quick read.
    • 2/5
      zeer flauw, vol klassieke Wilde-oneliners. Misschien moet ik het nog eens herlezen.
    • 5/5
      I love this more with each rereading...
    • 5/5
      I've read the screen play.
      It is an absolute gem of characterisation and dialogue. Full of humour and wit and worth reading again every once in a while. An uplifting experience I can't recommend highly enough.
      Go ahead and treat yourself, it not a lot to buy on ebook readers.
    • 4/5
      5442. The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde (read 8 Feb 2017) I have read this before now but never in its own book, and have seen the movie and seen it performed. But I wanted it to be in my list of books read so when I came across a booklet containing only the work itself I decided to read it in that form. It is outrageously funny, but of course not as funny as seeing it performed. But one can't help laughing. A masterpiece indeed.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorites
    • 5/5
      While reading The Importance of Being Earnest, I kept wondering how I managed to skipped over this one. It seems like something that should have been part of my curriculum in college. Or at the very least I should have seen one of the movie versions of the play. But somehow I did not.And yet, as I read it recently, it felt very familiar. Part of the familiarity comes from the use of tropes common to comic writing. We have cases of mistaken identity, intentional deceit, unlikely coincidences and more. The dialog is witty and playful but with a biting undertone that gets at the heart of the theme.The play centers on the interactions of two young men, Earnest and Algernon. At the onset we encounter the two men discussing the merits and virtues of life. During the discussion, we learn that Earnest’s real name is Jack but that he assumes the name Earnest while in London. He seems ready to give up his duplicity but when he proposes to Gwendolen, she admits that she really loves him most because of his name. So instead of making a clean slate and killing off Earnest, he decides to wholly accept the name. Meanwhile, Gwendolen’s mother opposes their marriage on the grounds that Earnest does not come from an appropriate aristocratic heritage.Thus we have a young man caught between two identity problems. His fiancé only loves him because of his fake first name and his would-be mother-in-law refuses to acknowledge his potential because he has the wrong last name. Wilde presents these two obstacles as counterpoints to showcase the absurdity of each. Just as it’s absurd that young Gwendolen only loves her man because of his name, it’s equally absurd that he be inadequate for marriage because of his status in society as shown by his last name.The story continues to play with these ideas through some hilarious moments to come. Algernon and Jack each struggle with their identities both in relationships and in society. We’re shown how ridiculous we can appear when we place too much importance on trivial things. At the same time, there are many things that we trivialize that perhaps we should look at more closely.The language of the play is fabulous and is a great example of Wilde’s genius. The dialog is sharp and smart with some great quips and repartee. While the character types and the plot elements feel very similar to other plays (I was especially reminded of scenes from Twelfth Night), the writing feels fresh and fun. This is a super fun story. Well written and hilarious. I really need to seek out a movie version (or see it performed live). It’s got plenty of laugh out loud moments while also providing a thoughtful satire on our impressions and assumptions about society and each other.*****4.5 out of 5 stars
    • 4/5
      I'm not sure how I made it through an MA in English without reading this. Finally dove into the script when I was cast to play Algernon in a local community theatre production.So much of this is witty and relevant and speaks with a modern sensibility. But dear lord, let's pick up the pace. Every line can be cut by a third, and several sections could be cut completely.
    • 5/5
      So very thoroughly enjoyable!!!It has much of the same style of humor of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, so if you enjoyed that, this is almost a guaranteed win.
    • 5/5
      This drama is absolutely fantastic! It is fast-paced, wonderfully witty, replete with double entendres, and full of rapid about-faces. The moral of the story, of course, is never to forget "the importance of being ernest"!
    • 5/5
      This comedy reminds me of a episode of Friends.

      Making fun of human nature at it's most ridiculous moments. It is a play about nothing just everyday moments.

      I absolutely loved this theatre version of the play done by the LA Theatre company. Funny, Funny, Funny

    • 5/5
      I felt I needed a lighter read, and this was time for a re-read of this classic play that I have loved since childhood, one of my all time favourites. Huge portions of the dialogue are imprinted on my mind, and I can hear and see the actors in the 1952 film version as I am reading. Wonderful stuff (though I still get Jack and Algernon mixed up in my mind, probably as they are both trying to be earnest!)
    • 5/5
      So funny! Did it as a high school play
    • 3/5
      a blend of hilarity and double speak... quit the woodhousian affair.

    Book preview

    The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde

    The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

    The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar

    Wilde

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

    almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or

    re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

    with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

    Title: The Importance of Being Earnest

           A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

    Author: Oscar Wilde

    Release Date: August 29, 2006  [eBook #844]

    Language: English

    Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

    ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST***

    Transcribed from the 1915 Methuen & Co. Ltd. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

    The Importance of Being Earnest

    A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

    THE PERSONS IN THE PLAY

    John Worthing, J.P.

    Algernon Moncrieff

    Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.

    Merriman, Butler

    Lane, Manservant

    Lady Bracknell

    Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax

    Cecily Cardew

    Miss Prism, Governess

    THE SCENES OF THE PLAY

    ACT I.  Algernon Moncrieff’s Flat in Half-Moon Street, W.

    ACT II.  The Garden at the Manor House, Woolton.

    ACT III.  Drawing-Room at the Manor House, Woolton.

    TIME: The Present.

    LONDON: ST. JAMES’S THEATRE

    Lessee and Manager: Mr. George Alexander

    February 14th, 1895

    * * * * *

    John Worthing, J.P.: Mr. George Alexander.

    Algernon Moncrieff: Mr. Allen Aynesworth.

    Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.: Mr. H. H. Vincent.

    Merriman: Mr. Frank Dyall.

    Lane: Mr. F. Kinsey Peile.

    Lady Bracknell: Miss Rose Leclercq.

    Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax: Miss Irene Vanbrugh.

    Cecily Cardew: Miss Evelyn Millard.

    Miss Prism: Mrs. George Canninge.

    FIRST ACT

    SCENE

    Morning-room in Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon Street.  The room is luxuriously and artistically furnished.  The sound of a piano is heard in the adjoining room.

    [Lane is arranging afternoon tea on the table, and after the music has ceased, Algernon enters.]

    Algernon.  Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?

    Lane.  I didn’t think it polite to listen, sir.

    Algernon.  I’m sorry for that, for your sake.  I don’t play accurately—any one can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression.  As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte.  I keep science for Life.

    Lane.  Yes, sir.

    Algernon.  And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?

    Lane.  Yes, sir.  [Hands them on a salver.]

    Algernon.  [Inspects them, takes two, and sits down on the sofa.]  Oh! . . . by the way, Lane, I see from your book that on Thursday night, when Lord Shoreman and Mr. Worthing were dining with me, eight bottles of champagne are entered as having been consumed.

    Lane.  Yes, sir; eight bottles and a pint.

    Algernon.  Why is it that at a bachelor’s establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne?  I ask merely for information.

    Lane.  I attribute it to the superior quality of the wine, sir.  I have often observed that in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand.

    Algernon.  Good heavens!  Is marriage so demoralising as that?

    Lane.  I believe it is a very pleasant state, sir.  I have had very little experience of it myself up to the present.  I have only been married once.  That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person.

    Algernon.  [Languidly.]  I don’t know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.

    Lane.  No, sir; it is not a very interesting subject.  I never think of it myself.

    Algernon.  Very natural, I am sure.  That will do, Lane, thank you.

    Lane.  Thank you, sir.  [Lane goes out.]

    Algernon.  Lane’s views on marriage seem somewhat lax.  Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?  They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility.

    [Enter Lane.]

    Lane.  Mr. Ernest Worthing.

    [Enter Jack.]

    [Lane goes out.]

    Algernon.  How are you, my dear Ernest?  What brings you up to town?

    Jack.  Oh, pleasure, pleasure!  What else should bring one anywhere?  Eating as usual, I see, Algy!

    Algernon.  [Stiffly.]  I believe it is customary in good society to take some slight refreshment at five o’clock.  Where have you been since last Thursday?

    Jack.  [Sitting down on the sofa.]  In the country.

    Algernon.  What on earth do you do there?

    Jack.  [Pulling off his gloves.]  When one is in town one amuses oneself.  When one is in the country one amuses other people.  It is excessively boring.

    Algernon.  And who are the people you amuse?

    Jack.  [Airily.]  Oh, neighbours, neighbours.

    Algernon.  Got nice neighbours in your part of Shropshire?

    Jack.  Perfectly horrid!  Never speak to one of them.

    Algernon.  How immensely you must amuse them!  [Goes over and takes sandwich.]  By the way, Shropshire is your county, is it not?

    Jack.  Eh?  Shropshire?  Yes, of course.  Hallo!  Why all these cups?  Why cucumber sandwiches?  Why such reckless extravagance in one so young?  Who is coming to tea?

    Algernon.  Oh! merely Aunt Augusta and Gwendolen.

    Jack.  How perfectly delightful!

    Algernon.  Yes, that is all very well; but I am afraid Aunt Augusta won’t quite approve of your being here.

    Jack.  May I ask why?

    Algernon.  My dear fellow, the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful.  It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you.

    Jack.  I am in love with Gwendolen.  I have come up to town expressly to propose to her.

    Algernon.  I thought you had come up for pleasure? . . . I call that business.

    Jack.  How utterly unromantic you are!

    Algernon.  I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing.  It is very romantic to be in love.  But there is nothing 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 uncertainty.  If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact.

    Jack.  I have no doubt about that, dear Algy.  The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.

    Algernon.  Oh! there is no use speculating on that subject.  Divorces are made in Heaven—[Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich.  Algernon at once interferes.]  Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches.  They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta.  [Takes one and eats it.]

    Jack.  Well, you have been eating them all the time.

    Algernon.  That is quite a different matter.  She is my aunt.  [Takes plate from below.]  Have some bread and butter.  The bread and butter is for Gwendolen.  Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter.

    Jack.  [Advancing to table and helping himself.]  And very good bread and butter it is too.

    Algernon.  Well, my dear fellow, you need not eat as if you were going to eat it all.  You behave as if you were married to her already.  You are not married to her already, and I don’t think you ever will be.

    Jack.  Why on earth do you say that?

    Algernon.  Well, in the first place girls never marry the men they flirt with.  Girls don’t think it right.

    Jack.  Oh, that is nonsense!

    Algernon. 

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