Analysis of Male Characters- The Importance of Being Earnest- Response 2

 Analysis of male characters

The first character that is introduced in the play is Algernon Moncrieff.  The first scene of the play is set in Algernon apartment, and the stage directions describe the room as being “luxuriously and artistically furnished” (Wilde 2). From the beginning he seems to be a frivolous character, and his character sets the tone for the beginning of the play.  For example he discusses the subject of family life with his manservant, Lane in the discussion below

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.

While this may seem to be a serious subject, the way that Algernon treats it shows the levity of his treatment. According to an article the main characters of The Importance of Being Earnest.  “Algy exemplifies wit, satirizes the world around him, and views his own life as art’s highest form” (Bradford). It almost seems that Algernon is the clown of the play.

John Worthing seems to contrast with Algernon Moncrieff in many ways.  Even the serious tone of the name John Worthing contrasts with the elaborate and decorated Algernon Moncrieff.  Jack seems to try to put on a serious and moralized front.  When Jack is explaining his position of guardianship to Algy, he claims, “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” (Wilde 3).  In this instance Jack sees that he should behave morally, but he does not put on that behavior on all the time.

While Algy and Jack seem to be quite different they are actually quite similar.  For example, they both live double lives.  Algy goes “Bunburying.”  Bunburying is the idea of having a fake person that provides you with an excuse to get out of things you do not want to do.  Algy uses Bunburying to have fun. While Jack is appauled about this concept he actually participates in it aswell. He has created a person named Earnest, who allows him to go to town whenever he feels. 

Even though Jack and Algy seem to fight a lot, the way that they fight makes them seem like close friends or even brothers.  According to an article about this same topic,  “Although we do not find out that they are brothers until the end of the last scene of the play, we can see a brotherly relationship between them throughout the whole play”(Miller).  For example, when Algy reveals that he found Jack’s cigarette case, He plays a game of keep away with him.  This mix between teasing and playfulness highlights the fraternal relationship.  While I’m still reading I will be looking for signs of this relationship.

Works Cited

Bradford, Wade. ""Earnest" Male Character Analysis - Male Characters in "The

Importance of Being Earnest"" Plays / Drama. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/maleearnest.htm>.

Miller, Anna. "The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: Act 1." The

Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries. 30 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/being_earnest/2/>.