The Importance of Being Earnest: what's in a name?
As you've noticed, this entire play centers around Earnest--the name, the identity, the confusion. But, why Earnest? Of all the names Wilde could've chosen, he specifically selected this name. Authors do this stuff on purpose. Tell me your theories of why Wilde chose this name--what does it mean? what could it signify? how does it tie in with other themes in the play? how does it tie in with other characters? how does it compare to the other characters' names? Consider these questions as you think about the utter importance of... being Earnest.
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The choice of the name of Earnest I believe is from the importants of time. Earnest people are seriouse, short and to the point. Like earnest people the play is short and to the point, Wilde wanted to say things on marriage like tacking it to seriously is absurd (I don't agree) but he pokes fun at how serious people make it be make Aunt Agusta redicuoly annoying.
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ReplyDeleteI think he chose the name "Earnest" because it means serious, and people in this play act so serious, even the humor is serious. Because some of the things they say when there being serious is just ridiculous that its funny. Earnest is the perfect name in this play.
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