The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a theatrical work published by Bloomsbury UK on March 24, 2014. This edition spans 176 pages and is presented in English. The play, subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” explores themes of social and personal identity through its witty dialogue and self-aware characters. The story follows Jack Worthing, who navigates the complexities of his origins and the societal expectations surrounding his desire to be seen as respectable.
Readers will find a rich exploration of character dynamics and societal norms, as Jack’s quest for acceptance leads him to confront his past and the stigma of his illegitimacy. This edition uniquely includes an appendix featuring earlier versions and additional scenes, providing insight into Wilde’s creative process. The play’s engagement with themes relevant to the humanities and theatre makes it a significant work for those interested in special topics within these fields.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘A Trivial Comedy for Serious People’: its subtitle is the best summary of a play that is the theatrical equivalent of a butterfly. The verbal brilliance of its highly self-conscious characters hides deep anxieties about social and personal identity: Jack Worthing, found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station and named after a railway ticket, is prepared to be re-christened to obtain the Christian name – Earnest – his beloved Gwendolen requires in a husband; he then has to confront the stigma of being the illegitimate child of a servant, before fortune, and a benevolent dramatist, reveal his true and entirely respectable identity. This is the only one-volume edition of the play to include an appendix with earlier versions and additional scenes that allow an appreciation of Wilde’s creative process.
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