To What Extent Is the Representation of Women in the Play "the Importance of Being Earnest" a Source of the Dramatic Comedy?

To what extent is the representation of women in the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" a source of the dramatic comedy?

In Act 1 Scene 1 in 'The Importance of Being Earnest", Oscar Wilde fulfils the Victorian gender stereotypes. The male and female roles are either stereotypical or the complete opposite of what is expected. Gwendolen is a character with Victorian feminity and is very dramatic which is stereotypical of the female role in society. She refuses to marry a man whose name is not Earnest. "It does not thrill. It produces absolutely no vibrations..."Oscar Wilde expresses Gwendolen to be shallow minded despite her high quality upbringing. Women care and are affected by social status and constraints in society, Wilde mocks their view and exaggerates their naivety. Gwendolen is making her own assumptions and opinions on a man just based on his name meaning of 'honest' which adds to the female stereotypical role of being ditsy, however also adding dramatic irony into the play which furthermore creates dramatic comedy. There is a sexual innuendo of this quote, showing there is interest in love which allows the reader to get an interest in the further events about to take place, this is a key feature of New Comedy. Gwendolen here is the stereotypical role of woman in the Victorian Society at that time.Wilde expresses what's expected of a man by Gwendolen using "the only real safe name is Earnest" this shows the male role is to protect and look after their woman which part of the patriarchal society;main feature of the Victorian era. Dramatic comedy is furthermore produced as there is an image of the 'Damsel in distress role' which suggests Wilde has a negative view of this society and therefore mocks and exaggerates.

Despite Gwendolen's stereotypical role, Lady Bracknell portrays against the female stereotype which automatically creates dramatic comedy. She takes the role of the father figure when Gwendolen and Jack ask to be engaged which is totally against the patriarcle role of women, this causes the male characters to show a negative, possibly even hatred towards Lady Bracknell as she goes against society. Algernon is a typical male role and is not afraid to share his opinions. "All women become like their mothers". Dramatic comedy is furthermore produced as the audience can relate to the reality of society whilst watching a fictional play. Gwendolen however shows similar speech and frame of mind as she also goes against society which produces more dramatic comedy.Wilde here uses one of his famous epigrams, he changes a typical statement into words of wisdom which makes the audience remember and furthermore creating dramatic comedy.

Oscar Wilde in "The Importance of Being Earnest" uses the idea of marriage to create dramatic comedy.Algernon shows a negative view against marriage. "Girls never marry the men they flirt with". Wilde uses an epigram, which is typical of a wildean twist.Wilde suggests when women are unconventional, they are not sticking to the stereotype of being passive rather than in the play being seen as flirtatious which furthermore adds dramatic comedy to the plot. Algernon continues to show a negative view of marriage during the play. "Married life three is company and two is none" Wilde uses the tradition of parabasis here to produce dramatic comedy; he suggests there is a necessity of deception in life (his homosexual hidden). Deception is seen as the only way to enjoy life which adds dramatic comedy as women are seen to hold men down which relates to reality. The idea of marriage here is seen as being a chore, which isn't exactly the right frame of mind whilst living in the Victorian era, which furthermore produces dramatic comedy as this is against the role of women. Women here are represented as fools when it comes to marriage despite wise judgement while picking their husbands which furthermore produces dramatic comedy.

Lady Bracknell takes a similar view to the male characters as marriage being tied down. "A thoroughly experienced French maid...recommending one to young lady Lancing,"Wilde uses wordplay to produce a hidden meaning which furthermore produces dramatic comedy. The social context with The French maid is also bring seen as a lesbian lover, the 'French' in English culture is seen to be a corrupted country therefore adding social constraints. However inversion in also shown as she continues "after three months her own husband did not know her" Wilde shows here going against what is expected in society produces greater happiness.The double meaning shown here produces dramatic comedy as it's frowned upon and isn't usually isolated from society, yet it is acceptable in the play as it is hidden. Bankhtin's Theory of Carnival is reflected here as it breaks the social rules as well as the social contstraints between classes. Wilde here also shows Lady Bracknell to be a source of comedy as she reflects Grice's maims defective exchange theory as being clear has been flouted due to the double meaning.

Lady Bracknell despite expressing a negative view of marriage, she highly respects the regulations for her daughter to marry into. She interviews Jack in a comedic way and when she finds out his hidden secret of being found in a handbag, her strong opinions and beliefs she portrays towards Jack create dramatic comedy."Marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel" This expresses Lady Bracknells high social sattire as she is very judgemental against Jack due to his unstable upbringing. Lady Bracknell plays with Jack's words to create a mocking tone towards him, showing a immidiate unrespectful nature towards him which therefore creates dramatic comedy as her mood dramatically changes. Potasis is present here as we find out a part of the plot, which creates suspense and a immediate twist towards the play.Futhermore Reductio ad Absurdum is also present as it is ridicolous to the social class, which continues the dramatic comedy.Reductio ad absurdum is also expressed in Act 2 by Cecily, where she makes up her own life as if it were a novel."It wouldnt hardly have been a really serious engagement if it hadnt been broken off at least once".Cecily is a key source of dramatic comedy as she is presented with the idea that reality is a disapointment compared with art. She has high expectations of Algernon despite just meeting him which futhermore adds to the previous point of her naivty producing dramatic comedy.She shows a inversion of the usual approach to marriage, as she sees it as being a fun even almost a game which produes dramatic comedy. Here we laugh at Cecily's made up world, she therefore is a passibe target of the source of dramatic comedy.

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