Importance of Being Earnest
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In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, we are introduced to the hypocritical mask of Victorian society, along with the term "Earnest." Throughout the play Wilde makes use of his characters by comporting them in overly polite and sincere behavior as they speak to one another in a cruel, yet manipulative manner. Furthermore, the play itself is strictly based upon the term "Earnest." Both the young women in the play are looking to marry someone by the name of "Ernest," as this signifies that the bearer of this great name is responsible, honest, and of course, "Earnest." This idea represents how Gwendolyn and Cecily's romantic dreams hinge upon titles, not character. Given the major characters in Wilde's play, the complexity of Miss Prism is often overlooked as the distinct complications of each of the major characters in Wilde's play has undeniably extended to the character of Miss Prism.
Miss Prism's occupation is to act as Cecily's mentor and guardian at Jack's country house. In acts two and three she shows interest towards Chasuble, however, his celibacy prohibits her from telling him directly. Compared to the rest of the cast in Wilde's play, Miss Prism appears to be the only individual who is "Earnest," compared to Algernon and Jack, who throughout the play acted as "Bunburyists" to appear as "Ernest" in order to win the hearts of their loved ones. One must consider Miss Prism's honesty and conscientious ways due to her elderly age as she also takes on the responsibility of teaching and taking care of Cecily...