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The Importance of Being Earnest

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1895

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Book Brief

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Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1895
Book Details
Pages

76

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

England • 1890s

Publication Year

1895

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Importance of Being Earnest centers on two young men, Jack and Algernon, whose use of fictitious personas complicate their romantic pursuits with Gwendolen and Cecily, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings and revelations about identities and social obligations. The play humorously critiques the pretensions and ethics of the British aristocracy.

Humorous

Playful

Romantic

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.3

384,106 ratings

80%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest has been widely praised for its sharp wit, humorous dialogue, and satirical critique of Victorian society. Critics appreciate Wilde's clever wordplay and engaging characters. However, some feel the play's light-heartedness can overshadow deeper themes. Overall, it's a masterful comedy that continues to entertain.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Importance of Being Earnest?

A reader who enjoys sharp wit, social satire, and clever dialogue will appreciate Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. This play appeals to fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves series, blending humor with a critique of Victorian society's pretensions.

4.3

384,106 ratings

80%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Jack Worthing

A wealthy bachelor who leads a double life, going by the name Ernest in the city while maintaining a respectable persona as a guardian in the country. He struggles with the constraints of social conventions and the mystery of his origins.

Jack's friend in London who enjoys flouting societal norms and invents a sick friend, Mr. Bunbury, to escape social obligations. He is known for his provocative behavior and humorous contradictions.

A formidable and authoritative figure who is Algernon's aunt and Gwendolen's mother, determined to control her daughter's marriage prospects and keen to point out the faults she sees in others.

Lady Bracknell's daughter and the love interest of Jack, who she knows as Ernest. She is charmed by the name Ernest and idealizes it as part of her romantic aspirations.

Jack's ward in the countryside, who is intrigued by tales of Jack's fictitious brother Ernest and keeps a diary of her imaginations regarding him. She shares an idealistic view of romance.

Cecily's governess, tasked with her education but often confused by her own teachings, and interested in the attentions of Dr. Chasuble.

The local church canon who frequently delivers sermons and harbors a timid affection for Miss Prism, struggling with the propriety of courtship.

Algernon's butler who assists in the facade of his master's double life by maintaining a composed demeanor while backing up Algernon's stories.

Jack's butler in the country, responsible for attending to guests and creating diversions during visits.

Book Details
Pages

76

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

England • 1890s

Publication Year

1895

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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