Importance of Being Earnest Analysis

Marriage as a theme in, "The Importance of Being Earnest."

Marriage is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a formal or legally recognized union of two individuals (usually male and female but some jurisdiction allow same sex marriages) in a relationship (Definition of Marriage).

The idea that the two individuals are in a relationship or partnership implies that the union has been formed willingly and that both parties are happy. It also reflects shared values that surround marital relationships. Lastly, about the definition, it focuses on the two persons getting married and does not mention any external party. Thus the issue that then arises is: Is it right or possible for two individuals to make the decision by themselves that they should get married?

According to the Cosmopolitan Magazine there are a several reasons to get married including that married couples are more likely to: act as a team; support each other in difficult times; and feel more grounded in their relationship. The Magazine also states that marriage gives a relationship more substance (So, Why Do People Get Married Anyway).

The reasons highlighted above paint quite a romantic picture of what marriage offers in contrast to the picture painted in the play, 'The Importance of being Earnest,' wherein the institution of marriage is portrayed as a highly undesirable union or partnership. In the "Importance of Being Earnest" the author challenges the commonly held view that marriage is pleasurable by bringing to light its ugly side and projecting it as a limiting/restrictive social duty (The Importance of Being Earnest Theme of Marriage).

An undesirable Institution

In the play, Algernon is most critical of marriage. When Jack tells him that he is in love with Gwendolen and that he has come to town for the sole reason of proposing to her, Algernon responds by telling Jack that he thought he (Jack) had come for pleasure and that what Jack had told him sounded more like business. In other words, Algernon in the play argues that the institution of marriage is similar to a business transaction. Algernon then says that he sees nothing romantic in proposing, arguing that to be in love is very romantic but a definite proposal ruins that the romanticism; that in the end after one accepts the proposal all the romantic excitement is over. His further statements also continue portraying marriage as a social duty that is not an attractive option to him, he states that the core of romance is its uncertainty, meaning that once one gets married he or she destroys the romance. Algernon then further opines to Jack that the only way a man can act to a woman is to make love to her if she is pretty and to another girl is she happens to be plain. In other words, Algernon thinks of the institution of marriage as a romance dampener and not a way to behave towards women.

In a bid to show his friend how to make the best of his marriage situation if he ever ends up getting married, Algernon states that he has an imaginary friend whom he calls Bunbury. He says that his imaginary friend allows him to go away whenever he chooses to do so. He goes ahead to joke that he has just received a telegram from his friend informing him that he (Bunbury) is very sick. He opines that nothing will ever make him to leave Bunbury and if Jack ever ends up getting married he will be glad to know Bunbury and that any man who gets married without having a Mr. Bunbury somewhere he will have a very difficult time in marriage and that Jack should realize that in marriage 3 is company and 2 is none. Here Algernon shows that he has an imaginary friend who he uses to excuse himself from difficult situations and he advices to create one for himself to survive his marriage.

Algernon also offers the opinion that the divorces are made in Heaven, in other words implying that just like Bunbury divorces were created to free men from undesirable marriage unions.

As a romantic Institution

Gwendolen (the girl that Jack wants to propose to) has very romantic notions about marriage. As she speaks to Jack, she states (perhaps in an effort to imply fate) that her ideal has always been to love a man named Earnest, that there is something in "Earnest" that inspires confidence and that the moment Algernon mentioned to her that he had a friend called Earnest, she knew she was destined to love him. She continues, that Earnest has wonderful eyes and that she hopes he will always look at her like that. In short the conversation shows that Gwendolen is fixated on the notion of marrying a man named Earnest, this also demonstrates the superficiality of Victorian era morals with regards to marriage (Themes in the Importance of Being Earnest).

As a Social Tool