Importance of Epigrammatic Lines in the Play The Importance of Being Earnest - Book Report/Review Example

Importance of Epigrammatic Lines in the Play “The Importance of Being Earnest” Introduction An epigram is a memorable, clever, and brief statement. Most of play writers use epigrammatic lines with satirical purposes in their minds while others use such lines mainly for confusion. There are plentiful reasons why play writers use epigrams (Ndi 4). Some of the reasons are that they cause impression, they cause pure humor, and make the listener or the reader to think deeply about the made statement. Kurt Barker Oscar Wilde in his play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ makes use of epigrams to show satirical situations. Wilde makes use of several epigrams that are in the play. Through his expertise in the use of epigrams; the audience can experience a level of humor throughout the play. A close analysis of Wilde’s skill in using epigrams in the work under analysis in this paper reveals an extensive use of such epigrammatic statements. The present paper outlines the value that epigrammatic lines add to the play The Importance of Being Earnest’. Wilde uses epigrammatic lines to show wit critique and satirize Victorian society. Wilde’s epigrammatic lines are short statements that enable him to bring humorous twist in the play as well as the expected outcomes. Additionally, the epigrammatic lines poke fun in the accepted meetings of a society (Gregory 23). ‘Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?’ For instance in this epigram, the expected declaration for “truth” would be substitute “lie”. The listeners would have expectations of a character voicing a shock after learning that all his life he has been living a lie (Wilde 12). In this epigram, Jack states equal indignation about telling the truth. The use of this epigrammatic statement satirizes the honest, overly, and sweet sentimental rhetoric of this play. Moreover, this epigrammatic line stresses the significance of human creativity and invention. Jack uses the line to express his disappointment that all his lies and marvelous inventions have turned out to be truths. The use of epigrammatic lines in this play adds interest of the audience and listeners. Wilde also makes use of many marriage epigrammatic critiques in the play. The many marriage epigrammatic critiques in this play show the reality of cruel in marriages. With the epigrammatic lines, Wilde portrays that romance is the only type of art that people practice in marriage; this is the only field that married people can project their ideas, as artists do. The marriage epigrammatic lines make the audience to think deep about the issue of marriage. The listeners, with the use of the marriage epigrams, are able to understand that, marriages always falls short of ideas. In addition, the use of epigrammatic lines in the plays creates humor hence making the play more interesting to the audience. Initially, the conversation that starts the play between Lane and Algernon creates humor. In this conversation, Wilde represents Lane as a witty character since he disagrees and undermines most of Algernon’s comments. Wilde introduces the wit in the fact that Lane disagrees and undermines Algernon’s comments in such a way that Algernon does not realize (Wilde 14). Algernon states, “Good Heavens! Is marriage so demoralizing as that? Lane answers “I believe it is a very pleasant, sir.” Lane uses the noun ‘sir’ to convince Algernon that he is right yet we know that he is undermining his comment. After studying the analysis of linguistic turn-taking present in this scene, one can understand that Algernon tries to take control of the conversation although Lane’s comments are very blunt and short. However, instead of Algernon being polite after Lane’s reply ‘yes sir’ this is meant to sarcastically undermine Algernon’s comment (Gregory 34). Wilde makes use of Lane’s wit in the beginning of the play enabling him to make controversial statements according to his thoughts on how the upper class is dim-witted. This shows how Algernon is slow comparing to Lane who is a mere servant and able to undermine Algernon’s comments without him realizing. Another value that Epigrammatic lines add to the play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is that the lines adds wisdom to the audience. The reply that Algernon gives Jack is an excellent example of an epigram statement. This statement elegantly and briefly turns some sort of conventional or received wisdom. Another example of an epigrammatic line is the Algernon’s assertion. Typically, Wilde’s epigram here consists of two fundamentals: an outrageous statement and a more outrageous explanation (Wilde 21). When Algernon informs Jack that his witty is “perfectly expressed” he is trying to voice the moral viewpoint of Wildean Dandy, who thinks that there is nothing essential than form beauty and elegance should dictate the sayings of people. Through the play, Wilde uses epigram to satirize the Victorian society. The use of epigrams in the play adds irony to the characters’ discussion through their conflicting and contradicting statements, which they make in a seemingly and a funny way. Epigrammatic lines used in the play also aids in keeping the audience awake (Gregory 37). These lines maintains the listeners at the edge knowing that, at any point the characters will produce epigrammatic statements thus bringing out the play’s comedy. Further, Wilde makes use of epigrams to mask his insults to the anticipated target. Thus, using epigrams are good ideas of disguising ideas in form of jokes. Conclusion In conclusion, the use of epigrammatic lines in a play is quite important because it makes the entire play interesting (Ndi 15). Wilde’s use of epigram in the play The Importance of Being Earnest generally plays a vital role of entertaining the listeners, adding comedy as well as spice to the dialogue. Another value that epigrams add to the play is that of disguising the inner views of the play’s writer. Through his expertise in the use of epigrams; the audience can experience a level of humor throughout the play. Epigrams are also important since they make a play interesting and attracting. . Work cited Gregory, Fiona. Oscar Wildes the Importance of Being Earnest: Insight Text Guide. Elsternwick, Vic: Insight Publications, 2009. Print. Ndi, Bill F. Epigrams. Mankon, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Pub, 2012. Print. Wilde, Oscar. Epigrams & Aphorisms. Bremen: Europ. Hochsch.verl, 2010. Print. Read More