Lies In The Importance Of Being Ernest

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Some say the best lies stem from a little truth, but sometimes, the best truths stem from a little lie. In the comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, (The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2002), Oscar Wilde weaves a tale of humorous irony and satire. Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff go to extreme lengths, even pretending to be completely different people in order to wed the women they love. Oscar Wilde incorporates irony to convey the means in which lies can lead to altered perspectives of a person, realizations of identity, and changed relationships.
Throughout The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde incorporates irony to convey the means in which lies can lead to altered perspectives of a person. Both Jack and Algernon use separate names when …show more content…

In addition to the discovery of his christened name, Jack learns that he is more than just Algernon’s friend; He is Algernon’s older brother, another son of Gwendolen’s aunt (56). Jack’s lies about having a brother are revealed to be the truth, similar to how his false name is uncovered as real. Having Algernon as a brother is no different than before, as the two friends always were very close, quarrelling with each other as siblings do. Wilde states, “Algy, you young scoundrel, you will have to treat me with more respect in the future” (57). The brothers’ false statements about their names lead to the finding of truth as their lies cause confrontation from others.
All in all, Oscar Wilde incorporates irony in The Importance of Being Earnest to show how falsehoods can cause changed views, discovered names, and modified connections. If one stays true to the facts of a matter, no confusion, discrepancies, or extreme consequences. Though lying keeps one out of punishment for longer, the repercussions outweigh the outcome of honesty. If one wants to minimize repercussion and ultimate regret, the best path is to be earnest. Honesty is always the best option, even if it is the hardest path to commit

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