The Importance of Being Earnest
Often times, in a literary work, movement of location plays a significant role in the meaning. In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, the element of a physical journey enhances and emphasizes aspects of the meaning of the work as a whole, or the absurdity of lives based on social status and propriety. Location is a key motif established in the beginning of the play when Algernon and Jack each reveal their alternate identities, and how they physically leave to escape the stringent decorum of Victorian society. The separate personas allow the men to act as the they wish, while still maintaining their standing in society. When tea time with Lady Bracknell becomes too cucumbersome, Algernon goes bunburying in the country to shed his duties without shredding his reputation. This parallels the actions of Jack, however he leaves the responsibility of his ward, Cecily, in the country to play the part of Earnest, a young bachelor in London. But the absurdity of shirking responsibility does not solely lie within Algy's and Jack's habitual sojourns, but when the life of Jack and Earnest collide.
Wilde satirizes the ridiculousness of the Victorian era through the use of concrete change within the play. The notion that two grown men would invent a separate identity to take a break from their life for a while is absurd, and the fact that Algy and Jack believe it is completely normal and practice bunburying quite often makes it even more ludicrous. The play already focuses on the trivial and vacant lives of the characters, commenting on the wrongness of that lifestyle, and the facet of nonsensical physical journey adds to the social commentary. The only way the two men can deal with the Draconian rules of manners established in the society is to become a different person every now and then.
The change of location gives rise to the reoccurring theme of hypocrisy. Algy and Jack, in their respective communities are both ideal portraits of unmarried men for the time period. The improper way Bunbury and Earnest behave, is frowned upon by people like Algy and Jack. However, in order to protect reputations and high social standing, they must be hypocritical; as they proclaim the impropriety of Bunburys and Earnests with one hand, with the other, they revel in the mishief-making.
The collision of Jack and Earnest, and the folly that ensues, is only possible through a change in location. The play shifts from London to Jack's country estate, where Algy is parading as Earnest and Jack is both Earnest and Jack. The the entire section is fraught with criticism directed toward the ludicrous lifestyle of the characters.
Wilde's use of physical movement within The Importance of Being Earnest, represents the convoluted and trivial lives of the characters. The constant hypocrisy and molting of responsibility by Algy and Jack satirize the Victorian era. The commentary and meaning of the work as a whole are conveyed through the ludicrous need for location change, for bunburying.
