The Importance of Being Earnest Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and vocabulary from the lecture on Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest', focusing on Victorian values, satire, and social critique.

Earnestness

A determined and serious desire to do the correct thing.

Appearance

The outward looks which were valued more than substance in Victorian society.

Paragon

A model of excellence or perfection.

Illness

A state of being unwell that Victorians showed little sympathy for.

Lady Bracknell

A character representing Victorian aristocracy and its moral deficiencies.

Canon Chasuble

A symbol of religious thought in the play representing the superficial nature of religion.

Satire

A literary work that criticizes human vices or folly through humor.

Secret Lives

The hidden or false identities characters maintain to escape Victorian norms.

Duty

An obligation, particularly emphasized in the context of marriage in Victorian society.

Class System

A rigid social structure in Victorian society that perpetuates class divisions.

Compassion

A deep awareness of the suffering of another, which was notably absent in Victorian society.

Tory

A member of the Conservative Party in Britain, often associated with aristocratic values.

Manners

Social norms and behaviors expected in polite society, often scrutinized by Wilde.

Marriage Contract

A legal agreement between families that emphasizes duty over love in Victorian culture.

Thrift

The quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully, as discussed in relation to the lower classes.

Humanity

The quality of being humane or civilized, neglected in a strict moralistic society.