The Importance Of Being Earnest Essay Research — страница 2

admits to Algy that she loves him for his name, Ernest, and his image of being “wicked”. When Algy proposes, Cecily declares that they had already been engaged for three months, an engagement that she had imagined. When the proposal is announced, Cecily is only accepted by Lady Bracknell because she has enough money to support Algy?s lifestyle. Through the two relationships of Ernest(Jack) and Gwendolyn and Ernest(Algy) and Cecily, Wilde conveys the notion that love of such kinds is entirely arbitrary, and relationships are based on deceit. Marriages, he contends, are simply an alliance between families to preserve the aristocracy. The end of the play culminates in the planning of marriages of Ernest to Gwendolyn and Algy to Cecily. These marriages are made available only

because Jack(Ernest) discovers his true identity as one belonging to the Bracknell family. When this is established, Ernest is allowed to marry Gwendolyn and it seems as though he will allow Cecily to marry Algernon. However, the identity Ernest discovers is the same that he has lied about throughout the entire play. Thus, the relationships forged arbitrarily on deceit and convenience are legitimated at the end of the play. Although Ernest declares, “I?ve realized now for the first time in my life the vital importance of Being Earnest”, the statement is actually ironic because he had never been earnest at any point. In fact, the end is only the result of a coincidental twist of fate.