70 pages • 2 hours read
Oscar WildeThe Importance of Being Earnest
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1895A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Importance of Being Earnest centers on two young men, Jack and Algernon, whose use of fictitious personas complicate their romantic pursuits with Gwendolen and Cecily, leading to a series of humorous misunderstandings and revelations about identities and social obligations. The play humorously critiques the pretensions and ethics of the British aristocracy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest has been widely praised for its sharp wit, humorous dialogue, and satirical critique of Victorian society. Critics appreciate Wilde's clever wordplay and engaging characters. However, some feel the play's light-heartedness can overshadow deeper themes. Overall, it's a masterful comedy that continues to entertain.
Who Should Read The Importance of Being Earnest?
A reader who enjoys sharp wit, social satire, and clever dialogue will appreciate Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. This play appeals to fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves series, blending humor with a critique of Victorian society's pretensions.