TO WHAT EXTEND IS THIS STATMENT ACCURETE IN DESCRIBING THE CHARECTERS AND THE PLOT OF THE IMPORTANCE TO EARNEST?
Manners and Sincerity
The major target of Wilde's scathing social criticism is the hypocrisy that society creates. Frequently in Victorian society, its participants comported themselves in overly sincere, polite ways while they harbored conversely manipulative, cruel attitudes. Wilde exposes this divide in scenes such as when Gwendolen and Cecily behave themselves in front of the servants or when Lady Bracknell warms to Cecily upon discovering she is rich. However, the play truly pivots around the word "earnest." Both women want to marry someone named "Ernest," as the name inspires "absolute confidence"; in other words, the name implies that its bearer truly is earnest, honest, and responsible. However, Jack and Algernon have lied about their names, so they are not really "earnest." But it also turns out that (at least in Jack's case) he was inadvertently telling the truth. The rapid flip-flopping of truths and lies, of earnestness and duplicity, shows how truly muddled the Victorian values of honesty and responsibility were.
Go to gradesaver's analysis of themes to help formulate your answer further......... what your quote above implies is live by what you say; act in a manner that befits your beliefs........... ect. The characters here don't live that way............
http://www.gradesaver.com/the-importance-of-being-earnest/study-guide/major-themes/
