In typical Wildean manner, we see the innocence and necessity of food becoming a euphemism for everything that is pleasurable and a luxury — or unspeakable actions. Yet food is also used as a substitute for tension, or a suppression of emotions, Wilde can use to symbolise things in periphrastic language, or to represent. Wilde seemingly uses the eating habits of Jack and Algernon to highlight the excessiveness of the upper classes.
Perhaps this consumption of food serves to highlight the disconnected nature of the upper classes, rather than contributing to the society that they so exploit. This preoccupation with in-the-moment pleasure indicates the lack of work from members of this class.
Through his use of food — Wilde therefore highlights the detachment between the different classes. This seems to undermine the idea that Wilde was attempting to criticise the gluttony of the upper classes, and even begins to endorse this behaviour.
It seems more likely that Wilde uses food as a way to represent the social mask adopted by the leisured, rather than a way to tackle a clearly greedy upper class. The portrayal of food may seem inadvertent and innocent, but it is carefully and cleverly placed throughout the play to highlight the ridiculousness of aristocratic excess and to juxtapose indulgence and lack of restraint with the stuffy social adherences of the Victorian aristocratic lifestyle. Food is used as escape from the upper class Victorian lifestyle, and is used to turn on its head the values held by the upper class.
During afternoon tea in the estate garden both Cecily and Gwendolen use food to pull each other down, whilst keeping a civilised front. Instead they engage in mutual veiled criticism taking the form of malicious pleasantries. Sugar is not fashionable any more.
Cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadays. Food represents social status in this scene and is used to expose the hilarity of social politeness under circumstances where politeness is tested. In this case, Wilde inflates the significance of food and foregrounds its role in interpersonal functions — setting up the consumption of specific items as a thematic element. Food is therefore used to form the character and demonstrate the juvenile nature of Algernon.
Algernon gorges himself on the muffins the ladies have left behind in their distress seemingly careless of the fact that they are upset. He goes on to explain that when he is in trouble eating is the only thing that consoles him.
Versions of Reality: Romance. Foolishness and Folly. What literary devices are used in The Importance of Being Earnest? Oscar Wilde creates a comedic tone using puns, situational irony , dramatic irony , satire , and epigrams. Suzann Kuffer Explainer. What does the cigarette case symbolize in The Importance of Being Earnest? Jack's Cigarette Case Symbol Analysis.
Karamjit Zschokel Pundit. Why does Lady Bracknell disapprove of Jack? Jack undercuts Lady Bracknell by refusing to give his consent to Cecily unless Lady Bracknell gives him consent to marry Gwendolen. Rodel Borronha Pundit.
When I am in trouble eating is the only thing that consoles me? Jonadab Aranolza Pundit. What do the muffins represent in The Importance of Being Earnest? When Algernon and Jack's deceptions are exposed to Gwendolen and Cecily and the women scornfully walk off into the house, both men begin greedily to devour muffins. This can be seen as an expression of thwarted sexual appetite; for Algernon, as he says, it is also an attempt to console himself. Gaudiosa Myers Pundit.
What is the significance of the scene involving cucumber sandwiches in Act 1 of The Importance of Being Earnest? Food and eating play a surprisingly large part in the play, frequently expressing appetites and emotions that it is not respectable or polite to air openly.
In Act 1 , Algernon orders a plate of cucumber sandwiches and bread and butter for his expected guests, Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen. Lennart O keefe Pundit. How is the importance of being earnest funny? Evaluate Importance of Being Earnest as a comedy. Oscar Wilde is an incredibly funny and witty writer. His humor in The Importance of Being Earnest relies on creating absurd situations and characters whose lack of insight causes them to respond to these situations in inappropriate ways.
Zhongmin Eglan Teacher. Are Jack and Gwendolen cousins? Since Algernon is the cousin of Gwendolen and the brother of Jack , it is then true that Gwendolen and Jack are, indeed, cousins. Clint Benguria Teacher. What happens in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Themes All Themes. Characters All Characters Jack. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. Food symbolizes excess, or overindulgence.
For instance, Algernon cannot stop eating cucumber sandwiches , or muffins when they are put in front of him, suggesting that his appetites are just as excessive as his eccentric, flamboyant, and extravagant airs. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Act 1, Part 1.
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