The Importance of Being Earnest

After conducting research on the Victorian Era, I can easily say that this gave me a much greater understanding of the lifestyle people in that time period lived. Also, after beginning to read The Importance of Being Earnest, it was extremely noticeable of the relations between my research and the events that occurred throughout the play. Specifically, the research helped me understand social classes, gender status, schooling, and marriage. Related to the play, it is apparent on several occasions that social class had a huge impact on the way everything worked. One example is when Lady Bracknell talks with Jack to see if he is acceptable to marry Gwendolen. After speaking with him, she disapproves because he began in a lower class atmosphere. This same example also proves to show what marriages were based off of. Both Gwendolen and Jack feel like they are suitable for each other, and their feelings tell them to get married, however this isn't feasible because of Jack's past, which is an issue to Lady Bracknell.
Throughout the play, it is also gives some examples of the gender stereotypes that I covered in my research. In the Victorian Era, it was meant for women to be quiet, and basically overruled by the men. The character Cecily shows this because she acts ditsy and allows her thoughts to be taken over by the idea of marrying Ernest (Algernon). Another example of this same idea is when Gwendolen says "How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes! Where questions of self sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us" (pg. 75) Here Gwendolen blatantly states that in this era, men just were thought of as better. The research that I did on the Victorian Era definitely enhanced my understanding of all aspects during this period, and not only this, but it helped me to be more aware of the examples of social class, genders, and marriage that were all used throughout the play.