By weaving together narratives, writing characters, and having them interact with the constructed world around them, creators gain deeper insight into the human condition. To that end, the use of specific dramatic elements such as character, language, and conflict is required, where the latter is the most prominent one. For the purposes of this discussion, the use and effect of conflict will be further analyzed, using a specific play as a point of reference and a center of the dialogue. Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” can be noted as a great example of the use of conflict, with its whimsical plot and interesting characters. In the play, this element is effectively used to put a barrier between the main characters and their life goals and to emphasize the main themes of the piece better. Through the external conflicts between Jack and Algernon’s opposing beliefs of love and honesty, their continuous disagreements about marriage and romance, and the fixation of the name Earnest between the men and their love interests, the play suggests the superficiality of high moral standing and the failure of the moral virtue of truthfulness.
The interpersonal conflict between Jack and Algernon displays their opposing beliefs in love and honesty and suggests a failure of the moral virtue of truthfulness in their life. Their interaction in the first act of the play also serves as an introduction to their characters and the main beliefs of both men throughout the rest of the piece. The two, whom the audience sees discussing matters of the heart, hold different positions concerning honesty and love. Algernon proposes “A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it,” from which the audience can both infer his position on marriage and appropriate social behavior (1.224-225). Algernon finds the use of facades and falsehoods invaluable in his daily life and continuously uses the story of his friend Bunbury to evade unnecessary social interactions. His discussion of the practice and advice offered to Jack suggests that the man fully supports the use of deception as a way of reaching one’s goals or needs. On the other hand, Jack seems to be much more apprehensive on the matter, as exemplified by his strong opposition to Algernon’s words. While Jack similarly finds himself using lies in his daily life, he is willing to drop the act entirely for the sake of his one love. The difference in opinions serves to both differentiate and unite characters simultaneously, noting their deceptions as a point of similarity yet putting a clear distinction between the two.
The continuous disagreements about romance and marriage between Jack and Algernon also imply the failure of the moral virtue of truthfulness. The opinions displayed and their variety can be viewed as a significant defining trait for both, helping the audience differentiate between their individual brands of moral bankruptcy. Jack sees marriage as inherently romantic and worth pursuing, as well as something worthy of honesty and earnestness. Alternatively, Algernon repeatedly states that the notion of romance should not be used in relation to marriage and that an individual must lead a double life to be happily married. Near the beginning of their discussion, Algernon notes, “It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal,” to which Jack replies that “the Divorce Court was specially invented” for people like him (1.63-69). Algernon finds the continuous pursuit of women to be romantic, with flirting only being possible with no definitive commitment. Once a person chooses to solidify their relationship on paper, the notion of romance entirely disappears and can no longer be a part of the process. For Jack, though, marriage is a part of romance as any other, becoming an ultimate culmination of the attraction to another person. As with lies and commitment, the difference of characters was exposed in the form of a conflict between Jack and Algernon, giving the audience an ability to better understand the subjects of the play.
The external and internal conflict that the name Ernest creates between Jack, Algernon, and their respective beloved ladies suggests the superficiality of high moral standing and the failure of honesty as a moral virtue. In the play, the characters most loudly advocating the moralistic standards of the time are seen as hypocritical or are constantly being made fun of, which helps the audience understand the author’s position on the matter. Gwendolen and Cecily, both having been made aware of being deceived previously, are confronting the men about their lying and pretense. More than any other character, Gwendolen has been continuously presented as an ideal woman of the period, socially apt, righteous, and speaking on the matters of morality with a feeling of confidence and conviction. However, this idealistic image is strongly contrasted with her affection for Jack, which is primarily based on his “fake” name, Ernest. Gwendolen feels that this particular name “inspires absolute confidence,” to the point that she is unwilling to consider marriage to a person not named Ernest (1.341-342). Lady Cecily’s convictions are similar to that end, as she seems fixated on the name Ernest as well. Both women place themselves in opposition to the men’s lies, from which position they seek to judge the actions of their to-be spouses. The act, however, shatters almost instantly, as the two are quick to forgive acts of deception and dishonesty at the first word. Furthermore, their primary reservations about marrying Jack and Algernon come not from their behavior but simply from their names not being Ernest. In this fashion, the conflict between the two parties showcases the superficiality of high moral standing and its flimsy nature in the face of other matters.
In conclusion, Wilde’s use of conflict in “The Importance of Being Ernest” suggests the superficiality of high moral standing and the failure of the moral virtue of truthfulness. Generally, conflict exists as a multi-purpose tool to enhance the narrative of a play, create interesting interactions between the characters, and make the major themes of any piece more prominent. In his play, Wilde uses conflict to help reveal the moralistic standards of the time and hint at their shallow nature by continuously making fun of righteous individuals.
Reference
Wilde, Oscar. “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The Broadview Introduction to Literature: Drama, edited by Lisa Chalykoff et al., 2nd ed., Broadview Press, 2018, pp.1-55.