Oscar Wilde wrote the 'Importance of being Earnest' at a time of great social change in Britain -a time when the British working class were beginning to question their place and treatment in comparison to the snobbish, privileged elites. Wilde with the use of parody in this comedy of manners is aiming his acerbic wit at the 'upper classes' who view the 'working class' as something almost unrelated to themselves. The elites in this play seem obsessed with the protocols and their appearance in society and they perceive the working classes to be ignorant and weighed down in squalor and social problems.
The overall tone of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is satirical, witty, and light-hearted. The play humorously critiques the societal norms and conventions of the time through its clever wordplay and absurd situations.
The characters Lady Bracknell and Miss Prism appear in the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. Lady Bracknell is a formidable and humorous aristocrat, while Miss Prism is a repressed and opinionated governess. Their interactions contribute to the comedic and satirical tone of the play.
In "The Importance of Being Earnest," the repetition of the word "absurd" serves to highlight the ridiculousness and farcical nature of the characters' actions and situations. It emphasizes the themes of mistaken identities, societal conventions, and the characters' comedic lack of self-awareness. Ultimately, the repetition of "absurd" contributes to the satirical tone of the play.
In "The Importance of Being Earnest", Jack's romantic origin is absurd because he was found in a handbag at a train station by an old man who adopted him, without any knowledge of his true parentage or family background. This mysterious and improbable origin adds an element of absurdity to Jack's character and contributes to the overall satirical tone of the play.
Running jokes in "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde help to create continuity and build anticipation among the audience. These jokes become a source of humor that recurs throughout the play, allowing the characters to play off each other and creating a sense of familiarity for the audience. Wilde uses running jokes as a comedic device to maintain the play's light-hearted and witty tone.
In Act 3 of "The Importance of Being Earnest," puns are used by characters such as Algernon and Jack to create humor and demonstrate their wit. For example, the characters play with words like "bunburying" (a term for leading a double life) and "death" (referring to cucumber sandwiches) to add clever wordplay to the dialogue. These puns add to the comedic tone of the play and highlight the characters' satirical views on societal norms.
The tone of "the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language" is weary and resigned.
not in the mood
Tone is the overall feeling or emotion the reader gets from reading the story
The Glass Menagerie has a tone of sad nostalgia.
The overall moods in Sredni Vashtar are loneliness and rebellion.
Dull and monotone.
The tone of "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is satirical and humorous, poking fun at the societal norms and values of the Victorian era. Wilde uses wit and irony to criticize the triviality and superficiality of upper-class society.