Question

Compare and contrast oscar wilde's point of view from ernest's point of view of victorian society

Answer 1

Oscar Wilde mocks the Victorian society, he thinks the society is pretentious, full of self-importance, ignorance, and idleness. He thinks that upper-class Victorian society has some ideas that are nonsensical.

His character Ernest/Jack leads a double life, he was discovered as a baby in a handbag in the cloakroom of Victoria Station. He was adopted and leads a double life because he portrays himself as a major landowner and a number of servants that hide his poor past. He creates a false brother that is an irresponsible black-sheep, so he can lead a scandalous life without getting in trouble.

Jack has a respect for all these Victorian rules and societies social rules - such as marriage and the money that comes with it - even though he knows they are false the same way he is. He pretends to disapprove his own behaviors as a way to portray a right and just character to the Victorian society.