Question

How does Oscar Wilde use symbolism in his social commentary? Use examples from the play to support your answer. (The play is "The Importance of Being Earnest").

Answer 1

Oscar Wilde uses symbolism in 'The Importance of Being Earnest' to critique the social norms of his time, particularly the hypocrisy of the upper class.

Step-by-step explanation:

Oscar Wilde uses symbolism in his play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' to convey social commentary. One example of this is the symbol of the handbag, which represents the importance of appearance and the hypocrisy of the upper class. The handbag is mentioned multiple times throughout the play, and its presence or absence is used to highlight the characters' true identity versus their assumed identity.

Another example of symbolism is the name 'Earnest' itself. The name is a play on words, as it sounds like 'earnest' which means sincere and serious, but it is also a pun for 'Ernest' which represents the characters' desire to be serious and respectable in society. This symbolizes the theme of appearance versus reality and the superficiality of the upper class.

These examples show how Oscar Wilde uses symbolism to critique and satirize the social norms and values of his time, particularly the hypocrisy and artificiality of the upper class.

Answer 2

Oscar Wilde was a joker "

The Importance of Being Sober" is one of his plays and it is a humor type play.

Oscar used food for more than just something to devour, he used food as the main way to express feelings and emotions in his play
it was his main source to convey his ideas and thoughts
hope it helps