The Importance of Being Earnest: A Book Review

Ciara
Jan 26
2 min read

"I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can't go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fool left."

An open book showing the cover or title page of the book The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde with a kiss mark on the page.

The Importance of Being Earnest is an amusing read. It is a play about two friends, Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing (Jack), who somehow found themselves both claiming to be Ernest. It basically revolves around identities, lies and social standards.

(What is it about plays that are so obsessed with deception as a way of getting someone's hand? Reading this somehow reminded me of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew where characters pretend to be different people.)

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

The storyline is overall frivolous, but it was an enjoyable read, nonetheless. Algernon reminds me of Wilde's character from The Portrait of Dorian Grey, Basil's friend, Lord Henry, with his influential views that are at the same time foolish and utter nonsense. Also, love the banter and exchange of wits between the two male leads. Unfortunately, a good exchange is deemed a form flirting by me, so yes, I accused them to be gae at some point (which is very wrong if you know the end, hehe).

More lines from the play:

"But after all, who has the right to cast a stone against one who has suffered? Cannot repentance wipe out an act of folly? Why should there be one law for men, and another for women?"