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The Importance of Being Algernon

Oscar Wildes final play, The Importance of Being Earnest, satirizes the values

and society itself of the Victorian era. Many of Wildes characters represent the extremes

of the classes created by the Victorian hierarchical power structure, such as Lady

Bracknell for earnestness, Jack for honesty, and Gwendolyn for kindness. Wilde uses

Algernon as a symbol to criticize the hypocrisy of the upper class.

First, Algernon is greedy. During the Victorian era, the upper class was supposed

to be fiscally austere, as explained by Victorian People and Ideas, stating respectability

includes thrift (175). Algernon, though he appears at first to have a large amount of

money, emphasized by his lavish house, actually is broke. He is able to keep up his

lifestyle of being frivolous because he very literally runs away from his bill-collectors.

Wilde uses Algernons debts as a way to expose to the audience the false sense of wealth

that the upper class has, shown by Algernons deathly fear of his bill-collectors.

Algernon is also greedy when it comes to food, as comically seen by the

encounter with the cucumber sandwiches at the end of the first act as well as that with the

muffins at the end of the second act. Lane, Algernons servant (who he cant pay), made

cucumber sandwiches that Algernon ordered for his Aunt Augusta (Lady Bracknell).

With Lady Bracknell still not having arrived, Algernon proceeds to eat every last

cucumber sandwich. When Lady Bracknell arrives, Algernon claims that there were no

cucumbers in the market, and Lane proceeds to follow along with the lie. Algernon was

greedy enough to have eaten every sandwich and then lie to his aunt about eating them.

Algernon also eats all of the muffins at Jacks country home in front of Jacks face. Jack

scrutinizes Algernon for eating the muffins, and when Jack tries to eat a muffin, Algernon
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uses the same criticism against Jack, then proceeds to eat every last muffin, claiming that

at the present moment [he is] eating muffins because [he is] unhappy but shortly

following with besides, [he is] particularly fond of muffins (293). One of the many

values of the Victorian age is self-denial: the idea that to not take place in acts driven by

desire. In this case, while Algernon may be trying to calm himself, he is also being

simply greedy. Due to his place in society, Algernon understand that self-denial has

importance, yet because of the hypocrisy in the upper class; Algernon continues to

indulge himself in material items such as muffins and cucumber sandwiches. Wildes use

of Algernons words and his actions counteracting each other clearly demonstrates the

hypocrisy of the upper class.

Another core value that Algernon refuses to follow is the honesty implied by

status. Algernon is anything but honest. The first instance of his lying is in the first page

of the script. Algernon converses with Lane about marriage and how it is an awful

condition, stating if ever [he gets] married, [hell] certainly try to forget the fact. Yet,

in the second act, which takes place shortly after the first but in the country, Algernon

proposes to Cecily, a girl he met that day. Algernon doesnt really understand what he

wants, as characterized by his hypocrisy and the opposition created between his dialogue

and his actions. The entire character of Bunbury most clearly shows his dishonesty.

Bunbury is a character that is not an actual character; he doesnt exist, nor has he ever,

nor will he ever. Algernon uses Bunbury, who was invented as Algernons dying friend,

as a tool so Algernon wouldnt have to do things he didnt want to, mainly meaning the

dinners with Aunt Augusta. Algernons use of Bunbury eventually leads him into trouble

when he tries to marry. Bunburying, as Algernon calls it, leads to the breaking of the
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engagement between he and Cecily. Algernons use of Bunbury is dishonest because it is

a lie created so he could indulge in pleasure.

Lastly, Algernon runs away from his bill-collectors. This means he is being

dishonest with himself. He refuses to admit he has a monetary problem, which leads him

to trouble when Lady Bracknell tries to acquire a suitable match as a wife. However, this

problem is temporarily patched with a deus ex machina twist where it is revealed that

Cecily, Algernons fianc, is wealthy, though not at first glance. This band-aid type of

solution shows that rather than addressing problems, the Victorians were more likely to

cover up the problem rather than address it at its core. The quick fix acts as a subtle

vessel in which Wilde hides this harsh criticism of Victorian society.

One of many values Algernon lacks is respect, mainly for his own caste: the upper

class. He constantly lies to try to avoid any confrontation, thereby avoiding

responsibility. Algernon mainly disrespects his Aunt Augusta; Aunt Augusta

continuously tries to create an engagement between Algernon and one of the women on

her list of suitable candidates. Algernon refuses to be married, as comically portrayed in

the opening few lines. His disrespect comes forth as he describes the type of women with

whom his aunt wants him engaged. Algernon describes them as flirtatious, saying the

amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous.

He thoroughly likes them so little that he creates Bunbury so that he could prevent

himself from going to these dinners and have fun in the country instead.

Earnestness is a value highly desired in the Victorian era. Algernon is the

opposite of earnest. Algernon describes himself as the opposite in the second line in the

entire play. When he and Lane discuss his piano playing, Algernon claims, [he doesnt]
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play accuratelyanyone can play accuratelybut [he plays] with wonderful expression.

As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is [his] forte. Rather than being very stern

and technical with his piano, he plays in a more romantic manner; his music is more

expressive rather than accurate. This contributes to his hypocrisy; Algernon believes he

is being stern and serious, when in actuality he acknowledges his dependence on

emotion.

Algernon represents the stereotypical upper class member of the Victorian

society. During the Victorian era, honesty, benevolence, respect, and earnestness were

highly valued. As a member of the upper class, Algernon was none of these. Through

comedy, Oscar Wilde used Algernon to portray the hypocrisy in the upper class.