The Importance of Being Earnest (Social Class)
... finds unsatisfactory. She states that “a girl with a simple, unspoiled nature, like Gwendolyn, could hardly be expected to reside in the country”. Here, Lady Bracknell is implying that the country home is not a civilized (or good enough) place of residence for a high society girl such as her daughter. Furthermore, when Jack tells her he owns a house in stylish Belgrave Square, Lady Bracknell declares that it is on “the unfashionable side” but “that could easily be altered” (Wilde, 1772). The fact that an alteration of any kind would even be necessary clearly indicates the importance of property and its location to the upper-class. The gentry of Victorian England also placed great value a person’s title and family background. Jack’s origin of birth and familial relations were issues of focal importance in “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Lady Bracknell makes it very clear that Jack’s uncertainty of his past is not acceptable if he wishes to be recognized in upper-class society. She bluntly states that Jack’s origins “display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life”. Lady Bracknell expects her well-bred daughter to marry someone certain of his background because she expects her daughter to marry someone undeniably of elite background. If Jack is unsure of his past, then it is possible that he is not “blue-blooded”. Therefore, he would be unacceptable in her social circle and unfit to marry her daughter. Lady Bracknell’s views are supported by her statement: “As for the particular locality in which the handbag was found…it could hardly be regarded as an assured basis for a recognized position in good society.” It is further supported by her later, rude statement: “You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter -a girl brought up wit the utmost care- to marry into a cloak room, and form an alliance with a parcel?” (Wilde, 1773). A person’s place of birth and family title directly affected their social status in Victorian times. “Decent people”, such as Lady Bracknell would not dare allow their noble lineage to be “tainted” by an individual who was possibly born of a lower-class, regardless of the social position the individual may by holding later on in life. Further indication of the importance placed on title and familial relations is given later on in the play, when Lady Bracknell inquires about Cecily’s background. Jack provides her with three separate addresses to satisfy her, to which she replies,”That sounds not unsatisfactory. Three addresses always inspire confidence, even in tradesmen. But what proof do I have of their authenticity?” (Wilde, 1978). Once again, the importance of one’s location of land and residence is shown to be very important. Lady Bracknell not only inquires the information, but she is skeptical of it as well. She would not question the information if it was not of importance. Once an individual had the appropriate wealth and property required to be accepted within high society, he was expected to maintain a healthy social life. The gentry of Victorian England had very particular social interests that were designated for the elite only. As the wife of a wealthy aristocrat, upper-class women were thought of as a symbol of their husband’s wealth. The less work they did, the more prosperous their husbands were. A woman’s expensive wardrobe and obsession with grooming showed not only her husband’s wealth, but also her dependence on him financially (Bailey, 6). However, the wealthy women did enjoy activities outside the household, which was not often permitted to working class women. They held social functions (mainly during the social season), took trips to the seaside, played croquet, bicycled, and went ice-skating. To an outsider, it might seem as if women of this class did very little, but their work was very important and sometimes very difficult. They were expected to manage both the home and the social affairs (Bailey, 31-37). In “The Importance of Being Earnest”, the leisurely activities of Victorian upper-class are revealed subtly throughout the course of the play. At the very beginning of the first scene, wealthy Algernon discusses the recent wine consumption in his household (Wilde, 1762). This divulges to the reader that it is customary for someone of high society to have dinner parties often. Algernon also discusses dinner parties with Jack, stating that “once a week is quite enough to dine with one’s own relations.” Algernon also mentions that he dines at “Willis’s”, which is said to be a “first-class restaurant in the vicinity” (Wilde, 1766). Clearly, the upper-class dines both in their homes and in restaurants several times during the month. The choice of restaurant, as well as choice of guests may establish one’s place within the social circle. Lady Bracknell also mentions social activities several times throughout the play. Her first reference is made is when she asks Algernon to arrange her music program for her “last reception…at the end of the season.” The “season” being the “social season”, which is described to take place “from May through July, when people of fashion come into London from their country estates for entertainment and parties.” The Victorian upper-class socialized and went on outings often; such leisurely activities occurred most frequently in the summertime (Wilde, 1769). In order to maintain a healthy social life and manage household affairs, most Victorian gentry had a full staff of servants to aid with household tasks. (Most middle-class families had the minimum of one.) Servants were essential to upper-class households. They defined the social status of those they worked for. They also played a substantial role not only in the homes of their masters, but in the lives of their children and other servants (Mitchell, 52-53). There were many types of servants, among them the housemaid, the nurse, the laundry service, the governess (who educated the children), and the cook. Many aristocratic women even had women hired for the sole purpose of helping them groom. Etty Raverat, who was a young woman in the late 1800's was quoted saying, "Ladies were ladies in those days. They did not do things themselves, they told others what to do and how to do it" (Mitchell, 52). In “The Importance of Being Earnest”, the servants mainly serve as the...