Introduction
Lady Bracknell’s opinions on true love and marriage serve as a crucial prism through which Wilde examines the subject. Her criticisms and stringent requirements for selecting a partner reveal Wilde’s view of marriage as a commercial agreement based on reason rather than emotion. Although Lady Bracknell’s opinions are frequently parodied in the play, it is evident that Wilde is using her to illustrate the fundamental nature of marriage and love.
The play’s younger characters, like Jack and Algernon, who believe in true love, disagree with Lady Bracknell’s ideas on marriage. Her remarks and criticism of their search for real love reveal Wilde’s own opinions on the subject. In the end, Lady Bracknell’s opinions on love and marriage serve as a potent and entertaining reflection on the real meaning of both concepts. Through Lady Bracknell’s external notions about love, her conventional view of marriage, and her confidence in love-based alliances, Wilde can portray the importance of compromise in marriage, the priority of social status within the upper class and the depth of affection in a marriage.
Lady Bracknell’s Character Analysis
Traditional Views on Romantic Love
In Wilde’s play, Lady Bracknell holds traditional ideas about romantic love before marriage. Her “very worst fears” are realized when she learns that Gwendolen and Jack have proclaimed their love for one another, as she thinks it would be unheard of for two people to fall in love before getting married. Lady Bracknell states, “To speak frankly, I am not in favor of long engagements. They allow people to find out each other’s character before marriage, which I think is never advisable” (Jackson, III. 133; Wilde, III. 1881).
Since Lady Bracknell thinks it is never appropriate for couples to get to know one another too well before being married, she is opposed to lengthy engagements. Her opinions are typical of the Victorian era since she thinks relationships and sentiments should be kept private until after the marriage, and marriage should be founded on practical considerations (Solo 37). In this regard, Lady Bracknell’s viewpoints reflect the traditional beliefs of the time, according to which marriage was not primarily based on love or feeling.
The Importance of Social Standing
In addition, Lady Bracknell gives a lot of thought to the social standing of those she associates with, which influences her opinions on marriage. She is interested in learning who Jack is and hesitates to let him into her family if his standing needs to be higher. This demonstrates her ingrained conviction that marriage should be founded more on etiquette and social position than love and emotion. This is seen in her opinions on love before marriage since she holds that such a thing should never be considered during a marriage (Solo 33). As a result, Lady Bracknell’s opinions on marriage have a strong foundation in the established principles of the Victorian era.
Class and Financial Considerations in Marriage
Moreover, Lady Bracknell thinks that marriage should be based on class and financial stability rather than love. Lady Bracknell believes that when it comes to marriage, money and social class are the most crucial considerations, with love coming in second. This is evident in her quote: “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing” (Jackson, III. 124; Wilde, III. 1900). She sees marriage as more of a financial than an emotional transaction. Regarding marriage, this phrase demonstrates her contempt for love and preference for material success and social position. This is evident in her unwillingness to let her daughter Gwendolyn wed Jack, whom she considers a social outcast (Solo, 40). The statement made by Lady Bracknell illustrates her traditional views on marriage and her conviction that social class and financial resources should be prioritized when choosing a spouse.
Furthermore, Lady Bracknell approaches romance and marriage with a realistic and socially acceptable mindset. She thinks that love is unnecessary for a happy marriage, which Wilde himself was very critical of. Jack’s socioeconomic standing is the main reason for Lady Bracknell’s objection to her daughter Gwendolen’s engagement to him. When Jack confesses that he is the son of her former suitor, she insists that her daughter marry someone of a better social status. Lady Bracknell remarks, “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness (Jackson, I. 67; Wilde, I. 1885).” This quotation demonstrates Lady Bracknell’s concern for Jack’s well-being over any conceivable feelings of love her daughter may harbor for him.
Employment as a Measure of Stability
The only criteria for a happy marriage in Lady Bracknell’s eyes are social standing and practical considerations, not affection and comradeship. Her disdainful perspective on love contrasts sharply with Wilde’s beliefs about the subject (Solo 38). In doing so, Lady Bracknell completely discounted Jack as a potential husband for her daughter. Her outmoded and shallow opinions on love and marriage are used to ridicule the Victorian view of marriage.
This is further illustrated in the conversation between Lady Bracknell and Jack, during which Lady Bracknell probes Jack about his riches and social standing. Lady Bracknell states, “I am glad to hear it. A man should have an occupation of some kind. There are far too many idle men in London as it is. Has Mr. Worthing anything to do?” (Jackson I. 67, Wilde, I. 1885). This statement by Lady Bracknell illustrates how important it is to her that a man has a respectable job in society.
Having a job during the Victorian era indicated social and financial stability. Thus, Lady Bracknell is anxious to make sure Jack has a job of some type. This quotation also discusses London’s social and economic climate at the time. Jack should not be an idle ma, especially in London, according to Lady Bracknell, who is worried about the issue. She also implies that having a job shows responsibility and respectability, which she highly appreciates.
Lady Bracknell asks Jack, who responds immediately that he has nothing to do, which causes Lady Bracknell to voice her displeasure. Not only is Lady Bracknell troubled by Jack’s lack of employment, but she is also troubled by his lack of interest in the situation. Lady Bracknell sees his lack of interest in having a job as a sign of carelessness and immaturity, which accounts for her disdain (Solo 34). This is how Lady Bracknell’s quotation reflects both her values and the socioeconomic context of the period.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lady Bracknell’s views on romance and marriage reflect traditional Victorian beliefs. Her opinions on the value of social standing, financial security, and pragmatic concerns over love show how Wilde himself viewed marriage as a business transaction. The perspectives of Lady Bracknell on love and marriage serve as a significant lens through which Wilde analyses the matter since they illuminate the true essence of both ideas. Through her views on love before marriage, her traditional view of marriage, and her faith in love-based alliances, she offers an engaging and thought-provoking look at the importance of social standing in upper-class society, the value of compromise in marriage, and the strength of love in marriage.
Works Cited
Jackson, Russell. The Importance of Being Earnest. Bookmarque Ltd, Croydon, Surrey, pp. 1-177. Web.
Solo, Lenny. “Educational Values of the Main Characters in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Drama by Oscar Wilde.” Dialectical Literature and Educational Journal, vol. 5, no. 1, 2020, pp. 33–42. Web.
Wilde, Oscar. “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly Mays, 2019, pp. 1880-1924.
