The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

What does being earnest mean? Dictionaries say it means being resolute, completely eager in pursuing a purpose. Where I’m from, the word earnest is not very popular, at least in daily conversation. We can rarely hear people using ‘earnest’ in its popular counterparts’ stead.

I, on the other hand, have always been a fan of the word. It has always been a word with a very positive connotation, as if it’s a word surrounded with niceness, the way skies are surrounded by fluffy little clouds and rainbows. But that’s just me, and I don’t know much about languages or linguistics. But it was for this particular word that I felt the need to read this. 

I’ve always known Oscar Wilde as one of the best authors we can have, but without ever finding it within myself any inclination to read his works. That is, until I saw this title. I said to myself, I have to read this. 

The title says it all. Two men earnestly work their way to reach their intentions and romantic pursuits. They do whatever it takes, even if it means having a double personality, one being a secret identity - that which they can make use of for their personal benefits, and another one being their true self.

Everything worked well for these men, until it so happened that they both secretly identify as Earnest - a name they’re both not. But their romantic interests are so indulged in them being Earnest. It is for this particular name that they fall in love with these men. 

A clash of assertions and an explosion of truth were bound to happen when the four of them met unplanned, with each woman professing love to one Earnest.

This is when it gets very interesting, as I found it unrealistically simple how these men win the ladies’ hearts back after such a confusing deception - the deception upon which their love was based. But then again I thought that perhaps this is the very reason why it became interesting. It gives meaning to the importance of being earnest.

I believe that this is one of the wittiest romantic comedies I’ve ever read. I don’t think I’ve had a complete comprehension of what Oscar Wilde was trying to say through this, but that’s understandable and very common. In How to Read a Book, I’ve learnt that we rarely ever truly understand a play, until our reading done again and again, and is followed by watching the play performed. 

Be that as it may, I would definitely bring this along for travelling. Truly a good, entertaining read.