The Importance of Being Earnest pdf

奥斯卡·王尔德（1854-1900）是爱尔兰剧作家、诗人和小说家，被广泛认为是维多利亚时代最伟大的作家之一。 他出生于爱尔兰都柏林，曾就读于都柏林三一学院和牛津大学莫德林学院。 王尔德是维多利亚时代社会的一个浮夸人物，以机智、花花公子和同性恋而闻名，这在当时被视为犯罪。

王尔德的文学生涯始于 1880 年代，当时他凭借喜剧剧《温德米尔夫人的扇子》、《无足轻重的女人》和《认真的重要性》而广受欢迎。 这些戏剧以巧妙的文字游戏、社会评论和对维多利亚社会的讽刺描写而闻名。

除了他的戏剧，王尔德还写了小说，包括《道林格雷的画像》，它讲述了一个美丽的年轻人与浮士德式的约定，在他的肖像变老变丑的同时保持年轻和美丽的故事。 这部小说在 1890 年首次出版时因其颓废的主题和同性恋的暗示而引起争议。

尽管他在文学上取得了成功，但王尔德的个人生活却是动荡不安的。 1895 年，他因同性恋行为被定罪，并被判处两年苦役。 审判和随后的监禁摧毁了他的名誉和健康，他于 1900 年在巴黎去世，享年 46 岁。

王尔德的遗产通过他的作品得以延续，这些作品继续因其机智、幽默和社会评论而受到赞誉。 他的作品影响了一代又一代的作家，他的戏剧不断被演出和改编成电影和电视。 今天，王尔德不仅作为一位伟大的作家而被人们铭记，而且还作为反抗维多利亚时代道德主义和虚伪的象征而被人们铭记。

The Importance of Being Earnest pdf 奥斯卡·王尔德

"The Importance of Being Earnest" is a play written by Oscar Wilde and first performed in 1895. It is a satirical comedy that pokes fun at the upper class and their absurd customs and values. The play has become one of Wilde's most famous works and a classic of English literature.

The story follows two young men, Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing, who both create fictional characters to escape their boring lives. Algernon invents a sick friend, "Bunbury," as an excuse to get out of social obligations, while Jack pretends to have a wayward younger brother, "Ernest," as a way to visit London and court the love of his life, Gwendolen Fairfax. However, their lies and deceptions are eventually revealed, leading to a series of hilarious misunderstandings and revelations.

One of the most notable aspects of the play is its use of wit and satire. Wilde employs puns, paradoxes, and clever wordplay to satirize the conventions and hypocrisies of Victorian society. The characters' superficiality and obsession with appearance and status are lampooned, as well as their rigid adherence to social norms and rules.

The play also features some of Wilde's most memorable characters, including the delightfully witty and sarcastic Lady Bracknell, who is known for her famous line: "A handbag?!" when learning of Jack's adoption. The love interests, Gwendolen and Cecily, are both clever and independent-minded, and the male characters are charming and charmingly flawed.

In addition to its comedic elements, "The Importance of Being Earnest" also explores themes of identity, morality, and the nature of truth. The play questions whether it is better to live a life of truth or of deception and whether societal expectations and traditions should be blindly followed.

Overall, "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed and celebrated for its witty humor and astute social commentary.