How does Wilde create humour at the expense of his characters Gwendolen and Cecily?

The Importance of Being Earnest is a play that has been written throughout the Victorian period in 1895 by Oscar Wilde.In his play Wilde skewers the customs of the Victorian society by his use of witty line , and numerous devices.Women are also used very wisely to create humour as they are an important aspect of the play.Some of Wilde's techniques to create humour will be discussed below.


       Gwendolen comes across as a pretentious character all along the play.The fact that she is so fixated on marrying someone named Earnest directly creates mirth in the auditorium.Her preoccupation is to pursue virtue and appearance which is similar to what upper classes had a propensity to do.Consequently not realising that she is being fooled by a man pretending to be named Earnest with an extensive deception.An important remark about Gwendolen and Cecily 's relationship is that throughout their argument the way the address each other transforms.Gwendolen first begins to address to Cecily as 'darling' which a noun used as an affectionate form of address to a 'beloved' person.This demonstrates a positive relationship between the two Victorians.Nevertheless , this dramatically changes throughout.Gwendolen commences to change the way she interacts with Cecily by calling her by'Miss Cardew'As a reader , I can directly establish that their relationship is deteriorating. The audience finds the argument between the two woman in Act 2 amusing as they are aware that they are quarrelling and blaming  each other for something none of the two is actually responsible for.If Gwendolen is the product of London's upper class,Cecily has to be the antithesis. She is involved in the argument with Gwendolen and at numerous times, she is seen to be vehement.This is apparent when she demands Gwendolen if she desires some sugar in her tea.Gwendolen superciliously respond that it is not fashion able any more.This leads to Cecily angrily putting four lumps of sugar in her tea.This is amusing for audience as they understand that their quarrel isn't only verbally but physically too.Their gestures and actions clarify their feeling and emotions.The climax of their conversation has to be when Gwendolen says'From the moment i saw you ,i distrusted you.I felt you were false and deceitful'.The audience will find this line by Gwendolen really hilarious.This is a contrast to what she said when Cecily entered which was'Something tells me we are going to be good friend'My first impressions of people are never wrong'.The audience straight away is aware that this will not be the case and this creates humour.The title'The Importance of Being Earnest' plays good role for the audience to establish the nature of their argument.Moreover the fact that ,neither Jack or Algernon was earnest created this turmoil between the two female characters.This whole concept is also humorous to the audience.We could also use cross reference the fact that Jack portrayed Gwendolen at the beginning of Act 1 as 'sensible girl'The audience would therefore feel that wasn't the case as throughout act 2 , sensibility by the way she interacted with Gwendolen.This once again creates humour.


Throughout the play , Gwendolen and Cecily are manipulated by Wilde to create humour.Oscar Wilde uses the naivety of both girls to generate ambivalent reactions from the audience.The way they address each other changes through their emotions and this leads to the audience being amused.