Gender Roles and Female Power in Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Essay from the year 2019 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Amsterdam, language: English, abstract: Oscar Wilde's plays are characterized by satirical wit that exposes and derides the norms, values and believes of Victorian society. Although it could be argued that his comedies were mainly designed to amuse the aristocratic audience, his characters challenge the dominate gender roles in a revolutionary way. In her article "Gender roles in the 19th century," Kathryn Hughes explains, that "during the Victorian period men and women's roles became more sharply defined than at any time in history." It can be said that the clear division of two gender roles is created by a social system and the prevailing cultural beliefs of a society.