Dishonesty in "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Dishonesty relates to the epigram of "the truth is rarely pure and never simple". First of all it is humerous because that is a short, simple statement on the truth, so it contradict itself just in that. But it is dishonest in the way that the truth should be pure, because it is truthful. Dishonesty in the upper class is made fun of alot in the play. Wilde shows that the social expectation as an affluent person is to always have a carefully cultivated mask of courtesy and manners. That is why when Cecily and Gwendolen have their little spat they are passive aggressive. Also the men think that the women should not know the truth and find nothing wrong in pretending to be called "Erntest". The fact that they want to change their names at all to "Ernest" is dishonest. Changing their names is the un-earnest thing to do; earnest literally mean serious and truthful. The contradicting dishonesty is what makes the play humerous. Also, as far as pursuit of pleasure goes, Algernon is the worst. He said that one must be serious about one thing in life to have pleasure (epigram), and that he is serious about Bunburying. Bunburing is in fact lieing (being dishonest) about where you are going and/or who you are to get away from serious expectations or responsibilites. Therefore, the one thing Algernon is serious about is being unserious as he goes somewhere to goof off.

Wilde is trying to show that dishonesty was partialy expected the the Victorian times for the upper class. Everyone lived behind a facade of manners or lies to hide true feelings or emotions. Also, what makes the play humerous and funny is that by becomeing "Ernest" takes away any "earnestness" that you had. By being dishonest (changning your name to Ernest) you are no longer earnest. So if the men kept their names, they would be earnest, not Ernest. Another thing Wilde says in this play is that being dishonest doesn't necesarily put you in much trouble. After the women figured out the men had lied, they forgave them almost instantly and still wanted to be engaged. No real harm was done. Most literary works put out the theme that being dishonest will not benefit you, but Wilde's play shows no bad outcome of being earnest.