The Importance of Being Earnest: Homosexuality

In 1895, Oscar Wilde was on trial for gross indecency or homosexuality ("posing as sodomite") with other men and on May 25th, was imprisoned for two years while being held to hard labour. During this time, The Importance of Being Earnest along with An Ideal Husband, another one of Wilde's popular plays, were shut down in spite of their significant financial success.

The Importance of Being Earnest was written in a time when homosexuality was a guarded topic and seen as "wicked" or "immoral" behaviour. In the play, the main character, Jack Worthing, is known as Jack in the country and Ernest in the town and goes between the two. Meanwhile he is in love with young lady, Gwendolen, who will only marry a man named Ernest because she desires the quality of being earnest the most in her future husband. Being 'earnest' however, can also be a reference to homosexuality which adds another dimension to the play. Jack's alternative identity and secrets could be parallel to someone who is homosexual; wearing a disguise to appear 'normal' and hiding.