Answered

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.


Algernon. [Languidly.] I don’t know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.


Lane. No, sir; it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself.


Algernon. Very natural, I am sure. That will do, Lane, thank you.


Lane. Thank you, sir. [Lane goes out.] This excerpt best illustrates which feature of a comedy of manners?


A)an example of class differences

B)a comparison of country and city life

C)a commentary on marriage

D)an illustration of clever wordplay

Verified Answer :

CaptainFlint

Oscar Wilde is the author of "The Importance of Being Earnest" from which the character of Algernon is taken.  The novel presents a satire of the Victorian aristocracy.

The play is a ludicrous comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious characters to escape oppressive social obligations. Presenting the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Its high mockery and witty dialogues have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde's most popular play.

This excerpt best illustrates a feature of a comedy of manners as:

A)an example of class differences

The passage illustrates the feature of an example of class differences in a comedy of manners. Algernon considers his servant to an irrational standard because he thinks that the working classes have to be good examples for the upper class.

 

EXPLANATION:

There are some characteristics of the comedy of manners:  

• It relies upon the dramatists’ dimension to show the dispassionate behavior of sex.

• It is plentiful with satire and wit and provides the image of the time.

• The heroine is more crucial and fascinating than the hero in the Comedy of Manners

• Hero and heroine are well-dressed, witty, and self-possessed.

• While during its long livelihood, English Tragedy has often acknowledged influences of foreign nations or cultures, English Comedy has been less affected by them. However, Restoration Comedy of Manners grasped a good agreement of continental spirit.

• The manners that the Comedy of Manners presents were not the manners of all Restoration Society’s classes; they were somewhat only the manners of the upper class.

• This genre is described by realism (art), satire, and social analysis. These comedies possessed a mirror to the better society of their age. These comedies are true portraits of the noble society at that age.

• One characteristic of the Restoration comedy that has been usually blasted and almost as usually fortified is its immorality.

• This genre reflects a mirror to the Restoration Age’s high society. This society was eternal and they were represented by the comedy.

• Most comedy authors loved the presentation of acts and scenes of sexual discourtesy.

• The introduction of the performers on the stage for the first time dropped the morality level. These performers were mostly women of easy integrity.

• The authors of the Comedy of Manners provided much more significance to the polish and wit of their dialogues than to the plot-construction.

• The dialogue that was scripted on the Comedy of Manners is polished, witty, and crisp.


LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

• How does Wilde use this conversation to poke fun at the class divisions of his day? https://brainly.com/question/8987784


Keywords : Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde


Subject  : English

Class  : 10-12

Sub-Chapter : History of English Literature

Related Questions