An Earnest Satire
Some considerations heading into November's WRW
What is a satire?
Usually a means of social commentary, a satire presents things one way to critique, judge, or illuminate them in another way. It is sarcasm in action, sans the tone.
Satire is meant to make you see the inconsistencies or fallacies in your reasoning or beliefs. As a society, it is meant to make us question why we do the things we do and go along with the customs our culture has adopted.
What is a farce?
With its etymological origins having something to do, apparently, with seasoned stuffing1, a farce seasons its stories with improbable moments and, at times, ridiculous scenes, stuffing these throughout the drama. It fills the story with comedy, confusion, exuberance, and humor.
Wilde’s Comedy
The Importance of Being Earnest is set to be a farce-filled satire full of commentary on Victorian society and playful humor in its characters. Just consider the play-on-words of the titular facade-character’s name—Ernest—and how un-earnest he2 is in choosing to lead this double-life.
This is sure to be an entertaining read!
Your Well-Read Weekend starts now.
See the French meat stuffing known as “meat farce” or “forcemeat”.
Or perhaps “hes”, the two of them.