Enter Jack (p33-36) look at this scene and write about the comic potential.
The Importance of Being Earnest is used by Oscar Wilde as a vehicle for wit and an opportunity to satirise the culture and prejudices of the time. It also allows Wilde to convey his opinions concerning important life events; he does this by trivialising them. The scene that looks at Jack arriving home is a perfect example of this. .
It is the situation of this scene that allows comedy. There is a dramatic switch of mood from the flirtatious behaviour of Miss Prism and Chasuble, to Jack in a sombre mood after the supposed death of his brother. This gives the scene a sense of irony from the very beginning, leaving it wide open for moments of comedy. The irony is added to by the dramatic arrival of Jack and the seriousness of the tone, which quickly changes to christenings and a carefree manner. The situation allows Wilde to mock religion through funerals and christenings.
Dramatic irony is also present in this scene in that although Jack announces that his brother, Ernest is dead the audience are aware that "Ernest" is in fact inside the house. This becomes even more ironic as the play continues, because in fact in the end Algy really is Jack's brother. .
Chasuble echoes Miss Prism by following "more shameful debts of extravagance" with "still leading his life of pleasure"- which both lead to the same answer. This shows that they are made for each other as they both say and act as clumsily as each other. Miss Prism also repeats a proverb, which she said earlier in the play, "As a man sows, so he shall reap". This makes her appear rather foolish and highlights the fact that she is not as intelligent as governesses should be.
This scene also emphasises the farcical actions of the characters. The quick and sudden switches of conversations and opinions cause the characters to look rather ridiculous, "Ah that reminds me, you mentioned christenings I think, Dr Chasuble".