The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Research

In Victorian English times, women were treated unfairly with fewer opportunities than men. This started at a very young age. While the boys learned math and law, the girls were taught French, drawing, dancing, and music. Girls might also learn sewing or needlework. In most cases, their entire schooling was at home with a governess. Job opportunities for lower-class women were limited as well. Some job possibilities for a lower-class Victorian woman might be baking, seamstressing, being a domestic servant, working in a textile and clothing factory, or being a laundry worker. Even though upper-class women didn’t work, they were still treated poorly.

This poor treatment of women is reflected in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Victorian women had little or no say in their life choices. One such woman is Gwendolen, who expresses, “Few parents nowadays pay any regard to what their children say to them” (53). Not only did parents not listen to their children, these parents offered their daughters no choice in whether or not to get engaged. On page 44 of the play, Lady Bracknell scolds Gwendolen, “Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone. When you do become engaged to some one, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact.” It is completely up to Gwendolen’s parents to choose her husband, and once a husband is chosen, it will be up to him to make the rest of her life choices. Although upper-class women were free of the hardships of working, they still were unequal to men.

2010 Resolution

When I think back over the past year and consider what I would like to do differently this year, a few things come to mind. One is to get more physical activity. From the time I was in preschool until eighth grade, I played soccer on a rec league. The team I had stayed with the whole time (Blue Ice) quit playing together. I missed going to practices in the evening after finishing my homework and burning off the steam had built inside me all day. Now with much more homework than before and more time consuming activities, I don't get much time to exercise.

This next year, I would like to change that and get at least two hours of physical activity each week (not counting PE). I can accomplish this in a variety of ways. Some ideas are to work out at the YMCA, go for walks or jogs or to just go outside and shoot hoops. I could exercise during family activties, too, such as going on hikes. Even though there may be come weeks where it is nearly impossible to get two hours of exercise in, I could strive to make it up the next week so that it averages out to two hours. I hope I can make my ambition to become physically active last throughout the year 2010.