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The Contest of Naming Between Ladies in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.pdf | |
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An article written by Tony Garland, in a scholarly journal named The Explicator, describes the role of name calling in The Importance of Being Earnest and how it relates to gender identity. Garland states that male characters name themselves to achieve their desires and female characters name others to exert power and ultimately provide the inevitable happy ending.” The first conversation between Cecily and Gwendolen gives way to an enforced intimacy. Gwendolen asks, “I may call you Cecily, may I not?” and “And you will always call me Gwendolen, won’t you?” Though this seems friendly, Garland points out that this is how women place themselves in society. They make sure people know who they are. The conversation between Cecily and Gwendolen has an underlying tone that describes the dramatic nature of female characters. Garland compares that dramatic tone with a man’s and that the power of naming is frequently ascribed to men, since they want to show dominance, but Garland says that is not the case in this play. Making an attempt to assert dominance, the women were playing it safe hiding behind dramatic irony.