“But you don’t really mean to say that you couldn’t love me if my name wasn’t Ernest?GWENDOLEN: But your name is Ernest.JACK: Yes, I know it is. But supposing it was something else? Do you mean to say you couldn’t love me then?GWENDOLEN (glibly): Ah! that is clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculations has very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know them.”
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Modern Relevance of Oscar Wilde's Quote
In this exchange between Gwendolen and Jack from Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest," the characters are discussing the significance of a name in matters of love. The notion that a name could impact one's ability to love or be loved may seem trivial or illogical to some, but it raises interesting questions about how society perceives names and identity. Today, in a world where names are often tied to cultural, social, and even professional perceptions, Wilde's words still resonate in conversations about love, identity, and the expectations placed on individuals based on their names.
Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest"
In this famous dialogue from Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest," Gwendolen and Jack engage in a humorous exchange about the importance of a name in matters of love. This conversation exemplifies Wilde's wit and satire on societal norms and conventions.
Quote Analysis
In this exchange between Gwendolen and Jack in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest," the conversation revolves around the importance of a name in love and relationships. Jack questions Gwendolen about her love for him, suggesting that it is tied to his name being Ernest. Gwendolen, however, dismisses this idea as a "metaphysical speculation" that does not hold weight in the real world. This witty dialogue highlights Wilde's satirical take on superficiality and societal expectations in relationships, suggesting that love should be based on deeper, more meaningful connections rather than trivial matters like names.
Similar quotes
“You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest.”
“Jack: “Gwendolen, wait here for me.”Gwendolen: “If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.”
“And you and I know you’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and, yes, that’s an expression, something people say, that has no meaning, but what I mean is there isn’t anybody in the whole world who has loved me the way you have, not my mother, not my old man, not my friends.There’s nothing preventing me and you from loving each other and being some kinda world-class shining beacon of love except how bad do we want it and what are we willing to do for it?Now, I know I did you wrong, and I was freaking out and being stupid and I was mean to you. You know sometimes I get all fucking confused and I can’t see outside of my own asshole. I’m unhappy. Why am I unhappy? It’s gotta be somebody’s fault, right? It couldn’t just be that I’m a self-centered fuck spinning around inside my own dank cloud of concerns.There isn’t anything I can think of that I really want or that the best part of me wants, that loving you won’t start doing. I love you.”
“Jack: “Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?”Gwendolen: “I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.”
“Do you know what it means to be loved by Death?... Do you know what it means to have Death know your name?”