Earnest

“What you really are is a Bunburyist. I was quite right in saying you were a Bunburyist. You are one of the most advanced Bunburyists I know.

Jack: What on earth do you mean?

Algernon: You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like. I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is perfectly invaluable. If it wasn’t for Bunbury’s extraordinary bad health, for instance, I wouldn’t be able to dine with you at Willis’s to night, for I have been really engaged to Aunt Augusta for more than a week.” (Wilde, Oscar, The Importance Of Being Earnest 123)


This passage from The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is when Algernon first informs Jack of the ways of the Bunburyist and how even with out knowing, he already is one. The author’s purpose in this passage is to create humor. It is achieved through repetition, farce and absurdity.
Through this entire this passage repetition is used to create humor. “What you really are is a Bunburyist. I was quite right in saying you were a Bunburyist. You are one of the most advanced Bunburyists I know.” (Wilde, Oscar, The Importance Of Being Earnest 123). The word Bunburyist is used extremely often through out this passage. It’s humorous because when a word is repeated a certain amount times, it simply begins to become funny. It also helps the case that “Bunburyist” is a made up word that sounds comical already.
In this passage traces of farce can be seen through out as an undertone. “You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like. I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury… I wouldn’t be able to dine with you at Willis’s to night, for I have been really engaged to Aunt Augusta for more than a week.” (Wilde, Oscar, The Importance Of Being Earnest 123). In this passage it is revealed that both Jack and Algernon have other identities that they assume whenever they please. Algernon uses a fictional character, Bunbury, as an excuse to do as he pleases. Jack uses his fictional identity in order to come to town as he wishes. This is farcical because it is ridiculous and deals with false identities. It is humorous because of how ludicrous it is and it is simply amusing.
This passage demonstrates the pure absurdity that can be seen through The Importance Of Being Earnest. “You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like. I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose.” (Wilde, Oscar, The Importance Of Being Earnest 123) The notion that two grown men have invented fictional characters to childishly get what they want is absurd. The notion that these two men happen to be best friends continues to elevate the absurdity. The irrationality of this is humorous for the audience because it is funny to imagine this actually happening and to hear Jack and Algernon converse about it so peculiarly.
This passage from The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde demonstrates humor through the repetition of the word “Bunburyist”, Through the farcical nature of the conversation and also through the pure absurdity of the Bunburyist subject matter. The humor is executed quite well.