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i

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

PRASETIO WIJAKSONO Student Number: 024214071

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

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iv

WHEN YOU NEVER TRY YOU WILL

NEVER KNOW

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v

FOR MY FAMILY: ISMINTO BUDI,

BUDININNGSIH, MITA, DINA, CRISTINA,

HADI, JOSE, KAKA, ADJANI, MBAH

NARNO, AND YOHANES

SUKANDAR’S FAMILY, NINA’S

FAMILY, DYAH, NORAH JONES, YEU,

CLANCY AND GARRY, MUSE, THE

KILLERS, J-ROCK, LARUKU, COLDPLAY,

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vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank God for everything. God is always be there whenever I come to Him. I am very grateful to Him because he always supports and guides me.

I would like to show my appreciation to Sanata Dharma University faculty members and Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. my advisor, for all her advice. Furthermore, she is very patient although I am always late to meet her and submit my thesis. I would also thank Tatang Iskarna for being my co-advisor. I really appreciate his suggestion because it has improved my thesis. Furthermore, I thank him for reading my thesis quickly

I would thank my parents and my sister for their support and Cristina for the motivation. I would like to say a big thank to Garry and Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) who have lend me their computer to write this thesis. I would thank Fail 4, the morons, Ferdi ndut, Dyah, Nina, Alfi, Mita, Clancy and all my friends in the English Letters 2002. I would show my gratitude to my YEU’s team Rita Ambarsari, Gembong, Andi, Joko and all my cadres in Plaosan.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone whom I forgot to name who has helped me finish this thesis. I thank them for their support and motivation

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vii

1. Theory on Character and Characterization ……… 11

2. Theory on message ……… 15

3. The Relation between Literature and Moral ……… 16

4. Theory on Moral ………..………. 17

B. The Character Development of Jack Wortihng ……… 33

C. The Moral Messages through Jack’s Worthing Character …… 40

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……… 46

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 51

APPENDICES ……… 53

Appendix 1: Biography of Oscar Wilde ……… 53

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viii ABSTRACT

PRASETIO WIJAKSONO (2007). Moral Messages Revealed in Jack Worthing’s Character Development in Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.

The Importance of Being Earnest is one of Oscar Wilde’s plays which describes hypocrisy in the Victorian Age. The play describes how the major character, Jack Worthing, is a hypocrite. In the play, hypocrisy is shown by the behaviour of the characters. However, Jack Worthing, in the end of the play, becomes a different person. His hypocrite character has changed into honest character.

In this study, there are three objectives to guide the analysis. The first objective is to understand the early characteristics of Jack Worthing in the play. The second objective is to find out the character development of Jack Worthing as described in the story. The third objective is to see the moral messages. The moral messages reveal through Jack Worthing’s character development.

In order to support this thesis, the data and theories are collected from some books and the internet. The moral-philosophy approach is applied in this study. It is used to analyze the main characters, and observe the morality inside the play.

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ix ABSTRAK

PRASETIO WIJAKSONO (2007). Moral Messages Revealed in Jack Worthing’s Character Development in Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.

The Importance of Being Earnest merupakan salah satu drama terbaik karya Oscar Wilde yang mendeskripsikan kemunafikan pada zaman Victoria. Drama tersebut menggambarkan bagaimana tokoh utamanya, Jack Worthing, adalah seorang yang munafik. Dalam drama tersebut, kemunafikan ditunjukan oleh perilaku para tokohnya. Tetapi, di akhir drama, Jack menjadi seseorang yang berbeda. tokohnya telah berubah menjadi positif, menjadi seseorang yang jujur.

Dalam studi ini, terdapat tiga pertanyaan yang dirumuskan untuk memandu analisis. Pertanyaan pertama adalah untuk mengerti karakteristik awal dari Jack Worthing dalam drama tersebut. Pertanyaan kedua adalah untuk mengungkap perubahan karakter Jack Worthing seperti yang digambarkan dalam cerita tersebut. Pertanyaan ketiga adalah untuk melihat pesan-pesan moral yang muncul dari perubahan karakter Jack Worthing.

Untuk membantu penyusunan tesis ini, data dan teori-teori didapat dari beberapa buku dan internet. Pendekatan moral-filosofi digunakan dalam studi ini. Pendekatan ini digunakan untuk menganalisa karakter tokoh utama dan moralitas yang ada pada drama tersebut.

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1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Literature is a social institution that uses a social creation, i.e. language as its medium. It is the representation which is in a large measure, a social reality (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 94). A literary work is created by using social creations to represent the social reality. For some people, literary work is something precious that gives knowledge and pleasure for those who read it. According to Wellek and Warren, a literary work does not only please the readers, but also gives them a kind of knowledge (1956: 30-31). Genres of literary works are poetry, prose, drama. There are so many kinds of literary works in the world.

In this thesis, the writer tries to analyze one of the genres of literary works, which is a drama. Inside drama, we can see many kinds of character, society, and even philosophical idea. Many people like to watch a drama because it gives us pleasure and knowledge. It is exciting to find out the element inside drama, such as the plot, the character and other elements that the author has created. The writer was interested in one of the Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest.

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for many to see a clash between the widespread cultivation of an outward appearance of dignity and restraint, and the widespread presence of many arguably deplorable phenomena. These include prostitution, child labour, and having an economy based largely on what many would now see as the exploitation of colonies through imperialism, and of the working classes. The expression "Victorian values" thus may be two-edged (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Era). Based on that opinion, the writer thinks that moral message needs to be studied in order people can achieve positive values from this.

In order to support the study, the writer chooses The Importance of Being Earnest to be analyzed because it is suitable for the writer’s topic. The Importance of Being Earnest is about Jack Worthing who lives in Victorian Age Era. Jack is a man who must be responsible for his niece and his family name as one of the noble people in his village. After years taking care of his family, Jack wants something more in his life. He was bored with his daily life in the village. Because of his degree in the society, he could not do a selfish action like left the village just for a pleasure. In order to succeed his plan and avoiding negative judgments from the society, he creates a fiction brother, Ernest. Jack uses his fiction brother to excuse him to go to London looking for pleasures. In London, he meets Gwendolen Fairfax, the daughter of Lady Bracknell.

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3

Cecily. Jack was introduced himself as Ernest to Gwendolen. However, this deception soon will be discovered. It was seen when Jack tried to propose Gwendolen. He tried to send a signal to Gwendolen that his real name is not Ernest but Jack. However, Gwendolen rejected to get married with a man whose name was Jack. She thought that Ernest is a nice name and it was a name that any women would agree to get married with. Jack was facing many challenges in order to achieve his happiness with Gwendolen. However, his problems were created by himself. His deceptions were the source. In the last part of the story, Jack took many values from his mistakes.

Oscar Wilde seems want to say something about his society in this play. He has put in many values about the moral of human. The Importance of Being Earnest itself is actually an attack on Victorian Society, in particular, on its social and moral hypocrisy, the social system, the attitude of marriage as a social tool, and the triviality of aristocratic life. Beside the attack on his society, the play also shows the values that can be achieve from the actions of people in Victorian Age. (http://www.courttheatre.org/home/plays/0405/earnest/studyguide/studyguide.sht ml#glossary)

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as the main character who has two identities. The purpose is to avoid him for negative judgments from the society. Another reason why the writer chooses this work is because the play is very famous in the late 19th century and still until now. Many excellent credits were given to him because of it. The Importance of Being Earnest has makes Oscar Wilde become a celebrity in his own time. (http://www.Sparknotes.com/lit=Wilde+Oscar=bio.html)

B. Problem Formulation

Referring to the background of study in the previous part, there are three questions can be formulated as follows.

1. What are the characteristics of Jack Worthing?

2. How do the characteristics of Jack Worthing develop?

3. What is the moral message revealed through Jack Worthing’s character development?

C. Objectives of the Study

The aim of this thesis is to present a discussion about moral messages on Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest. The discussion is mainly to answer the three questions in the problem formulation. The objectives of the study are presented as follows.

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Secondly, the writer tries to know the development of Jack Worthing’s characteristics in the play. In this discussion the writer will analyze Jack Worthing’s characteristics from the beginning of the play until the end of the play to find out whether Jack Worthing’s characteristics develop or not. Finally, the writer tries to know how the moral messages are revealed through Jack Worthing’s characteristics as seen through the development of Jack’s characteristics from the beginning of the play until the end of the play.

D. Definition of Terms

In this part, the writer tries to explain some terms in order to help the readers when read this thesis and to avoid misunderstanding in meaning.

1. Message

Message is defined as an idea that someone tries to communicate to people. It also the meaning, thought or idea that is intended to express (Sinclair, 1956: 490). The writer concludes that a message is an idea or thought which is expressed through a literary work.

2. Character and Characterization

Character means personality; it is the mental and moral quality of a figure, as when we say that X’s character is strong, weak or immoral (Barnet, Berman, and Burto, 1988: 71). The writer can conclude that there is a mental and a moral quality inside someone’s personality.

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the particular type of person he is (1971: 80). It means that characterization was aimed to help the readers to understand the character that have been described by the author.

3. Development

According Sinclair, Hank and Fox in their book, Collins Cobuild Essential Dictionary, development is the process of growing, changing, and progressing (1995: 212). A character is developed because sometimes it has the process of growing, changing, and progressing.

4. Moral

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7 CHAPTER II

THEORITICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

The Importance of Being Earnest is written by Oscar Wilde and first published in March 13th, 1952. It represents the life in England during the beginning of the 19th century. In this play, Oscar Wilde tries to reveal the message about morality. The Importance of Being Earnest is very interesting to read, even brings advantages towards the readers.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is about the deception of one of the characters, Jack Worthing (the major Character) to fulfill his romance with Gwendolen Fairfax and an excuse to leave the Manor House, Woolton, Hertfordshire (his village) by creating a fiction brother named Ernest who lived in London. In an elaborate deception that allows him to misbehave and seen virtuous at the same time, Jack thinks that once he is married to Gwendolen he will be happy, and he would not want to disappear again. (Http://cgi.Sparknotes.com/hlite.mpl?words=earnest,being,important&pd=0&pag e=quotes.html&guide=%2flit%2fearnest.)

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that in realty he has no brother, he makes a speech about the pain involved in being forced to speak the truth. When, at the end, he discovers that he really has been both Ernest and Jack all along. He tells Gwendolen that it is a terrible thing for man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth.(Http://cgi.Sparknotes.com/hlite.mpl?words=earnest,being,important&pd=0 &page=quotes.html&guide=%2flit%2fearnest).

Jack Worthing becomes a hypocrite because of his deceptions. He also becomes a selfish man when he keeps visiting Gwendolen in London and leaves his duty in his village. Oscar Wilde tries to show the positive values that people can achieve from this play through Jack Worthing’s characteristics.

Then, the writer mentions already that the story of The Importance of Being Earnest has messages or moral values to be learnt.

Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest has a title that a play on words embodying the dichotomy in the play between reality and illusion, a dichotomy embodied as well in the main character of Jack Worthing. It is important for Jack to be earnest, meaning honest and aboveboard as well as open and sincere, and it is also important for him to be named “Ernest” because the woman he loves, Gwendolen, would prefer that this were so and fervently believes it to be so. Yet, in order to be named “Ernest” he has to fail at being Earnest, since his name is not Ernest at all. He has been manipulating appearances and reality for some time, and he is soon to be caught in his own deceptions. The course of his travails actually leads him to a pointwhere he can be both ernest and earnest in reality, thus making an honest man of his in spite of himself. http://www.academon.com/termpaper essay.mpl=earnest+impotant+of+being

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families. His deceptions lead him to a conclusion that actually he can be earnest and Ernest in the real life.

According Guth in The Literary Heritage, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a farce illustrated confusion and subterfuges as resulting conforms outwardly to standards of uprightness that they cannot really share (1981: 602). In this book Guth tries to explain that The Importance of Being Earnest used a trick of comedy to share the injustice social life in the play.

Carter and McRae in The Routledge History of Literature in English stated that there is a revelation of a hypocritical society behind ‘the swallow mask of manners’ that is giving resonance to the play which Wilde’s own destiny is underscored (1983: 342). The statement here is to show Wilde’s opinion about his own society. Wilde criticizes the hypocrite people in his own society and wants to elevate the hypocrisy there.

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Chambers’s Encyclopedia states that The Importance of Being Earnest is a farce, where the companion of hundreds of writers also produced similar farces during the second half of the 19th century. However, The Importance of Being Earnest has appeared in no other farce than nor writer could introduce in any problem of a play at that time. Also it is as an adumbration of new comedy that Bernard Shaw is already fully exploited in combining social criticism with an ebullient sense of fun (Law and Dixon, 1973: 560-561). The Importance of Being Earnest is one of a farce in Wilde’s era that is not imagined before by other authors and it is a pioneer of other writers.

The deceptions of Jack Worthing and his way to fulfill his desire were the main idea of the writer to make this thesis. The writer wants to analyze Jack Worthing characteristics, his background, and his environment that support him to misbehave. All actions from Jack Worthing will be analyzed to find the moral messages inside the characteristics of Jack Worthing.

All of the criticism above shows how The Importance of Being Earnest is very popular in England. Based on the criticisms above, the writer can conclude that the characteristics of Jack developed and have shown the moral quality that can be achieved.

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based on the characteristics of Jack Worthing as a member of Victorian Age society. However, this thesis is different from others because this thesis is using moral-philosophical approach that gives a deep discussion on moral qualities through Jack Worthing’s characteristics.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory on Character and Characterization

Character in a literary work is very important, so that the readers can understand the story. Therefore, the theories of character and characterization are needed.

In this study, the writer agrees with Barnet, Berman and Burto’s opinion that the mental and moral quality of a figure can be seen through a figure’s character (1988: 71). A characteristic shows the mental and moral quality of a figure to the reader. Based on this theory, the writer tries to reveal the moral from a figure in the story.

Perrine in his book states that character can be seen through their actions, from what a character thinks or says or does (1974: 68). It means that action and speech show the character. We can analyze the character from the way they speak with another character or what they think about another character.

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a. Personal description

The author describes a character’s appearance and his attire. It is important for the author because each character has different characteristic and this description will help the readers to have a better imagination.

b. Character as seen by another readers

The author tries to describe a character’s personality by letting go the other characters tell what they see from the characters they run into. The author hopes that the readers will get some clues to understand a character’s personality.

c. Speech

A character’s own words will help the readers to achieve some clues about him. His speech describes his behaviour toward other characters and life in the story.

d. Past life

The author helps the readers to understand a character’s personality by learning about the past experience or important moment that influenced the character’s personality.

e. Conversation of others

The readers will achieve some clues about a character’s personality from the other characters conversation.

f. Reactions

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g. Direct comment

The author gives his opinion or comment about a character personality explicitly.

h. Thought

The author describes the character’s personality by stating explicitly about the character’s mind. The author has the ability to tell the readers what are other characters thinking of.

i. Mannerism

The readers can understand the character’s personality based on his behaviour and his habit either the good or the bad ones. From the description of his behaviour and his habit, the readers can conclude the character’s personality.

According to Milligan (1983: 155) there are two classifications of fictional characters. There are major and minor characters.

a. Major Characters

Major character is a character who should exist in order to develop the story. He appears more often than another character. His experience from the beginning till the end of the story composes the whole story. The theme is conveyed by the action of the major character. He also becomes the main of the story because he endures problems, conflict, happiness, sorrow, etc. Based on these, the messages from the author inside the story can be discover by the readers.

b. Minor Character

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appear in certain setting. He plays less important and does not have the experience like major character.

Another theory comes from Holman and Harmon (1986: 83). In their book it was stated that character in literary work can be static or dynamic.

a. Static Characters

The static characters are characters that do not develop or make any changes in their behaviour, appearance, disposition, and their way of thinking. From the beginning until the end of the story, their characters do not develop even though they were influenced by any actions or any problems.

b. Dynamic Characters

The dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters. The dynamic characters are developing in their manner, form, and the way of thinking. They can change in every aspect of the characters but it may also only change in one aspect.

Perrine (1974: 54) in his book also mentions that character development is the transformation that differentiates the characteristic of a character from the beginning of the story until the end of the story. A character developed if he becomes a different character because he has been influenced by the actions or the problems in the story. There are three conditions that lead to the changing of the characters (1974: 71).

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b. There is a motivation that comes from the characters because of his circumstances. Usually a character is aware that he must have strong reason that lead him into changes

c. A character needs a sufficient time to change. A character can not change suddenly, it needs a sufficient time in order to accomplish it.

Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature said that “characterization is the process by which an author creates character; the devices by which he makes us believe a character is the particular type of person he is” (1971: 80). From the statement the writer can conclude that characterization has a strong relationship with the author, because the author itself creates characterization. Those theories are needed in order to help the writer draws the characteristics and characterization on the play.

2. Theory on Message

According to Beaty and Hunter in New World of Literature, message is the realm meaning or some easy conclusion that can be simply stated or summarized inside a work of art (1989: 899). It means that message is a conclusion that can be found inside the literary work.

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A good message does not tend to follow general pattern or norm but it creates new pattern based on human values (1958: 23).

Every work of literature may offer a moral message and there are many types of moral lessons conveyed. The type of message occurring in a literary work depends on the author’s belief, wish, and interest. Moreover, the messages have not been involved by the interpretations that come from the readers.

The model of literary communication is the author encodes a message that the readers receive or the author sees a great truth that he teaches the readers by example. Usually, message seeks to inform or convince even though it is possible that it seeks to have the readers comprehend and empathize so that the ideas are more broadly accessible.

Message likewise theme is an important element in a work of literature. Nurgiyantoro defines message as something that an author wants to convey to the readers (Nurgiyantoro, 1995: 325). Messages can be found by analyzing other elements on the literary work.

3. The Relation between Literature and Moral

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There is a theory from Wilbur describing that the study of the technique of literature is a study of meaning, whereas it concerned with the end of literature as affecting man, with literature as it takes place in the human forum of ideas and attitudes (1962: 123-125). The theory emphasizes that moral lesson beneath the story is needed to govern human attitude and behavior. Moral attitude of individual is confined by the personal circumstances.

From those statements it is clear that a literary work and morality are very close. A literary work contains moral teaching that can be achieved by the readers. Therefore, those theories above also support the writer to find the moral messages as seen on the characters’ life and experiences in the play.

4. Theory on Moral

Morality comes from Latin word moralis which is customs or manners. Morality is about the relationship between human being. Thiroux in his book Ethic Theory and Practice states that the area of morality concentrates on human conduct and human values (1995: 3). The morality of a person depends on their action and their relationship between one and another in the society.

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Rachels also said in his book that someone can not act in ways that are forbidden to others or that his interests are more important than other people’s interest (1995: 126). The theory from Rachels explains that someone can not force his interests to other people.

Turiel (1983) in his book The Development of Social Knowledge: Morality and Convention states that individuals treat some forms of social behavior as moral universals, other forms of social conduct as subject to determination by local cultural or social norms, and still others as matters of personal choice.

More specifically, these conceptual differences appear when formal criteria for morality are employed which define morality as those interpersonal behaviors that are held to be right or wrong independent of governing social rules, and maintained as universally binding. Prescriptions that meet these criteria are those that refer to actions, such as hitting and hurting, stealing, slander, which have an impact on the welfare of others. Accordingly, the concepts of morality have been found to be structured by basic conceptions of justice and welfare. Based on the opinion above, the writer may define one's concepts, way of thinking, and actions that relate to the welfare, rights and fair treatment of persons are the criteria of formal morality.

C. Theoretical Framework

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The first theory that the writer used is the theory on character and characterization. The theory of character and characterization is considered suitable as the means to answer the first question. This theory is used to analyze Jack Worthing’s attitude and behavior from the beginning to the end of the play. The information, after analyze Jack’s characteristics, is vital to find out the development, related to moral values that is seen from Jack Worthing’s characteristics.

The second theory is theory of message and the relation between literature and moral. The theories are needed to analyze the message that described through Jack’s character. Furthermore, the message, the moral values of the story can be derived, because basically, there are some lessons in the message of the story.

Those theories are fundamental to answer the second question. By studying the theory of messages and the relation between literature and moral, the writer will be able to describe the messages that reveal from Jack Worthing’s characteristics.The theory on moral will be applied in solving the last research question. By considering the previous questions, which are answered by using the previous theories, the writer will try to search for more specific messages which is moral messages from the character of Jack Worthing.

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20 A. Object of the Study

The Importance of Being Earnest is first published in this form 13March 1952 by Methuen & CO. LTD., London. In analyzing the work, the writer uses the fourth edition of the play, 1959. The Important of Being Earnest consisting of 73 pages and divides into three major parts. The book also includes another story, Patience by W.S. Gilbert.

The first part of the book is telling about the story from Oscar Wilde is about two bachelors Algernon and Jack Worthing who pretends to be a man called Ernest. The aim of this action is to attract two women Gwendolen and Cecily who wants to marry only with a man whose name is Ernest.

The second part takes place in Mannor house when Algernon comes to Jack’s house and he pretends as Ernest in front of Cecily. The third part takes place after Jack and Algernon’s deception is discovered. In the end of the play, Algernon and Jack Worthing found out the truth that they both were brothers and their name is really Ernest.

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B. Approach of the Study

In order to obtain a deep understanding about literary work, the writer needs a certain approach to analyze it. Since the analysis deals with morality, the writer will use moral-philosophical approach.

Moral-philosophical approach is aimed at moral teaching. This opinion is support by Guerin on his book A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. He states that moral-philosophical approach has the larger function on literature that is to teach morality (1979: 25). According to Guerin, the occupation of moral-philosophical approach is to teach morality that exists on literature.

Guerin also states that moral-philosophical approach is approach which insists on ascertaining and stating what is taught (1979: 39). The statement here means that the moral-philosophical approach believes on what is taught. In this context the writer sees that literature also taught the readers some norm or values. Based on that the writer believes that literature also teach the readers some knowledges.

The writer chooses moral-philosophical approach because the approach will help the writer in analyzing how the main character reflects moral values. As stated in the story, the characters show some moral values. Therefore, the writer analyses the person’s character development that revealed moral lesson. In that case, it is reasonable to apply the moral-philosophical approach.

C. Method of the Study

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the research, meaning that books are most important sources in it. There were two kinds of resources used in this study.

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This literary study also used the data taken from the internet in order to get complete knowledge in analyzing the play, the writer search the data by browsing in the internet. There were many data that could be found by the writer in supporting the study in some websites. Some websites that contain the data are www.sparknotes.com and www.academon.com.

There were three major steps that the writer had done in analyzing the play The Importance of Being Earnest. The first step was to read the primary source in order to have deep understanding about the story. The writer tried to find out some elements like the characteristics of Jack Worthing in order to support the analysis. After find out the characteristics of Jack Worthing, the writer tried to find the development of Jack’s characteristics.

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In this chapter, the writer tries to answer the question which has been mentioned in the problem formulation. This chapter will be divided into three parts. Each part will give more detail answer to each question.

D. The Characteristics of Jack Worthing

Jack’s characteristics as seen in the story are important for the writer to support the process of the analysis. The writer tries to describe the characteristics of Jack Worthing through his dialogues and through others characters’ opinions about him.

Other characters are vital in order to recognize another character. From the point of view of other characters, the writer can see the characteristics of Jack Worthing. Many dialogues in this play support the writer to identify the characteristics of Jack Worthing based on the play.

1. Jack is a Fine Young Man

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Miss Prism: Your guardian enjoys the best of health, and his gravity of demeanour is especially to be commended in one so comparatively young he is. I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility. (p. 28) Miss Prism: Child, you know how anxious your guardian is that you should yourself in every way. He laid particular stress on your German, as he was leaving for town yesterday. Indeed, he always lays stress on your German when he is leaving for town. (p. 28)

Jack is a fine young man. He is in his top of his career and life. He has also been known as a person who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility. The writer sees that Jack is a hard worker, full of responsibilities when dealing with something and he is successful in career. Jack as an uncle is very concerned with his niece’s education. He hires a private teacher, Miss Prism, just to educate Cecily. He wants Cecily to become a Lady in the future because he has promised to the late Mr. Thomas Cardew that he will take care of her and he will be her guardian until she becomes mature. In order to prepare her of becoming a Lady, Jack wants Cecily to learn German and other knowledge.

Jack has created some good opinions about him in the eyes of the society. However, this kind of perception that Jack made to avoid negative judgment from his society has made him a hypocrite. In his village, Jack has become a well manner person. He pretends to be someone else he dislikes. He can not be himself in front of the people in his village. However, this manner has turned 100 percents when he is in town. He makes deception to everyone just to fulfill his desire and to have excitement in the town.

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This event is important because it shows the background of Jack’s life. Mr. Thomas Cardew adopts Jack when he is a little boy. Mr. Cardew wants Jack to grow up to be a person he wants. Mr. Thomas Cardew has taught Jack to be a person with good manners. However, the fact is that Jack is not quite a good man, he just pretends to be.

The reason is because he has a different gene from Mr. Thomas Cardew. Although a character can be built but characteristics from parent’s gene can not be erased. A child will have the same gene with their parents but not all the gene, usually just some genes.

2. Jack is a Man who is Longing for Parent Affection

Murphy says that the readers can understand a character personality by knowing the character’s past life or important moment that influenced the character’s personality (1972: 161-173). The character’s past or important moment can influence the character’s personality. A character’s personality is formed and developed through his experiences.

Jack: I am afraid I really don’t know. The fact is, Lady Bracknell, I said I lost my parents. It would be nearer the truth to say that my parents seem to have lost me…. I don’t actually know who I am by birth. I was… well, I was found. (p. 20)

Jack (in a pathetic voice): Miss Prism, more is restored to you than this hand-bag. I was the baby you placed in it. (p.71)

Miss Prism (amazed): You? (p.71)

Jack (embracing her): Yes…mother! (p.71)

Miss Prism (recoiling in indignant astonishment): Mr. Worthing. I am unmarried! (p.71)

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The dialogue above has shown the identity of Jack Worthing. Jack feels confused when Lady Bracknell asks him about his parents. He does not know his childhood life. That is why he thinks that he is an orphan. The writer sees that Jack is a person who lacks love from his own parents. The love that comes from parents is pure. Because of that he seems very enthusiastic when he finally found the truth about his real parents.

The event which he does not know his real parents and he must pretend to be someone else explicitly has brought him to a big bore. Jack feels that he needs to please himself. In order to please himself, the real characteristics of Jack are seen. 3. Jack is a Hypocrite

Someone acts like there is nothing happen although he has done something. The person can be classified as a hypocrite. The writer sees that pretending as a holy person although he has done many bad things is one of the characteristics of hypocrisy.

Jack: If you don’t take care, your friend Bunbury will get you into a serious scrape some day. (p. 27)

Jack is a hypocrite. He thinks that having a fiction brother is not a crime. However, Jack tells Algernon to get rid of his fiction friend because his fiction friend will bring him into a severe problem if someone has known about the deception.

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done the same thing like Algernon. He has created somebody else to cover his real attitudes. The purpose is to avoid suspicion from the people in his villages.

4. Jack is a Tricky Man

In the play, the character of Jack Worthing is seen that he has many ways to work his plan. He always has a trick to solve his problem and sometimes, his trick is astonishing.

Jack: Gwendolen, I must get christened at once- I mean we must get married at once. There is no time to be lost. (p. 8)

Jack: But my dear Lady Bracknell, the matter is entirely in your own hands. The moment you consent to my marriage with Gwendolen, I will most glady allow your nephew to form an alliance with my ward. (p. 67)

Another characteristic of Jack Worthing is seen on page 8 and 67. The writer sees that Jack’s action shows that he is a tricky man. He thinks quickly to face and solve his own problem. Moreover, his action is unbelievable, the writer sees that the action of Jack in overcoming the situation shows that he can not control his emotion and his desire. This kind of action does not show the manners of a gentleman with high status. His emotion and desire has defeated his logic. Jack has also underestimated his own religion’s rule.

5. Jack is a Selfish Man

One of Jack’s characteristic is a selfish man. Leaving another job for another important job is natural. However, leaving his job and his family for meaningless things is not natural. Jack always thinks that leaving his job and his family is tolerable. However, he never thinks of the consequences.

Algernon: How are you, my dear Ernest? What brings you up to town?

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The event above makes clear that one of Jack’s characteristics is always underestimating something. Leaving his village for a meal or dinner is common for Jack. He does not go to town for a business but he goes there to have pleasure. He wants to entertain himself and to avoid his daily life in his village. However the people in his village think that Jack is gone to town for a business or to visit his unfortunate brother.

Jack thinks that it will be alright to leaves his village again and again. Because of his trip to town, he has abandoned his niece, Cecily and his business in the village. Jack is supposed to guard his niece and this duty was given from the late Mr. Thomas Cardew to him. Somehow he forgets his duty and goes to town to have fun. He does not think that Cecily might be disappointed if she finds the truth.

6. Jack is a Melancholic Man

Another characteristic of Jack Worthing can be seen on page 15. Jack tries to seduce Gwendolen in Algernon Moncrieff’s house. This event helps the reader to understand more about Jack’s character.

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7. Jack is a Romantic Man

Jack: And I would like to be allowed to take advantages of Lady Bracknell’s temporary absence…

Gwendolen: I would certainly advise you to do so. Mamma has a way of coming back soon into a room that I have often had to speak to her about. Jack: Miss Fairfax, ever since I met you I have admired you more than any girl…I have ever met since…I met you. (p. 15)

The dialogues tell us that Jack is a kind of man who treats his lover romantically. The readers can see that Jack is a noble man with dignity like other people in upper class did. However, Jack’s attitude turns 100 percents when he meets Gwendolen.

Jack becomes powerless and has no dignity. He is not the same as Jack Worthing that people in his village respects him because of his dignity. Jack will do anything just to attract Gwendolen and makes Gwendolen happy even if he must sacrifice himself. His romantic character has encouraged Jack to face Lady Bracknell to propose Gwendolen.

The good effect of love is that love encourages people to face difficult problems. Love will be the spirit when we are down or when we are sad. Because love is a precious thing that God has created. Love is something that is indefinite. However, it has a great effect for human beings in the world.

8. Jack is a Brave Man

Jack: May I ask you then what you would advise me to do? I need hardly say I would do anything in the world to ensure Gwendolen’s happiness.

Lady Bracknell: I would strongly advise you, Mr. Worthing, to try and acquire some relations as soon as possible, and to make a definite effort to produce at any rate one parent, of either sex, before the season is quite over. (p.21)

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enough to argue with Lady Bracknell who is honored by the people in upper class. Jack is also a man who never hears the word “give-up”.

This line also describes that he wants Lady Bracknell to accept him. He tries to compromise Lady Bracknell even though the Lady has refused his marriage proposal. This event shows that Jack really loves Gwendolen, and he really means to ensure Gwendolen’s happiness. Therefore, this event explains us that Jack could be an earnest man. Nothing is impossible according to him.

9. Jack is a Loyal Man

Sometimes, a sacrifice is needed to obtain something. The writer sees that Jack is weak against his lover. He sacrificed his status of a man in the society. In the Victorian Age, the status of a woman is under a man. There is no equality between a woman and a man. A man is always placed in the first place in the society. Somehow, a different story happens in Jack’s mind. A man is the second, a woman is the first.

Gwendolen: How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes! Where questions of self-sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us (p. 60)

On page 60, it is seen that men are beyond the women. On the dialogue, Gwendolen thinks that the equality of the sexes is no important again when men can sacrifice anything for the woman they love. In this case, Gwendolen has held the key to control Jack.

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shy with the action he had done. He is willing to sacrifice anything to attract his lover, Gwendolen.

Love is very difficult to understand. Love also can infect everyone. Men, women, teenagers, the rich people, the poor people and others people can be the victim of love. A person like Jack who is successful in career and tricky is defeated by love.

10.Jack is a liberalist

Another characteristic from Jack Worthing is described in page 20. The dialogue happens when Lady Bracknell interrogates him.

Lady Bracknell: Both, if necessary, I presume. What is your politics? Jack: Well, I am afraid I really have none. I am a liberal Unionist. (p. 20) This line shows that Jack is a kind of person who never gives attention on politics. He does not have any interest about politics. He prefers to be neutral. From the explanation, the character of Jack is described as an ordinary man who wants a normal life as an ordinary citizen. He does not want to be involved in political parties. His purpose in life is to marry Gwendolen and lived as an ordinary person. 11.Jack is a Silly Man

Jack is a silly person and sometimes underestimates things. He likes to speak nonsense. He also likes to underestimate the result of his action. It is seen in page 23.

Jack: Oh, before the end of the week I shall have got rid of him. I’ll say he died in Paris of apoplexy. Lots of people die of apoplexy, quite suddenly, don’t they? (p. 23)

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He never thinks about the effect of his action. Jack is not a murderer and he does not have the qualification to be a murderer. However, he easily chooses the right disease to support his fiction brother’s death. Jack never thinks if the death of his fiction brother will cause Cecily in deep sadness because Cecily somehow falls in love to him.

All the dialogues above provide the description of Jack’s characteristics. Jack is an orphan. Jack Worthing is also a person who is brave enough to handle his own problem, he is a tricky man, but he has no interest on politics. He is also very romantic that he wants to sacrifice anything for the woman he loves. However, he is also a liar. He has double identities to support his romantic story and also to run away from his duty and responsibility. Furthermore, it has made him selfish. Because he just thinks about his own happiness.

Somehow he is a person who never gives up at first place. He will fight for what he wants and always tries to obtain it. Jack is a good gentleman but the society surround him indirectly has pushed him to be someone he did not want. The way of Jack to avoid negative perceptions from the society was wrong. This kind of thing made the situation getting worst.

B. The Character Development of Jack Worthing

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the end of the story. The comparison is needed to show Jack’s character development. The writer will show Jack Worthing’s character development by analyzing Jack’s dialogue and other characters’ dialogues about Jack.

Jack: in the country.

Algernon: What on earth do you do there?

Jack: When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.

Algernon: And who are the people you amuse? Jack: Oh, neighbours, neighbours. (p. 4)

Jack spends most of his time in town although he lives in the country. He thinks that his presence in the country is just to amuse neighbours in his village and he is tired to be like that. He does not want to be a doll that amuses other people. He wants to be entertained too. In order to amuse himself, he goes to town to have pleasure that he could not achieve in the country. However, his plan does not run smoothly because he should make an excuse that supports his trip in the town.

The evidence is seen on page 8. Jack is caught as having two identities by Algernon Moncrieff. Algernon caught Jack’s secret because Algernon has read the letter inside Jack’s cigarette case from Cecily to Jack. The double identities show that Jack lacks confidence and also a hypocrite. The writer sees that double identities made because Jack is not comfort with himself. Double identities are made in order to be a way for Jack to escape from his problems. However, double identities is wrong, by doing that, Jack looked like a criminal who often have many identities in order to swindle the cops.

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keep this as a proof that your name is Ernest if ever you attempt to deny it to me, or to Gwendolen, or to anyone else.

Jack: Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country, and the cigarette case was given to me in the country. (p. 8)

From the dialogue the writer sees that Jack is trying to be someone else. Jack wants to be named as Ernest. One person has two name is very uncommon. Jack is a hypocrite and it is a fact. The writer sees that Jack is difficult to admit that his name is Jack. Somehow it is the simplest thing but Jack can not say that his name is Jack. He introduces himself as Ernest in town. Although, Jack creates that name with certain reasons, a deception is wrong.

Shakespeare says that what the meaning of a name is. A name is like a white paper. Good drawing or bad drawing, it depends on how we draw. Good name or bad name, it also depends on how we act. There is no bad name, all name is good. What made it bad is the behaviour of the person.

Jack: Personally, darling, to speak quite candidly, I don’t much care about the name of Ernest….I don’t think the name suits me at all.

Gwendolen: It suits you perfectly. It is a divine name. It has a music of its own. It produces vibrations.

Jack: Well, really, Gwendolen, I must say that I think there are lots of other much nicer names. I think Jack, for instance, a charming name.

Gwendolen: Jack?…No, there is very little music in the name Jack, if any at all, indeed. It produces absolutely no vibrations…I have known several Jacks, and they all, without exception, were more than usually plain. Besides, Jack is a notorious domesticity or John! And I pity any woman who married to a man called John. She would probably never allow knowing entrancing pleasure of a single moment’s solitude. The only really safe name is Ernest. (p. 16)

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(Gwendolen) does not support him. By pretending to be Ernest, he has made his life more complicated than before.

Perrine mentions that the changing of the characters must be slowly or step by step. The characters must begin from the smallest change first (1974: 71). The changing of the characters should through some processes in order to show the readers the step of the changing.

It is difficult to speak the truth but it is easy to lie. Sometimes, it hurts to speak the truth. When a person tries to be honest by telling the truth even though just a bit and the truth will make him suffer or shame, the writer saw it as a big positive progress. A little changing is important for character development.

Jack: My dear Algy, I don’t know whether you will be able to understand my real motives. You are hardly serious enough. When one is placed I the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subject. It’s one’s duty to do so. And as a high moral tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one’s health or one’s happiness, in order to get up to town I have always pretended to have a younger brother of the name of Ernest, who lives in the Albany, and gets into the most dreadful scrapes. That, my dear Algy, is the whole truth pure and simple. (p. 9)

This event shows that Jack has reasons to be someone else and he thinks that his reasons support himself to be a hypocrite. When Algernon finds out about the deception of Jack, Jack is worried that everyone will know too. Because of this, Jack tries to tell Algernon the reasons of being Ernest and also from this point the writer can see that it is a little positive progress of changes for Jack that he wants to be honest with someone, his best friend Algernon.

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situation more complicated. A deception guides anyone into their own disaster. However, soon or later, deception will be discover.

Cecily: I knew there must be some misunderstanding, Miss Fairfax. The gentleman whose arm is at present round your waist is my guardian, Mr. Jack Worthing.

Gwendolen: I beg your pardon? Cecily: This is Uncle Jack.

Gwendolen: (receding) Jack! Oh! (p.52)

Jack: I could it if I liked. I could deny anything if I liked. But my name certaintly is Jack. It has been Jack for years. (p. 53)

This event shows that Jack trapped by his own deception. The situation has giving him no other choice but to speak the truth. Even though he dislikes speaking the truth but another deception can make the situation much worse. The writer sees that Jack shows another positive progress to become an honest person.

The character of Jack is changing or developing. He convinces himself to admit that his real name is Jack and with consequence that he might ruin his reputation as a man who is known with great responsibility, perfect attitude and sacrifice his relationship with Gwendolen.

Perrine and Forster tells that there is a motivation that comes from the characters because of his circumstances. Usually a character is aware that he must have a strong reason that leads him into changes (1974: 71).

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character strongly, it is possible that the problem can be the strong motivation for the character to change.

Gwendolen: An admirable idea! Mr. Worthing, there is just one question I would like to be permitted to put to you. Where is your brother Ernest? We are both engaged to be married to your brother Ernest, so it is a matter of some importance to us to know where your brother Ernest is at present. (p. 53)

Jack: Gwendolen-Cecily-it is very painful for me to be forced to speak the truth. It is the first time in my life that I have ever been reduced to such painful position, and I am really quite inexperienced in doing anything of the kind. However, I will tell you quite frankly that I have no brother Ernest. I have no brother at all. I never had a brother in my life and I certainty have not the smallest intention of ever having one in the future. (p. 54)

Through this event, the writer sees that Jack has a motivation, which is to take back Gwendolen’s trust of him by telling the truth. It is important for Jack to take back Gwendolen’s trust because from the beginning, Gwendolen is one of the motivations of Jack to become Ernest. Indirectly, Gwendolen forces Jack to make deceptions. So it will be useless for Jack if he loses Gwendolen’s trust. It also means that all the deception that Jack has made will be useless. Furthermore this situation leads Jack to become an honest man by telling all his deception. The characteristics of Jack has developed from a hypocrite into an honest person.

Jack: The army Lists of the last forty years are here. These delightful records should have been my constant study. (Rushes to bookcase and tears the book out) M. General…Mallam, Maxbohm, Magley, what ghastly names they have-Markby, Migsby, Mobbs, Moncrieff! Liutenant I840, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, General I869, Christian name, Ernest, John. (Put book very quietly down and speaks quite calmly.) I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.

Gwendolen: Ernest! My own Ernest! I felt from the first that you could have no other name!

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This event, when Jack knows his christen name is Ernest, makes Jack aware that it is unnecessary to lie to everyone because the truth itself can not be predicted. The writer sees that once again Jack shows himself as a different person, not the hypocrite but the honest one. Jack always wants to have name Ernest in order to attract and marry Gwendolen. Jack also pretends to have an unfortunate brother whose name is Ernest in order to help him escape from his village. However, he does not know that his real name is Ernest, the same as his father’s Christian name.

This event has made Jack’s character develop by understanding the truth. Jack develops into a person who care more about being honest and earnest. What happens to Jack is a great surprise for him, to find out the truth which is something he has dreamt about for a long time, to have a name of Ernest. All these years he was speaking lies to everyone about his name which is actually his real name.

Jack: On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital important of being earnest. (p.73)

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C. The Moral Message through Jack Worthing’s Character

After describing the characteristics and analyzing the development of Jack's character, in this part, the writer will discuss the moral message seen from the character development of Jack Worthing.

According to Beaty and Hunter in New World of Literature, message is the realm meaning or some easy conclusion that can be simply stated or summarized inside a work of art (1989: 899). Based on what Beaty and Hunter said, the writer tries to discover the easy conclusion from the development of Jack’s character. There are some moral messages in the story that the writer needs to share to the readers.

1. Deception Leading to Destruction

The writer sees that deceptions have been played frequently in this play. Based on the story, the writer concludes that deception is destructive. Deception is like a virus that has a great effect to infect people surrounds us. It causes the person who made the deception gets into trouble and also people surround him too. The writer picks the line from Gwendolen and Cecily in page 52 in order to emphasize that they have become the victim of Jack’s deception.

Gwendolen: From the moment I saw you I distrusted you. I felt that you were false and deceitful. I am never deceived in such matters. My impressions of people are invariably right.

Cecily: it seems to me, Miss Fairfax that I am trespassing on your valuable time. No doubt you have many other calls of a similar character to make in the neighborhood. (p.52)

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Jack’s deception. By lying to Gwendolen and Cecily, Jack has hurt their heart. The deception itself destroys Jack because Gwendolen and Cecily is the important person in his life.

Cecily and Gwendolen never imagine that Jack would make this kind of deception to hurt them. In the eyes of Gwendolen and Cecily, Jack is not a person who is selfish to sacrifice his family and friends’ trust for chasing enjoyment and misbehaviour. The deception has changed their opinion about Jack who known as an honor person, well manner and full of responsible.

Based on that, the writer can conclude the moral message that deception is one of the ways for people to self-destruction. Jack in order to obey the duty from the late Mr. Thomas Cardew has transformed into another person. He is deceitful to everyone including Cecily. Furthermore he makes another deception to accomplish his desire and this action has turned him to be a hypocrite.

The writer thinks that we should not be a hypocrite because hypocrisy only hurts our self and the people around us. Being a hypocrite is not a simple thing. One simple mistake will cover up the whole plan. Jack has been caught by Cecily and Gwendolen, two women that he concerns so much. His reputation is shattered and both of them hate him.

2. The Importance of Being Earnest

Through the analysis, the writer also sees that Oscar Wilde wants to show the importance to be earnest to obtain something. The story teaches us how to obtain something by being earnest.

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There are many ways to obtain something and one of the ways is by being earnest. The story describes how Jack tries to accomplish his purpose to become Ernest so he will be loved by Gwendolen. At first, Jack makes a deception in order to accomplish his purpose. He tries to be a man named Ernest to attract Gwendolen who only desire to marry Ernest. The second, he tries to be himself. He becomes an honest person. The event, that happens to Jack show the moral message that we should keep trying and never give up for our own goodness. Deception is not a guarantee to be success to obtain something and it can cause negative effects such as becomes a liar or a hypocrite. However, by being earnest, we would not destroy our self.

3. The Uselessness of Being Hypocrite

Hypocrisy is something familiar in this play because the story background is in the Victorian Age where hypocrisy often happens in the society. In this part the writer wants to show that it is useless to be a hypocrite and the writer will focus on hypocrisy as seen in Jack’s character.

Jack: I’m not a bunburyist at all. If Gwendolen accepts me, I am going to kill my brother, indeed I think I’ll kill him in any case. Cecily is a little too much interested in him. It is rather a bore. So I am going to get rid of Ernest. And I strongly advise you to do the same with Mr.... with your invalid friend who has absurd name. (p. 11)

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has to visit his unfortunate brother. He tries to fulfill his desire in town. Another dialogue that supports the idea of hypocrisy on Jack’s character is described in page 37.

Algernon: Yes. But why does your aunt call you her uncle? ‘From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.’ There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can’t quite make out. Besides, your name isn’t Jack at all; it is Ernest.

Jack: It isn’t Ernest; it’s Jack. (p. 8)

Algernon is curious to know who Cecily is. Algernon thinks that there is something suspicious about the relationship between Jack and Cecily. Algernon wants some explanations from Jack. However, Jack did not want Algernon to know his secret. Jack did not want anybody to discover his real identity because it will ruin his plan in the town. However, finally Jack admits to Algernon that his real name is Jack and not Ernest.

The hypocrisy that Jack does in this play has made other people suffered. Cecily’s feeling has been hurt because his uncle just thinks about the enjoyment in the town rather than to guard him. Jack also disappoints Gwendolen, his beloved girl. He lies to Gwendolen by pretending to be someone else. The people in Jack’s village that put great respect on him also become his victim.

4. The Importance of Being Genuine

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is a long way journey in life. Because of that, we can not just change our identity to be someone else.

The moral message is that changing identity is a pointless step, it is better to be ourselves than to be another personality. How awful we are, how poor we are, we must accept it. God has created us as a perfect being among other being. God has His own reason why He creates people with differences. Who we are now is the best form. Changing identity is also against the god authority. Furthermore, changing identity does not solve the problem but it will cause more problems.

Jack: My dear fellow, the sooner you give up that nonsense the better. I made arrangements this morning with Dr. Chasuble to be christened myself at 5.30, and I naturally will take the name of Ernest. Gwendolen will wish it. We can’t both be christened Ernest. It’s absurd. Besides I have a perfect right to be christened if I like. There is no evidence at all that I have ever been christened by anybody. I should think it extremely probable I never was, and so does. Dr. Chasuble, it is entirely different in your case. You have been christened already. (p. 56)

On page 56, the writer sees that Jack tries to be someone else. He wants to be Ernest, another person who Gwendolen falls in love to. However, it is a careless action because something instant does not last longer. It is difficult to be another personality. Jack is in hurry to be christened in order to safe his romance and his name because he has introduced himself as Ernest to people in London.

From the explanation above the writer can conclude that hypocrisy has been played in Jack’s character during the story. This kind of attitude brings Jack into complicated situation when Gwendolen and Cecily know the truth. Jack loses Gwendolen’s and Cecily’s faith.

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discovered. It is better to tell what really happen. Even though we tells something worse, but by doing that the problem will be solve immediately.

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In this chapter, the writer tries to conclude the analysis that has been done. The moral message in The Importance of Being Earnest through Jack Worthing’s character development is the main focus of the writer in this thesis.

In answering the first problem formulation about the characteristics of Jack Worthing, all the characteristics are described in the story. The first characteristic is that Jack is a fine young man. Jack runs his family business in the country and he also has many investments and has many houses. He is in his top of his career and life.

The second characteristic, Jack is hypocrite. The way Jack solves his problem and acts has made him a hypocrite. A man like Jack can not be trusts because he always lies. Jack tries to be another person just to fulfill his purpose.

The third characteristic, Jack is also a selfish man. He just thinks about pleasure without thinking the risk. Jack leaves his family in order to entertain himself in the town. His loves for Gwendolen have suffered his family.

The fourth characteristic, Jack is a romantic man. Jack is a very romantic man. He places love as the most important thing in his life. The way he treats Gwendolen is very romantic. He will do anything in order to take Gwendolen’s heart.

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not scare with the status of Lady Bracknell. His biggest frighten is when he loses Gwendolen. Although Lady Bracknell has rejected his marriage proposal, Jack is still trying to argue about Gwendolen’s happiness.

The sixth characteristic, Jack is a silly man. Jack argues with Algernon about the cookies when they are sitting on Jack’s yard. The action in the story described to the readers that Jack is silly. In Manor house, Jack’s house, Jack argues that to eat cookies in certain situation is wrong. While saying that, Jack is eating cookies too. For adults, both of them look silly to have a fight about the cookies meanwhile their biggest problem is their relationship with their girlfriend.

The seventh characteristic, Jack is a tricky man. He can solve his problem in short time. He uses many ways to overcome his problem. Jack’s action is seen when he tries to baptize himself for the second times. Jack’s action is unbelieveable. The writer thinks that Jack does not use his logic. Christians is only baptized one time and they can not have the second one because the rule says so. Jack also uses another identity to trick Gwendolen and his family in the country.

The next characteristic, Jack is a liberalist. He does not want to involve too much in politics. He thinks that to be a liberalist is not complicated as other politics parties. In life, Jack just wants to be an ordinary man. He never plans to have or choose any politics parties in the future. The writer can conclude that Jack is a passive citizen that does not have the importance in politic in his country.

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The tenth characteristic, Jack is also a melancholic man. He is defeated by love. Although Jack is an adult, but somehow he acts as child when he faces a love problematic.

The last characteristic, Jack is a man who is longing for parent affection. Jack does not know his real parents. Somehow, deep down in his heart, he misses them so much. It is seen when he finds out his real parent and he looks very enthusiastic.

All the characteristics that have been mentioned by the writer support this analysis to answer the second problem formulation. Based on those characteristics, the writer is able to find out the character development of Jack Worthing in the story.

The characteritics of Jack has developed, it is seen in the beginning of the play that he lies to many people by saying that his name is Ernest. Furthermore, he lies to his family that he has a brother whose name is Ernest.

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The writer sees that Jack never realizes that hypocrisy brings bad effects to other people. His love and his selfishness have brought him to hypocrisy. However in this story, Jack’s hypocrisy changes because of the situation. The situation around him has brought him to be an honest person, a person that can accept the reality that he is not Ernest.

In the end of the story, Jack is caught by Gwendolen and his family that after all these years, Jack has make deceptions to them. After being caught, Jack started to be honest to himself and other people.

In the end of the story, the characteristic of Jack Worthing changes become an honest person. His character has developed positively. Jack realizes that there is no reason to be a hypocrite. He is aware that deception is nothing. It is more important for everyone to be honest and earnest. After all, without being a hypocrite, his name is already Ernest. This name is taken from his Father Christian name.

The character development on Jack Worthing’s characteristics shows to the writer that there are some moral messages that can be achieved. The moral messages from Jack’s character development answer the third problem formulation in this thesis.

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attention about moral messages because it teaches us important moral values to be used in associating in the society.

The second is to be earnest is important to obtain something. Jack never gives up trying to propose Gwendolen even though Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen’s mother refuses him. However, Jack does whatever he could and in the end of the play he gets what he wants. Jack gets the approval from Lady Bracknell to marry Gwendolen and he gets the name of Ernest from his father Christian name.

The third, hypocrisy leads us to a complicated situation. To be a hypocrite likes Jack is a pointless step. A hypocrite tries to be somebody else to achieve what he wants. He lies to himself and other people. Furthermore, if the truth is discovered, the hypocrite person will face a complicated situation. He will stuck in the middle between the truth and deception.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barnet, S., M. Berman and W. Burto. Literature for Composition Essays, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1988.

Beaty, J. and J.P. Hunter. New World of Literature. London: Norton Company, 1989.

Bentley, Eric. The Playwright as Thinker. London: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Ltd., 1987.

Carter, Ronald and John McRae. The Routledge History of Literature in English. New York: Routledge, 1983.

Forster, E.M. Aspect of the Novel and Related Writing. The Abinger Edition. London: Edward Arnold Publisher Ltd, 1927.

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