# data[].attributes.body
In both Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest, comedy and satire are used to both approach and challenge flaws in social construct. One main way that both of these novels critique society is through the exaggeration of common practices. Using exaggeration,  the reader can see these dismissed ways as if they were new and then form an opinion on it. One quote from The Importance of Being Earnest explains the idea that the truth is never taken head on, and it is always put in a way that is lighter than what it really is, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." This idea of the truth being skewed is exactly what we shouldn't do, for it lets us run in the direction that we may think is right, but that direction is off a cliff and not to sanctity. One quote that can be viewed to relate to the paradigm of truth is the common adage, "Honesty is the best policy." Connecting the prior idea to this topic can be accomplished through now knowing that people grow through the grime and dust of life, which is why being honest is so brash, yet vital to interpersonal development. This can also relate to the book for the protagonists have their true faults accentuated and sequentially suffer for them, and it is quite notable that the protagonists have a more positive mind set; however, the antagonists never pay for their faults, which accumulate to a much more noticeable sum, and they're seen as more evil and malicious in comparison to the protagonists. One quote that relates to grief in Candide is, "I have wanted to 🤬 myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our more stupid melancholy propensities, for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one’s very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?” This quote shows that we will hold on to the very thing that is killing us due to our selfishness. This idea of a tumorous burden that is bound by selfishness relates to these two stories through the concept that the antagonists are portrayed to be megalomaniacs, and this selfishness is exactly what leads to them ruining themselves. Relating to a more religious perspective, we note that biblical prophecies and testaments are remarkably challenging and take a strong and wise character to accomplish; however, it can also be noted that anything that is evil and unrighteous is easily attainable, with a famous excerpt being with Adam and Eve disobeying God and picking an apple from the tree, using an easier method of attaining food. A good adage that can relate to how easier accomplished things are worse is through the definition of a "low hanging fruit," which is low quality, yet is easy to attain. Relating all of the latter back to comedy can be accomplished through the central idea that comedy triangulates into truth and the conveyance of thoughts. Another way to think of this 'triangulation' is that comedy is the bridge between truth and conveyance, and allows both points to work together and form a symbiotic relationship.

# data[].attributes.body
In Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest, Comedy is used to critique social problems by exaggerating what actually happened. The author makes common situations completely absurd to mock practices or social stereotypes. For example, after Pangloss has been hung and is a slave, he still maintains his belief that everything is for the best, explaining to Candide, "for I am a philosopher and I cannot retract, especially as Leibnitz could never be wrong." This stubbornness to change views in light of new evidence is a quality of Candide as well: he does not change his mind that everything is for the best even after he has lost everything. Instead of simply stating the philosophers' usually unwavering faith in their masters and the overall rigidness of their ideology, Voltaire makes an extreme example out of an extremely stubborn Candide and Pangloss. This ridiculousness serves three important roles. Firstly, it lightens the mood on particularly touchy subjects. Voltaire may not have felt comfortable openly criticizing the thousands of philosophers (who were most likely members of the upper-class). Using comedy to criticize is a less direct way of pointing out faults; it is not a personal attack. This way, people may be more open to changing their own views. Secondly, it makes the reader more easily recognize the same problems in their lives. For example, once reading how Lady Bracknell instantly sees Cecily as "a most attractive young lady" after her large inheritance is mentioned, similar acts of unromantic greed become much more memorable. Finally, Voltaire and Oscar Wilde used Comedy as a way to make a name for themselves. If they had published literal critiques, their opinions probably would not have been noticed. However, Comedy made their opinions popular to the thousands of newly literate Europeans, becoming famous for their comedic interpretation of serious issues.

# data[].attributes.body
When there is a social issue deeply ingrained into a culture, there is no way to seriously critique the issue without upsetting the people who hold traditions to be important. Comedy provides an author a method to present to the audience a perspective that they might not have seriously considered whilst reading non-comedic literature. In satire like "Importance of Being Earnest" and "Candide", authors use comedy to indirectly critique an accepted aspect of society by placing characters into exaggerated realities.

Oscar Wilde, through the ridiculous expectations that Cecily and Gwendolyn have for their future spouses criticizes the expectations of marriage. When Algernon asks Cecily whether she would love him if his name were not Earnest, she says that "I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear that I should not be able to give you my undivided attention." Yet, when under the false belief that his name is Earnest,  Cecily showers Algernon with love and affection. Jack was confronted with the same problem of Gwendolyn not wanting to love him if his name was jack because "... Jack is a notorious domesticity for John!  And I pity any woman who is married to a man called John." The importance to Cecily and Gwendolyn about the name of the men they supposedly love is Wildes's way of helping his audience to realize the absurdity of marrying based on accepted superficial characteristics (like the wealth and title of a man) by exaggerating the triviality of the characteristic that is being held important in the play.

In "Candide", Voltaire exaggerates the role of philosophy in the lives of the common man to criticize the damaging sentiments it spreads. During the enlightenment, philosophy was beginning to permeate all aspects of everyday life. The control that philosophers exerted over many people was accepted by European society, but Voltaire viewed it as damaging. In “Candide”, Pangloss teaches the study “metaphysico–theologo–cosmolonigology”. While advocating for free will, Pangloss is also “...convinced that everything is for the best”. His two beliefs debilitates the people he influences like Candide, stripping him of his free will while preaching it. While Candide can do anything he wants, for example, saving John the Anabaptist, he cannot because everything that happens is supposedly for the best. By writing of the delusion that philosophers impose on others and how it can be deadly, Voltaire warns readers of the fatal flaws of mindlessly following others’ philosophies.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy, as used in both Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest, softens serious and often uncomfortable issues and allows the reader to consider them more readily. The public hangings of citizens and countries “swimming in blood” in Candide and the topics of marriage and the "delicate exotic fruit" ignorance, in The Importance of Being Earnest are far lighter topics and are more open to consideration in the comedic settings they are placed in. This comedy creates problems for the reader because it causes reflection on previously ignored issues such as these. An author may make an idea look completely absurd in their work and have far more effect on a reader than by just stating that an idea is wrong. In Candide, optimism is savagely attacked and made to look completely absurd. However it is done tastefully. If a reader were to believe in optimism in the face of all situations, they may reconsider after looking at Voltaire's extremely negative but also non-offensive picture of it.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is a tool often utilized by authors and writers alike to critique and comment on what they see as flaws within their own society. For instance, in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell as a character is used to critique the Victorian upper class's ignorance of true hardship. She states that losing both parents “may be regarded as a misfortune” but losing both looks like “carelessness." This shows the delusion of the upper class and their lack of understanding when it comes to obstacles. Comedies create problems for the audience in the idea that you have to look through the satire to truly understand the meaning of the work. For instance, when Algernon states that pretty women are made to "make love to" but when women are plain, you make love to "someone else."

# data[].attributes.body
In the sense of literature, comedy can be used often to either lighten the mood and serious situations or help the reader understand and analyze the situation. Based on the how the comedy or satire is portrayed l, it can help the reader analyze the situation and that the problem is and how the characters addresses it. The author often uses satire to mock works of society today. Both authors do this in their stories to grab readers attention and even show the authors true opinion. Depending on how the author wants to show satire or comedy in their writing, the reader might be confused and either not totally understand the sarcasm or the humor being used.

# data[].attributes.headline
Miranda Hauke                       In a sense, society likes to have its own form of willful ignorance, having to do with not focusing on the bad things in life. It’s where the old saying “ignorance is bliss” comes from, however it is quite obvious that the severity of these things can’t be avoided forever. Comedy comes into play as a way to address serious topics in a light hearted manner: by excusing the mention of a dark or heavier topic with the implementation of satire, the situation is easier to confront. Analyzing serious social problems is easier through use of comedy because the situation itself doesn’t seem as grave or frightening. Comedy, as the solution for willful ignorance, can be seen as a serious social problem itself, and is addressed in the classic satires Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest. In Candide, Candide can’t think for himself and reflects the philosophy of the wise Pangloss who believes they are in, “the best of all possible worlds,” despite all the horrible things that are happening around them. For example, the author touches on social issues and hierarchies, gender roles, education, religious and scientific beliefs, and more; further supporting the idea that Pangloss and consequently Candide are living (or at least attempting to) in ignorance. The tragic optimism and ignorance expressed by the characters in the satire mirrors societal avoidance of serious problems. However, Candide does come to some sort of realization that not all is good saying, “If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?” expressing his question: what could be worse (Voltaire). In The Importance of Being Earnest, the plot driver is the fact that the main characters both live double lives, being “bunburyists” (Wilde). Jack becomes Ernest living a life of leisure in London, to escape the heavy moral responsibility in having a ward and running such a large estate in the country, while similarly Algernon wants to escape his social obligations in London. Both men are leading their best lives not focusing on the consequences of their actions, the hilarity of the piece ensues, again reflecting willful ignorance. However, despite this ideal, the criticization of serious social problems is effective in such a comedy by implementing the tactic of trivializing serious topics and over dramatizing silly ones. For example, in response to serious banter Algernon says, “Well I don’t like your clothes,” while things like this seem so stupid, they cause the reader to reevaluate significant social problems (Wilde). 

# data[].attributes.subject
Miranda Hauke                       In a sense, society likes to have its own form of willful ignorance, having to do with not focusing on the bad things in life. It’s where the old saying “ignorance is bliss” comes from, however it is quite obvious that the severity of these things can’t be avoided forever. Comedy comes into play as a way to address serious topics in a light hearted manner: by excusing the mention of a dark or heavier topic with the implementation of satire, the situation is easier to confront. Analyzing serious social problems is easier through use of comedy because the situation itself doesn’t seem as grave or frightening. Comedy, as the solution for willful ignorance, can be seen as a serious social problem itself, and is addressed in the classic satires Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest. In Candide, Candide can’t think for himself and reflects the philosophy of the wise Pangloss who believes they are in, “the best of all possible worlds,” despite all the horrible things that are happening around them. For example, the author touches on social issues and hierarchies, gender roles, education, religious and scientific beliefs, and more; further supporting the idea that Pangloss and consequently Candide are living (or at least attempting to) in ignorance. The tragic optimism and ignorance expressed by the characters in the satire mirrors societal avoidance of serious problems. However, Candide does come to some sort of realization that not all is good saying, “If this is the best of all possible worlds, what are the others?” expressing his question: what could be worse (Voltaire). In The Importance of Being Earnest, the plot driver is the fact that the main characters both live double lives, being “bunburyists” (Wilde). Jack becomes Ernest living a life of leisure in London, to escape the heavy moral responsibility in having a ward and running such a large estate in the country, while similarly Algernon wants to escape his social obligations in London. Both men are leading their best lives not focusing on the consequences of their actions, the hilarity of the piece ensues, again reflecting willful ignorance. However, despite this ideal, the criticization of serious social problems is effective in such a comedy by implementing the tactic of trivializing serious topics and over dramatizing silly ones. For example, in response to serious banter Algernon says, “Well I don’t like your clothes,” while things like this seem so stupid, they cause the reader to reevaluate significant social problems (Wilde). 

# data[].attributes.headline
One specific theme is exhibited within Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest : Ignorance. More specifically a willing ignorance. For example, the character Candide follows Pangloss’s teachings with blindness. Candide also represents the common man within the Enlightenment Era. Whom of which follows those that seem wiser than themselves simply because they know no other philosophy. The philosophers of the Enlightenment Era juggled with the desires and naiveness of the average man, pushing them to believe in ridiculous values. Pococurante reiterates the ignorance in which many men and women of the era would follow beliefs simply because that person held status: “Fods admire everything in an esteemed writer. I read only to please myself. I like only what suits me.”(Voltaire 108). In the same sense, The Importance of Being Earnest also displays ignorance by mocking the ideals of the time period. The society of the late 1800’s exemplified superficiality where many serious topics such as marriage were based upon fragile foundations. By using the name Earnest as a reason to marry, Oscar Wilde uses a satirical context to comment on the ideals of the Victorian Era. The name Earnest in the play can be related to social status, both being a reason for marriage. When Jack asks Gwendlyn to be his bride she responds with affirmation: “The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he had a friend called Ernest, I knew I was destined to love you(Wilde 26). Oscar Wilde uses this comedy to display the ignorance that led many people of the Victorian Era to follow ridiculous moral rules simply because that was the way their ancestors had done it. These two pieces of literature involve the satirization of ignorance and how a society of common people with simple thoughts and desires can be manipulated into delusion. 

# data[].attributes.subject
One specific theme is exhibited within Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest : Ignorance. More specifically a willing ignorance. For example, the character Candide follows Pangloss’s teachings with blindness. Candide also represents the common man within the Enlightenment Era. Whom of which follows those that seem wiser than themselves simply because they know no other philosophy. The philosophers of the Enlightenment Era juggled with the desires and naiveness of the average man, pushing them to believe in ridiculous values. Pococurante reiterates the ignorance in which many men and women of the era would follow beliefs simply because that person held status: “Fods admire everything in an esteemed writer. I read only to please myself. I like only what suits me.”(Voltaire 108). In the same sense, The Importance of Being Earnest also displays ignorance by mocking the ideals of the time period. The society of the late 1800’s exemplified superficiality where many serious topics such as marriage were based upon fragile foundations. By using the name Earnest as a reason to marry, Oscar Wilde uses a satirical context to comment on the ideals of the Victorian Era. The name Earnest in the play can be related to social status, both being a reason for marriage. When Jack asks Gwendlyn to be his bride she responds with affirmation: “The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he had a friend called Ernest, I knew I was destined to love you(Wilde 26). Oscar Wilde uses this comedy to display the ignorance that led many people of the Victorian Era to follow ridiculous moral rules simply because that was the way their ancestors had done it. These two pieces of literature involve the satirization of ignorance and how a society of common people with simple thoughts and desires can be manipulated into delusion. 

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy, like all forms of literature, is used by skilled authors to convey their perspective on important issues as well as challenge the reader to reflect on the current state of their society. Comedy simply uses humor to not only add enjoyment to a work of literature but also to keep the reader's mind open to the problems. It avoids direct confrontation of the issues in order to transmit the message to a larger audience. Both Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest use satire to relay their message to their audience. In Candide Voltaire uses the ludicrous misfortune of the philosopher Pangloss to disprove his optimistic theory as well as convey his negative view on enlightenment ideals:"it was a thing unavoidable, a necessary ingredient in the best of worlds; for if Columbus had not in an island of America caught this disease, which contaminates the source of life, frequently even hinders generation, and which is evidently opposed to the great end of nature, we should have neither chocolate nor cochineal." (Voltaire) Likewise in The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde uses trivial issues to spark conflict among the characters, causing the reader to examine the worth they put in various societal norms. Wilde uses Gwendolen's trivial standard for her lover's name (

" The only really safe name is Ernest." ) as a way to force the reader into thinking about trivial aspects of their own society. With both of these authors, they use comedy to present ridiculous problems, forcing the audience to contemplate the moral arguments behind the issues that are brought up.

# data[].attributes.body
Authors like Voltaire and Oscar Wilde were frustrated with the state of society that they lived in, and therefore used satire to criticize it. With the use of comedy, authors make their plays easier and less heartbreaking to read, while still drawing attention to what they wish to criticize. By creating situations that are absolutely ridiculous they bring attention to society’s problems. For example, by saying that “Everything is for the best.” (Voltaire), in the midst of horrible events, Voltaire causes readers to question this and consider how these events compare to the lives that they lead. Also, in The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde writes some of the characters as saying things like “To be natural is a very difficult pose to keep up.” (Wilde), which directly relates to how society was at the time, and how everyone was expected to act a certain way. Both authors used ironic sayings to cause readers to reflect on the point the authors are criticizing. The problem that this causes for the reader occurs when the readers are forced to relate these criticisms back to their own lives, and reflect on if their own actions are similar to those in the books. Using satire is an effective way for people to get a point across when dealing with sensitive matters by dealing with them in utterly insensitive ways.

# data[].attributes.headline
In literature, comedy is used to lighten up topics that may otherwise be quite heavy and make them more palatable to the general public. Additionally, comedy and satire capture the attention of the reader in a way that straightforward prose may not. These two characteristics of comedy make it a useful tool to create impactful commentary or analysis on social issues. In Candide, one example of comedy being used to comment on an aspect society is the use of foolish religious characters. Friar Giroflee is a bitter man was forced into his role, has been “tempted a hundred times to set fire to the convent,” pays for a prostitute, and all around is the model for how not to be a good man of the church. Through Friar Giroflee and other poorly behaving religious authorities, the hypocrisy of organized religion is criticized. In The Importance of Being Earnest, the priorities of people in society are questioned. When Miss Prism accidentally puts Jack in a handbag and misplaces it, she is far more concerned about the “great inconvenience” of losing her purse than abandoning an actual living child. Leaving Jack in Victoria Station was hardly more than an embarrassing mistake to her, one she made no effort to rectify. This ridiculous scenario points out the ridiculous morals and priorities of society. 

# data[].attributes.subject
In literature, comedy is used to lighten up topics that may otherwise be quite heavy and make them more palatable to the general public. Additionally, comedy and satire capture the attention of the reader in a way that straightforward prose may not. These two characteristics of comedy make it a useful tool to create impactful commentary or analysis on social issues. In Candide, one example of comedy being used to comment on an aspect society is the use of foolish religious characters. Friar Giroflee is a bitter man was forced into his role, has been “tempted a hundred times to set fire to the convent,” pays for a prostitute, and all around is the model for how not to be a good man of the church. Through Friar Giroflee and other poorly behaving religious authorities, the hypocrisy of organized religion is criticized. In The Importance of Being Earnest, the priorities of people in society are questioned. When Miss Prism accidentally puts Jack in a handbag and misplaces it, she is far more concerned about the “great inconvenience” of losing her purse than abandoning an actual living child. Leaving Jack in Victoria Station was hardly more than an embarrassing mistake to her, one she made no effort to rectify. This ridiculous scenario points out the ridiculous morals and priorities of society. 

# data[].attributes.body
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticise corruption of an individual or society. They use humor , irony, exaggeration, and many other literary devices rob get their opinion across. An author will used satire in fictional characters to expose the corruption. In Importance of Being Earnest, Jack is living a double life. Which in most societies, even today, is not generally acceptable to most people. Despite the fact that Jack is in the wrong, he still decides he can get a word in and say whatever he believes.. “it is a very ungentlemanly thing to read a private cigarette case” (Act 1. Scene 1). Here Jack thing Algernon was wrong to read the inscription on his case, by calling it “ungentlemanly” Wilde is playing on the manners of Victorian society. Also, the satire is which action is worse? Algernon reading his inscription or Jack lying about his whole life? In Candid, Voltaire uses parody, hyperbole, euphemism and plenty of other literary devices to create satire. Voltaire mocks class hierarchies.. actually any formal social system, like religion, politics, and class gets satirized in Candid. “The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate, but windows.” (2.1) Voltaire mocks the Baron’s wealth and power because despite the text saying he is the most powerful the description says otherwise and the Baron isn’t morning intimidating. The satire is also that even with all this power and wealth, it does not save his family from rape or being executed (padlet does not let me use the word m.u.r.d.e.r). Satire is incorporated in both Candid and Importance of being Earnest to tell the stories and create that satirical tone the authors purposely added. It isn’t humorous to us as we read it now but in the time period that the stories were written and published, some of the readers at that time may have been offended or caught of guard at the mockery that was targeted to their society.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is essentially the addition of a level of ridiculousness to real life and society, especially a serious or profound situation or topic. In both The Importance of Being Earnest and Candide, comedy is created through placing the characters in an excessive number of very realistic unfortunate circumstances. In cases such as these, the consumer of the work has the expectation that the characters will have a limited number of conflicts, all of which will be thoroughly resolved. Therefore, this audience will be in complete disbelief when characters encounter a large number of conflicts and these have either no resolution or an incomplete and unsatisfying one. For example, in Candide, when the title character and his master Pangloss had seemingly lost everything, they were taken in, fed, sheltered, nursed to health, and given work by James the Anabaptist. Then, during a business trip to Lisbon, a sailor fell overboard and “Honest James ran to his assistance, hauled him up, and from the effort he made was precipitated into the sea in sight of the sailor, who left him to perish,” (Voltaire, 16). The lives of Candide and his weathered master appeared to be turning around when suddenly and randomly their charitable benefactor dies in an accident, a course of events which completely violates the natural progression of a story by instantaneously reversing the recovery process initiated by the two philosophers with the help of the Anabaptist. The following assertion by Pangloss that “all is for the best” is absolutely ridiculous and comedic considering what has just happened, and through this comedy Voltaire is able to comment on the stubbornness of his contemporary philosophers, who would persist in their philosophy even when all signs from the real world disproved it. In The Importance of Being Earnest, comedy is achieved in the concluding scenes when each of the play’s conflicts are incompletely resolved. For example, after learning that Jack is allegedly the elder brother of Algernon, Jack pulls out army records to discover: “I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Earnest, didn’t I? Well, it is Earnest after all,” to which Lady Bracknell replied, “Yes, I remember now that the General was called Earnest,” (Wilde, 151). The conflicts of Jack having no family name and not being named Earnest are each supposedly resolved in the story, but the resolution is incomplete because everyone accepts what Jack says as the truth without question. Even Lady Bracknell, an inquisitive and mistrusting character, instantly accepts Jack’s words as truth, creating comedy through ridiculous oversight on her part and generating disbelief in the audience at the unlikelihood that she would outright accept what she has learned. Oscar Wilde therefore uses this comedy to postulate that people are more willing to accept something as truth when they have an ulterior motive to do so; in this case, Jack is reasonably wealthy and would make a fine match for Gwendolen if not for his name and lack of familial relations, so a convenient solution to both problems would be tempting for even someone as careful as Lady Bracknell.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy can be used in literature to analyze serious social problems by bringing to light the problems associated with the specific topic. While the character is using comedy to mock a topic, it forces the reader to think a little deeper on if satire is being used and how the character is criticizing the topic. It also forces the reader to determine which stance the character is taking on an issue. Satire can also lighten the tone of a conversation in a piece of literature so that the reader isn't overwhelmed with a serious topic. One problem that can arise from use satire is the reader missing the use of it and ultimately missing the point that the author is trying to make. In The Importance of Being Earnest, the author satirizes marriage, gender, and social roles. In the first act, Algernon says that his servant's views on marriage are "too lax". If a reader doesn't see this as satire they will miss the point completely. Algernon also satirizes social roles when he says that "lower orders are no good if they don't set a good example" which could be taken seriously to mean that lower class people aren't useful at all.

# data[].attributes.body
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a societal norm by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. A writer in a satire uses fictional characters, which stand for real people, or society to expose and condemn their corruption. In Importance

# data[].attributes.body
The prevalent idea in Candide is that no matter the challenges, life is still good. Many of the characters such as Pangloss, Candide, and The Old Woman went through difficult times and were still ridiculously optimistic and lived by the idea that "everything s for the best" (Voltaire 83). In comparison, the main idea in the ending of the Importance of Being Earnest was that all is well if it ends well. Both women in the play are overly optimistic about the men even after the men’s decievement. In the two pieces, the characters dismiss the negatives of the past and do not consider reality. These uncommon reactions to ridiculous circumstances are what the authors use to create humor. Comedy is beneficial to deliver a serious topic because it causes people to let their guard down and set their strong or prejudiced opinions aside. Another example of creating uncommon reactions to ridiculous circumstances is in the Importance of Being Earnest. Lady Bracknell's reaction to an ill person is "Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged." (Wilde 17). This uncommon reaction creates humor for the audience, but it also has a deeper meaning. This comment represents the upper class's mindset. The upper class is inconsiderate of the less fortunate and thinks that helping them will only make them think they will always have help out of their problems by the upper class.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is by nature often absurdly ridiculous. The situations many characters in comedies find themselves in are intentionally created so that there is essentially no chance of similar situations ever occurring in real life. This creates an excellent opportunity to expose the flaws with certain societal structures by seeing the ways society tells us to react in impossible circumstances. The Importance of Being Earnest and Candide both use comedy, although in different forms, to criticize social class structures. In Candide, the upper class characters are constantly reduced to the wealth and status of the poor. Candide and Cacambo leave El Dorado, a nation so rich that gold is "yellow clay", with "two large red sheep... twenty others for carrying provisions; thirty laden with presents of the rareties of that country; and fifty with gold, diamonds and other precious stones." That much precious materials should make them the wealthiest people on earth, however, only two sheep survive to reach the next settlement, both of which are promptly stolen. The greed and desire of the wealthy to regain their status after its all taken from them criticizes the rich for not being thankful for what they're given. Similarly, Oscar Wilde criticizes the upper class in The Importance of Being Earnest, but its through the behavior of the characters of differing classes. The audience expects the rich to be more intelligent and better behaved in society because of their access to education, yet characters from every class are equally witty, yet the rich have no regard for what is considered polite in society: they lie to get what they want. On the other hand, the members of the lower class are excessively polite, like Lane mentioning that he "didn't think it polite to listen" to Algernon's horrendous playing.

# data[].attributes.body
When expressing opinions, it can be beneficial to use comedy as a tool to lighten the mood about more serious topics.  When directly stating opinions, others might be quick to resist any information that does not reflect their beliefs.  Comedy slightly teases at the subject, allowing others to be more open to the ideas that are being expressed because it’s presented in a more entertaining way.  When many unfortunate events are thrown at Candide, he continually states that it is “for the best”.  This is humorous because it’s obvious that everything that happens to Candide is almost the opposite of “the best”, but he continues to believe it because that’s what Pangloss taught him. Here, Voltaire mocks the way that people blindly followed philosophers’ ideas at the time even though they didn’t contain much logic.  In The Importance of Being Earnest, the upper class greatly values important names.  When Gwendolen tells Jack that she wouldn’t marry anyone named Jack because Jacks are “usually plain”, she doesn’t have any real logic behind it other than the fact that the name Earnest sounds better.  The fact that she agrees to marry Earnest is funny because it’s actually Jack, and it shows the superficiality of the upper class of the time.

# data[].attributes.body
Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest both include strong criticisms of the upper class. Both pieces of literature depict people who are basing their lives off of a flawed philosophy. In Candide the upper-class are depicted I was being foolish because they have not experienced many hardships. Pangloss continuously states that "everything is for the best" even when he is faced with evidence that contradicts this idea. This idealism is satirizing The Enlightenment of the time. In The Importance of Being Earnest get upper class are being satirized in a different way. They are depicted as being immoral and judging others based off of surface-level characteristics. The two women in the play only want to "Marry and Earnest" and don't focus on the characteristics of their future husband. This behavior is used to further satirize the upper class.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is typically based set where a character who is in a predicament or unusual situation responds to that situation in a manner that is unusual or unpredictable. The situations happen to unfortunate characters, however the situation or response to the situation is an exaggeration of a serious issue within society or human nature; exaggerations of society’s views are funny because readers know that they are true. In Candide, the whole story outlines Candide trying to marry his dream wife, Cunegonde, and the troubles he goes to to do so, only to have her “[lose] her beauty and become fearfully ugly”(Voltaire 83). Which is humorous because people know it to be a sad and true fact that dreams never seem as good as people would like to think after they finally realize that dream. A similar tactic is used by Oscar Wilde in The Importance of Being Earnest by putting characters in peculiar situations and exaggerating what traits show through when they are put in these situations. The trait that is exaggerated is formality. In many instances where characters are in “a painful position” where they could be expected to get angry or show disrespect to others, however the characters are extremely formal and respectful of each other, which is an exaggeration and criticism of the Victorian age’s stress on formality in all situations.

# data[].attributes.body
In an Importance of Being Earnest and in Candide multiple “hard topics” are focused on. These topics range from education, politics, marriage, religion, and class structure. In satire, as discussed in class, nothing is off limits. When watching or reading satire, the viewer has to leave their sense at the door. Satire is supposed to mock things and be funny and not necessarily be politically correct. Both the novel and book look at and mock the class structure. In Candide, when he gets recruited by the military personnel, he is so flattered by their words he goes along with them. “Not only will we pay your reckoning, but we will never suffer such a man as you to want money; men are only born to assist one another." The military men take advantage of how Candide views himself in society to get him to do what they want. Similarly, in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell uses her status and power to overpower and overwhelm Jack. “I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men.” Lady Bracknell has the status that Jack does not and that is how he intimates her. Both authors are sending a message about classes. Class structure is critiqued and joked about by being exaggerated to the extreme so the audience notices and pays attention. A problem with satire is that some people may not understand that it is a joke. Also, some topics may be deemed “too serious” to joke about because the jokes could take away from the legitimacy of the problem.

# data[].attributes.body
True excellence within arguments can often be found in the way in which the author states their points and conveys their argument to their reader. In numerous cases, comedy can be the best way to present arguments, both engaging an audience while simultaneously presenting your point of view in a satiric format - often lightening up the context of concepts generally characterized as serious or important topics. In Candide, for example, an argument condemning blind optimism as well as the often overly hypocritical ideals individuals hold in relations to religion essentially softens Voltaire’s starch criticism of hypocrisy and ignorance in mankind as a whole. Similarly, in The Importance of Being Earnest, social class, marriage, and overall expectations of individuals at large is examined in a critical manner that is yet simplistic, artistic, and utterly humorous. Ultimately, whether it be within Voltaire’s character Pangloss or in Wilde’s characters Lady Bracknell, criticism done by means of utilizing comedy, often strictly condemn ignorance at large. As Pangloss notes, “everything happens for the best”, addresses the idea that ignorance lies in the heart of men, especially in times when true optimism appears to have hit rock bottom. Comparably, the ignorance embodied by Wilde’s character Lady Bracknell when questioning Jack of his status as well as personality as a whole (mainly “hobbies”) serves to provide great notions in reference to truly how ill-fitting ignorance should be within society.

Expectation and belief also often to appear to be made a clouded kind of ideal to the audience. Expectations as seen in the writing are often opposite of what an author truly thinks is correct, therefore matching the goal of satire in the first place. Expectation and belief in the case of satire are very interesting topics due to the fact that often the underlying meaning of the work as a whole gives a reader a larger insight to the true topic at hand.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy can bring levity to certain very serious topics, ranging from mortality to marriage. This levity can make topics easier to discuss and digest. In The Importance of Being Earnest, marriage is looked at  very flippantly and shallowly by all parties, which shows just how much it should mean in reality. Gwendolen's focus on the name Ernest shows her focus not on marriage as a partnership or long-term thing, but as a fun, very idealized thing to do. To that effect, she requests a real proposal from Jack (Ernest 1), something like what she has imagined. Lady Bracknell focuses on the unimportant,  as well, and in her funny statements about ignorance and its beauty, Wilde buries a jab at the English education system with Lady Brackwell saying, "fortunately, in England, education produces no effect whatsoever". In Candide, Voltaire uses a different, darker tactic to trivialize marriage and make his statement. Cunegonde and Candide do not really want to marry each other, but they do because of her brother's "extreme impertinence". This is another bad reason to get married, but one that is likely more common than people think, just like names, hobbies and ignorance. When viewed in a satiric/comedic context, however; these very real, very superficial choices people make seem ridiculous and outside of any realm of possibility. This should cause people to evaluate whether or not they are making the same choices (and maybe getting bad results) and if they need to remedy the choices they have made.

# data[].attributes.body
Satirical authors that use comedy have the goal in mind of bringing to light a certain social problem that they feel should be addressed. In both readings, these famous authors use comedy in a way that makes it obvious what they want to point out. For Example in The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde uses humor for many purposes. One to highlight the lack of meaning in relationships, and the other to address how society values how something seems on the outside for examples once wealth, status, class, over how something is underneath, such as the quality of a human being. For example, Lady Bracknell believes, “In matters of grave importance, style not sincerity, is a vital thing.” (Wilde, 128) By including this funny idiotic statement, Wilde is able to criticize both that initial aspect of society and also that society care more about how something is done rather then the motives behind it.

In most comedies, the likelyhood of an event actually happening like it occurred in the book is very slim. In Candide, Voltaire provides some of the most horrible experiences imaginable that a person could go through. Upon the journey of Candide the main character, he encounters Martin, and describes him as “very harsh” and Martin responds saying “I have seen the world.” (Voltaire, 212) This makes the reader think that the world is a horrible place and it is out to hurt and change you. But in reality the world is not that horrible although it is not perfect. The audience now has false impressions of the world and the reality is much different from their expectations. But either way this drastic exaggeration helps further Voltaire’s argument.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy in literature is used to mock and criticize different aspects of one’s views in order to shame individuals, corporations, governments, or society itself. Both Candide and The Importance of Being Earnest are examples of comedy, as they are both mock the social class system among other things. In Candide, the upper-class was seen as the one who held all of the power and status, but they were the most miserable. The old woman is the prime example of this because she is the priest's daughter, yet is the one to suffer the most. She says, "I need not tell you how great a hardship it was for a young princess and her mother to be made slaves and carried to Morocco.” In this instance, she is suffering because of her status as a member of the upper-class. In the play The Importance of Being Earnest, the class system is also being ridiculed. When Gwendolyn informs her mother of her marriage arrangements, Lady Blackwell says, “Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone. When you do become engaged to some one, I, or your father, will inform you.” Gwendolyn is not given a choice in her own marriage because of her status, because of the pressure of her family to maintain a wealthful name. Because of the lightheartedness of the comedy, it can cause problems among the readers. The audience can see the unideal situation in a humorous way, and believe it to not be a great problem.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy especially in the form of parody, has a way of allowing the viewer to themselves identify the absurdity within the society that they are present in. Bringing to light the serious social issues that could go unnoticed by so many and to inform the public of these happenings. The ability to identify for themselves the social issues also allows the viewer to make their own judgement about what they are seeing and although the writer or director might have attempted to skew their opinion to one side of the issue still allows the viewer to decide for themselves what they think about the issue In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde points about the the issues that he sees in the Victorian England courting scene and the importance of having a social status and the higher people’s opposition to being like the commoners even if it means valuing ignorance instead of education, as Lady Bracknell likes Jack’s answer of “I know nothing” in consideration of the marriage proposal that he had just made to Gwendolyn.This parody can also be seen in Candide where the ignorance that is shown is valued by those raised on a pedestal by others such as Dr. Pangloss whose happy go lucky attitude puts him into situations that seem horrid and unbelievably awful but the ignorance of the world allows him to go on and see the world as a good place even to his bones he believes that this is “the best of all possible things”.

# data[].attributes.body
Societies tend to avoid thinking about and discussing difficult problems. When they are brought up, the controversial nature of such subjects means that discussion quickly evolves into arguments. Historically, comedy has been used as an extremely effective tool for introducing provocative thoughts about very serious issues in a way that promotes civilized discussions. A forefront of humor can serve to disarm people's preconceptions and inherent biases, making them more open to subliminal social messages especially those that criticize the audience. Voltaire is highly critical of religions throughout Candide. His use of satire serves to ensure his ideas are better received. Candide's interaction with the protestant minister is silly and includes some elements of slapstick comedy, but beneath the humor Voltaire is making some heavy criticisms. When Candide admits that he is ignorant of the issues involved in religion, the minister says, "he does not deserve to eat" and asks that Candide does not "come near from now on". The minister had been preaching on charity, which he considered a moral obligation. This parallels one of the major contentions of Reformists in the age of Martin Luther. The Catholic Church had become so corrupt it was completely acceptable to praise certain values but act completely differently. Without the humor, this point would just be a sacrilegious. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde takes blatant jabs at the "old blood" in the upper class. In the Importance of Being Earnest, Gwendolyn believes that, "In matters of grave importance style, not sincerity, is the vital thing". Wilde is criticizing the traditional mindset of the nobility that in some immeasurable way they are superior to the common people. The ridiculousness of the meal scene helps to soften the blow of the criticism and take down the guards of his readers, who were most likely educated members of the upper class.

# data[].attributes.body
Satire is a tool utilized by many writers to create comedy as well as criticize different characteristics of a society. A common way  this is done is to exemplify a faulting characteristic  through absurd exaggeration or by showing the complete opposite. This is done because sometimes it takes the society to see the ridiculous to understand their faults. Both Voltaire's Candide and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest are social commentaries on the class system. In Candide, Voltaire uses characters to illuminate his view on the enlightenment thinkers. Pangloss is overly optimistic and lethargically indifferent to every event in his life stating things occur for “the best of all possible worlds”. This is a satirical jab at the more influential enlightenment philosophers during this time as Pangloss's ideology broadly reflects theirs. For example, the philosopher Leibniz taught that, "since the world was created by God, and since the mind of God is the most benevolent and capable mind imaginable, the world must be the best world imaginable" which leads the majority of the population inactive when not in the best positions because it "must be for the best". This is the same idea that Voltaire was criticizing and the stark exaggerated similarities gives the reader an abrupt understanding of their own actions in a comedic way. In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest a similar type of commentary is employed; exaggerations enhancing the problems already established in a society. However, Oscar Wilde's piece commented on dating and social hierarchies in lieu of philosophers. In the Victorian era the idea of what was then called "married bliss" was extremely relevant to most social interactions. Seeking someone with a name, a history, and wealth was a driving factor for many actions citizens took.  The social exchange “Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury. A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.” is a satire as it mocks the idea and has dark underlying humor because it can be assumed Algernon believes that all Victorian husbands have a secret, socially unacceptable, life. These subtle jabs made of dramatic similarities to actual society are humorous and show the reader what they are unconsciously or purposefully doing. The satires used in the pieces also demonstrates how it could be worse if these behaviors are continually performed.

# data[].attributes.body
In Literature, the genre of satire is commonly used to both poke fun for a laugh out of a reader and make significant social comments. This is seen in both Candide and Importance of Being Earnest. Both authors engage the readers by comedy and also take social, economical, and political jabs at the features of current society. These jabs are significant in dealing with serious social problems because when a novel is masked in its comedy, comments the author is making come across strikingly harsh. They reveal the true purpose of the novel, because most satires are not written to simply tell a story. In the case of Candide, Voltaire makes comments towards the current times of the enlightenment through the development of the characters in the story. When the situations characters are in are exaggerated as they are in Candide, ideas such as the enlightenment appear extremely foolish. In the novel, Dr. Pangloss states to Candide “here is a concatenation of events in this best of all possible worlds: for if you had not been kicked out of a magnificent castle for love of Miss Cunégonde...you would not be here eating preserved citrons and pistachio-nuts." With Pangloss continuing the state the idea that they are in the best of all possible worlds, the exaggerated situations begin to weigh in on his ideas, making them more and more ridiculous as they progress. In Importance of Being Earnest, many comments are made about society. Algernon says the way that Jack flirts with Gwendolyn is “perfectly disgraceful” and the way the she flirts with his is “almost as bad”. By showing how serious the characters are about the social scripts at the time, they begin to seem fairly ridiculous. Both these novels create problems in expectation and belief in that the readers expect the author to have certain beliefs when writing their stories, but then their actually beliefs are revealed through the fact that the novel is a satire.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy has been used by creators around the world to comment, mock, or analyze social problems. For example, Saturday Night Live has frequently created skits that commented on a variety of serious political and social topics. In Candide, Voltaire satirizes religion, optimism, politics, and the class system in society. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde satirizes the idea of marriage, as well as the class system. In Candide, Pangloss stays optimistic through every horror he has witnessed, “everything happens for the best,” which Voltaire criticizes the ideal of optimism and points out the absurdity in it. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Bracknell interviews Jack by asking questions that relate to his social status to determine if he was appropriate enough to marry her daughter. Lady Bracknell believes that status is important as she does not want to consent Jack to marry Gwendolen, “a girl brought up with the utmost care—to marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel?”

Comedies can also create problems for an audience since comedy can be used to cover up serious situations as well as lighten the impact it may have on an audience.

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is a means of relief used to lighten dark situations. In society, comedy is often used to not only add humor to the serious, but to emphasize certain aspects of the situation as viewed by society. For example, in Candide, when Candide, Pangloss, and some sailors are on a ship and James the Anabaptist falls overboard, Pangloss prevents him from being rescued by stating that "the roadstead of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to drown there". This scene shows Pangloss' exaggerated optimism, and it expresses Voltaire's criticism of blind faith and optimism present during the time of the Enlightenment, and that this belief not only harms oneself but others around one as well. Even though this is a serious criticism made by Voltaire, the manner in which Pangloss states his belief that "all is for the best" in this scene adds humor in his satire and adds light to a man's death; it is also used to further ridicule societal beliefs on blind faith and acceptance by making an obvious blunt statement about it through Pangloss' character. In Importance of Being Ernest, humor is also used to criticize social beliefs about societal stabdards of thr time, like love and marriage, for example. When Jack wants to confront Gwendolen about his feelings for her, he is the one feeling nervous about it, and stammers, "ever since I met you I have admired you more than any other girl... I have ever met since... I met you", which is contrary to the expected behavior for men at the time; men were supposed to strong and confident, but Jack isn't confident in the slightest in this situation, while Gwendolen is, which also contradicts social expectations for the time. By using this gender-role reversal, which is humorous in the fact that Gwendolen and Jack are acting opposite than is expected of both then and today, Oscars Wilde criticizes societal beliefs on love and marriage. The comedy in this scene not only adds humor, but it also emphasizes Wilde's criticism of gender roles in love and marriage. In general, comedy is not only used as a means of comic relief in serious situations, but also as a way to express criticisms of beliefs of the time, and for the author to add their own thoughts on serious situations. But comedy can be a problem for audiences. If an audience is too emotionally affected by the serious situation being satirized, then the audience may find the comedy and satire of their beliefs offensive.

# data[].attributes.headline
As outlined in our discussion, Comedy is used to discuss topics in way that is more acceptable and allows people to think about issues in a perspective that is less direct .  As discussed in Period 8, Gwendolen and Cecily seem to be infatuated with marrying someone named earnest. The name has "music of its own" and is a "divine name." This satirizes otherwise non-important things that some people marry for. In a less satirical setting, this might  be critical of marrying for money or wealth. People did not care so much about the quality of human they were marrying but rather that they could marry "to advantage." In candide, wealth is satirized as the main character will come into contact with great wealth and "red sheep" and give it away. This allows the reader to consider that people who share the intelligence of candide and who has come into contact with extreme misfortune will throw his fortune away after he achieves great fortune. This allows the reader to consider how money behaves in the hands of people with low standards. Comedies can create "problems" for the audience in terms of expectations and beliefs as something trivialized will seem so obvious that it will conflict with the beliefs of the audience.

# data[].attributes.subject
As outlined in our discussion, Comedy is used to discuss topics in way that is more acceptable and allows people to think about issues in a perspective that is less direct .  As discussed in Period 8, Gwendolen and Cecily seem to be infatuated with marrying someone named earnest. The name has "music of its own" and is a "divine name." This satirizes otherwise non-important things that some people marry for. In a less satirical setting, this might  be critical of marrying for money or wealth. People did not care so much about the quality of human they were marrying but rather that they could marry "to advantage." In candide, wealth is satirized as the main character will come into contact with great wealth and "red sheep" and give it away. This allows the reader to consider that people who share the intelligence of candide and who has come into contact with extreme misfortune will throw his fortune away after he achieves great fortune. This allows the reader to consider how money behaves in the hands of people with low standards. Comedies can create "problems" for the audience in terms of expectations and beliefs as something trivialized will seem so obvious that it will conflict with the beliefs of the audience.

# data[].attributes.body
-John Reimann

# data[].attributes.body
Comedy is in its essence an art form based on double meanings and irony, and the ability to recognize those underlying implications the context of the situation must be understood. In other words, in order to find something funny one must relate in some way to what is being criticized or joked about. This approach to analyzing a problem that would be more serious if brought up in a normal conversation, not only lessens the blow of the criticism but also causes the audience to take a look at the mirror per say and look at the issue internally, countering previous beliefs and causing dissonance in their thought process and beliefs about the issue. Comedies cause "problems" for the audience as it suppresses previous beliefs in a way that allows new ideas and perspectives on the issue to arise. This can be seen when Candide states that “When a man is in love, jealous, and just whipped by the Inquisition, he is no longer himself.” In this Voltaire subtly adds in a jab at religion that was controversial at that time. With the use of comedy however and the light mood that surrounds it, Voltaire is able to successfully make the audience think about the issue and realize how radical the beliefs of that time were. Also  comedy can be seen in the Importance of Being Ernest.  “Ever since I met you I have admired you more than any girl...I have ever met since...I met you.” This ridiculous collection of gibberish would be humorous in the fact that what is being said is  so detached and different than how the rules of attraction should really be. By putting it in this comedic way, Oscar Wilde gives the audience a chance to take a social self reflection. Again it causes problems for the audience as the new found ideas are dissonant to their own and causes the audience to want to change their beliefs to fit their behaviors.

# data[].attributes.body
Often, comedy is used as a way to bring up and bring light to serious issues that occur socially, economically, or otherwise. People frequently don't want to talk about these dark topics, and push them to the side, seeing as they may not have to deal with them directly, or they just don't want to recognize these problems. Through the outlet of comedy, these issues can be brought to light in a way that still causes people to think, but portrays the problems in a less serious way. This can be seen throughout The Importance of Being Earnest. Two of the main characters, Gwendolen and Cecily, are infatuated with the idea of marrying a man by the name of Earnest. While one typically would think of marriage as something two people do when they are unequivocally in love with one another, this is not the case in Oscar Wilde's story. Gwendolen is in love with the name Earnest itself, not the person attached to the name. She states that "...I pity any woman who is married to a man called John...the only really safe name is Earnest." This shows her rather materialistic outlook on marriage, rather than a romantic one. Gwendolen isn't the only character who's opinion of marriage appears a bit unsound, Cecily also has a strange infatuation with Earnest. Upon hearing about Uncle Jack's mischievous brother Earnest, Cecily creates a romantic fantasy in her diary between the two of them. Later in the book, when Earnest, who we know as Algernon, proposes to Cecily, she remarks, "You silly boy! Of course. Why, we have been engaged for the last three months." She is referring to her imaginary scenario in her journal, which Algernon doesn't know about at the moment. Despite all of these illogical reasons for marriage, and both men's false identities, both couples decide to still get married at the end of the book. Candide also uses humor to comment on European society's preoccupation with materialism. When Candide is in Eldorado,  he is surrounded by innumerable wealth and all the food he can eat, which seems like the perfect scenario in his mind. However, he cannot find happiness in this haven. This appears to be due to the fact that he is still without his "true love" Cunegonde. At the end of the book however, Candide appears to find true happiness when he is working on the farm and making money for himself. Through the use of satire and comedy in both The Importance of Being Earnest and Candide, Voltaire and Wilde make arguments regarding the concept of Materialism, especially in European society at the time. Comedies can often create issues with the audience if the reader does not understand the author's form of satirical humor, or if they disagree with what is being said through the comedy. Due to their nature, comedies can often comment on rather controversial topics, which can obviously cause strife within the audience.