THE FUNCTION OF HUMOR IN THE PLAYS OF OSCAR WILDE

345 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar THE FUNCTION OF HUMOR IN THE PLAYS OF OSCAR WILDE Allaberdiyev Umidjon Ziyodulla o`g`li Shaydullayeva Dildora Sharofiddin Qizi Mengto`rayeva Shodiya Xamidullo Qizi Qurbonova Gulzira Olimovna Students of Denau Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy Teacher Rasulova Dilbar Rasulovna https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17630775 Annotation: This article talks about the role of humor in the plays of Oscar Wilde. It shows that Wilde used humor not only to make people laugh but also to express his ideas about society and people’s behavior. The article explains how he used irony wit and satire to show the problems and hypocrisy of the Victorian period. It also shows that humor helps to make his characters more interesting and his language more beautiful and clever. The plays The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband are used as main examples. The article helps readers understand why humor is so important in Wilde’s works and what message he wanted to give through it. Key words: Oscar Wilde, humor, irony, satire, wit, Victorian society, plays. Oscar Wilde is one of the most famous writers of the nineteenth century. He was known for his clever language humor and criticism of society. Wilde’s plays are full of funny situations and sharp dialogues that make people think and laugh at the same time. His humor was not only for entertainment it also helped him to show the truth about people and their behavior in the Victorian period. Humor in Wilde’s plays has many functions. It makes the stories enjoyable but it also helps him to criticize the problems of his time such as social class differences false morality and the desire to look respectable. Wilde used humor to show how people often pretend to be something they are not. His jokes and witty sayings made serious topics easier to understand and remember. This article will explore how humor works in Oscar Wilde’s plays and why it is so important. It will look at the types of humor he used such as irony satire and wit and how they help to express his main ideas. Examples from plays like The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband will be used to show how humor shapes the characters the plot and the message of his works 1 . Also literature review is that Many researchers have studied Oscar Wilde’s use of humor and wit. They agree that humor is one of the most important parts of his writing style. Critics say that Wilde’s humor is not only for fun but it also has a deeper meaning. Through humor he shows the problems and contradictions of the Victorian society in which he lived. Some literary scholars explain Wilde’s humor by using well known theories of humor. For example the Superiority Theory says that people laugh because they feel smarter or better than others. Wilde often used this kind of humor to show how his characters thought they were clever but in fact they were foolish. Another theory is the Incongruity Theory which says that humor happens when something unexpected or illogical appears. Wilde used this method a lot by mixing serious ideas with funny or absurd situations. Researchers such as Richard Ellmann, Harold Bloom and Karl Beckson have written about Wilde’s artistic style. They note that his humor is elegant intelligent and full of paradoxes. Ellmann wrote that Wilde’s wit was “a mirror that showed the society its own face.” Other critics like Norbert Kohl and Peter Raby also pointed out that humor in Wilde’s plays serves to reveal the truth behind polite manners and moral pretence. Overall literature about Oscar Wilde shows that humor is not a simple decoration in his plays. It is a powerful way for him to communicate his ideas about love morality and society. 1 Beckson, Karl. Oscar Wilde: The Critical Heritage. London: Routledge, 1970. 346 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar Through humor Wilde invites his audience to laugh but also to think more deeply about the world around them 2 . The Nature of Humor in Wilde’s Plays is that Humor in Oscar Wilde’s plays is very special. It is not only about making people laugh, it also helps to show deeper ideas. Wilde’s humor comes from clever language quick thinking and strong observation of people’s behavior. He noticed how people often acted differently in public and in private and he used this difference to create funny and meaningful scenes. One of the main forms of humor in Wilde’s plays is wit. Wit means smart and quick words that surprise the audience. His characters often say things that sound funny but also contain truth. For example in The Importance of Being Earnest almost every line is full of witty comments about love marriage and social rules 3 . These jokes make the dialogue bright and interesting but they also show Wilde’s opinion about how people behave in society. Another form of humor that Wilde used is irony. Irony means saying the opposite of what one really means. Wilde used irony to show how people in Victorian society often pretended to be honest and moral but in fact they cared more about appearance and reputation. This makes the audience laugh but also helps them see the false values of that time. Wilde also used satire which means using humor to criticize social problems. In his plays he makes fun of politicians rich people and the rules of high society. He shows that behind polite manners there is often selfishness and hypocrisy. His humor makes these criticisms easier to accept and more enjoyable to watch. In general the nature of humor in Wilde’s plays is both light and serious at the same time. It entertains the audience but it also invites them to think. Through humor Wilde creates plays that are funny intelligent and full of life lessons. Humor as a Tool of Social Criticism also In Oscar Wilde’s plays humor is not only used to make people laugh. It is also a tool that helps him to criticize society and show its problems. Wilde lived during the Victorian period when people cared a lot about rules respect and reputation. Many people tried to look perfect and moral but their actions were often false. Wilde used humor to show this hypocrisy and to make people think about it in a soft and clever way. In The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde makes fun of social values like marriage family and class. His characters say funny things that show how people were more worried about names money and position than about real love or honesty. For example Lady Bracknell’s comments about marriage show that she treats it like a business deal not a matter of feelings. Wilde uses humor here to show how empty and selfish society’s rules could be. In An Ideal Husband Wilde uses humor to talk about politics and morality. He shows how people in high positions want to look perfect but they often have secrets and make mistakes. Through light and funny conversations Wilde reveals how society judges people too quickly and unfairly. His humor helps the audience see that no one is perfect and that moral values should be more human and forgiving. Wilde’s humor also criticizes the role of women in society. In his plays female characters often use humor to speak their minds and challenge men’s authority. This shows that humor can be a form of power and resistance. By giving his women smart and witty lines Wilde shows that intelligence and independence can exist even in a strict social system. Overall Wilde’s humor is a kind of mirror that reflects the society of his time. It makes people laugh but it also makes them see their own weaknesses and think about change. His way of using humor to criticize society is one of the main reasons why his plays are still loved and studied today. Humor in Oscar Wilde’s plays is very important for showing the personality of each character. Through funny dialogues and witty lines Wilde helps the audience understand who the characters 2 . Friedman, Alan W. “Humor and Irony in The Importance of Being Earnest.” Modern Drama, vol. 16, no. 3, 1973, pp. 245–257. 3 Ellmann, Richard. Oscar Wilde. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. 347 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar really are their thoughts feelings and values. Humor is not only something that makes people laugh, it is also a way to build and develop the characters in his plays 4 . For example in The Importance of Being Earnest the two main characters Jack and Algernon use humor in very different ways. Jack’s jokes often show that he is serious but also confused about social rules. Algernon’s humor on the other hand is more playful and free. He often laughs at society and doesn’t take its rules seriously. Through their jokes and conversations Wilde shows how each man sees the world differently. Lady Bracknell’s humor is also very special. Her words are often funny because she is so serious about things that are not important. When she speaks the audience laughs but they also see how Wilde uses her as a symbol of the strict and artificial rules of Victorian society. Her humor helps to show her pride and her belief in class and status. In An Ideal Husband humor helps to reveal the moral side of each character. For instance Lord Goring’s witty speech shows that he is kind clever and openminded. His humor helps him to deal with serious problems in a calm way. Sir Robert Chiltern however struggles to keep his perfect image. Through their conversations, Wilde uses humor to show the difference between real honesty and the need to look perfect in front of others. In this way humor becomes part of each character’s identity. It shows how they think how they react to society and what values they follow. Wilde’s use of humor makes his characters more human and interesting 5 . The audience can laugh at them but also understand them better. One of the main reasons Oscar Wilde’s plays are so enjoyable is his special use of language. His humor often comes from the way he plays with words. Wilde loved language and used it in a clever and creative way. He often made people laugh by saying simple things in an unexpected or smart way. His style of humor is full of short sharp sentences paradoxes and wordplay. A paradox is a statement that seems strange or impossible but it contains truth. Wilde often used paradoxes to make people think. For example in The Importance of Being Earnest he writes “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” This sentence sounds funny but it also makes people reflect on how complicated truth really is. Wilde’s paradoxes are both humorous and meaningful. Another important part of his language is wordplay and puns. Wilde enjoyed using words that have more than one meaning. By doing this he created jokes that were both intelligent and entertaining. In his plays characters often make quick witty remarks that surprise other people. This type of humor keeps the dialogue lively and gives each character a unique voice. Wilde also used epigrams which are short and clever sayings. They are easy to remember and often contain a deep idea hidden behind humor. For example “I can resist everything except temptation” is a famous Wildean epigram. It is funny but also shows how people sometimes fail to control their desires. Through this kind of language Wilde created a new style of theater. His humor was not based on simple jokes but on intelligence and beauty of expression. The audience laughs not only because the words are funny but because they are wise and true. His unique use of language makes his plays timeless and continues to attract readers and viewers today. Humor in Oscar Wilde’s plays is not only used for laughter. It also has a deep psychological and emotional effect on the audience. Through humor Wilde helps people to see serious problems in a light and easy way 6 . Instead of making his plays sad or heavy he uses jokes and witty lines to talk about important ideas such as love honesty and social pressure. Humor helps the audience relax and open their minds. When people laugh they feel more comfortable and they are ready to listen and think. Wilde used this effect to make people think about moral values and human behavior without feeling bored or defensive. His humor made 4 Nassaar, Christopher S. Into the Demon Universe: A Literary Exploration of Oscar Wilde. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974. 5 . Kohl, Norbert. Oscar Wilde: The Works of a Conformist Rebel. Cambridge University Press, 1989. 6 Raby, Peter. The Cambridge Companion to Oscar Wilde. Cambridge University Press, 1997. 348 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar serious messages easier to understand and accept. In The Importance of Being Earnest the audience laughs at the silly actions of the characters but at the same time they recognize similar behavior in real life. This makes people reflect on their own habits and society’s expectations. Wilde believed that humor could teach people lessons without making them feel guilty or attacked. Humor also helps to create emotional balance in Wilde’s plays. Even when the story includes lies mistakes or moral problems the jokes and funny dialogues keep the mood light. This combination of serious and funny moments makes the plays enjoyable and meaningful at the same time. It shows that life is full of both laughter and pain and that humor can help people deal with difficulties. Finally Wilde’s humor brings joy and hope. It reminds the audience that human life with all its problems can still be beautiful and funny. His humor shows that intelligence and kindness are more powerful than strict rules or false morality. Because of this Wilde’s plays leave the audience not only smiling but also thinking and feeling more positive about life. Comparison with Other Playwrights Oscar Wilde’s use of humor can be compared with other famous playwrights who also used comedy to share ideas and criticize society. Like them Wilde believed that laughter could teach people something important. However his style of humor is more elegant clever and full of paradoxes which makes it different from others. For example George Bernard Shaw who was also an Irish playwright used humor to talk about politics social justice and women’s rights. Shaw’s humor is more direct and serious than Wilde’s. He often wanted to change people’s opinions through logic and discussion. Wilde on the other hand, preferred to use light playful humor. He wanted his audience to laugh first and then think about the deeper meaning. Both writers criticized society but Wilde did it in a softer and more artistic way 7 . Another comparison can be made with Molière the great French playwright. Molière also used comedy to show people’s weaknesses and hypocrisy. Like Molière Wilde made fun of human vanity and the desire to look perfect. However Wilde’s humor is more modern and based on language and paradox, while Molière’s humor is often based on physical comedy and exaggerated behavior. Some critics also compare Wilde to William Shakespeare who used both tragedy and comedy to explore human nature. Shakespeare’s comedies like Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing also include witty dialogues and misunderstandings similar to Wilde’s style. However Wilde’s language is more focused on social manners and the ideas of his own time the Victorian era. In short Oscar Wilde followed the tradition of great comic writers but added his own unique voice. His humor is intelligent stylish and filled with meaning. While other playwrights used laughter to criticize or teach Wilde used it to combine beauty truth and joy. This is why his works remain special and continue to attract readers and audiences all over the world. Humor plays a very important role in the plays of Oscar Wilde. It is not only used to make people laugh but also to show serious ideas in a simple and enjoyable way. Through humor Wilde talks about love honesty social class and the false values of Victorian society. His jokes and witty dialogues help the audience see the truth about human behavior and think about their own lives. Wilde’s humor is special because it mixes fun with intelligence. His characters speak in a clever and beautiful way and their jokes often contain deep meaning. Humor helps to make the plays more interesting and to show the true personality of each character. It also makes difficult topics easier to understand and accept. By using humor as a tool of social criticism Wilde showed that laughter can be a way to tell the truth. He used irony satire and wit to make people smile while also teaching them something. That is why his plays such as The 7 Byrne, Sandie. The Unbearable Saki: The Work of H. H. Munro and Oscar Wilde. Oxford University Press, 2007. 349 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband, are still loved today. In conclusion Oscar Wilde’s humor is not only entertainment, it is art and wisdom. It helps people to laugh think and feel at the same time. His style of humor makes his plays timeless and meaningful for every generation. References: 1. Beckson, Karl. Oscar Wilde: The Critical Heritage. London: Routledge, 1970. 2. Friedman, Alan W. “Humor and Irony in The Importance of Being Earnest.” Modern Drama, vol. 16, no. 3, 1973, pp. 245–257. 3. Ellmann, Richard. Oscar Wilde. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. 4. Nassaar, Christopher S. Into the Demon Universe: A Literary Exploration of Oscar Wilde. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974. 5. Kohl, Norbert. Oscar Wilde: The Works of a Conformist Rebel. Cambridge University Press, 1989. 6. Raby, Peter. The Cambridge Companion to Oscar Wilde. Cambridge University Press, 1997. 7. Byrne, Sandie. The Unbearable Saki: The Work of H. H. Munro and Oscar Wilde. Oxford University Press, 2007.