A bunburyist is a person who creates an elaborate excuse or pretends to be someone else to avoid social obligations, typically in order to engage in more enjoyable activities. The term was popularized by Oscar Wilde in his play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” where one of the characters adopts a fictitious persona named “Ernest” to escape his mundane responsibilities.
The concept behind bunburyism revolves around the idea of maintaining a double life or leading a charade for personal convenience. It highlights themes of social pressures, identity, and the human tendency to seek freedom from the constraints of societal expectations. In a more light-hearted context, being a bunburyist can be seen as embracing creativity and wit in navigating social situations.