Monday, 31 October 2011

Similarities between Cecile and Algernon.


What are the similarities between Cecily and Algernon? Compare and contrast their use of inversions and the role which imagination plays in their lives.

Oscar Wilde associates Cecile and Algernon for a specific reason in his speech.The reason for this , is by using two characters , it is easier for him to skewer the Victorian society.Throughout the opening sequence , we find out Algernon's views on marriage.This is when he says'Divorces are made in heaven'.This is an inversion used by Wilde to portray some Victorians views and belief on the dull subject of marriage.Furthermore , Algernon's view is important as it is a contrast compared to the other characters's notions on marriage in the play such as Jack.However Cecily on the other side , has to endure her boring lessons and make a good marriage.This is ironic as both characters end up getting together.As mentioned above , Cecile is supplied with German lessons from her guardian Ms Prism', which she finds really boring and dull, meaning she hasn't got  such a positive demeanor on certain things and therefore she allows Wilde to criticize the attitude of Victorian women.Alternatively,Algernon is similar to her , as he is also used by Wilde to skewer the Victorian society.He spends his time , either eating or being narcissistic which is a negative facet of humans.This means that both characters are both willing to break the rules and are petulant.

Oscar Wilde also uses Inversions when describing the power of Cecily in the relationship between her and Algernon.Most people would believe that as women were under men in the hierachy of the victorian society , it is rational that women obey their husband'or fiance.Notwithstanding in this play , It is the opposite as Cecile seems to be in control of the couple.Both characters use witty epigrams , and are both guided by passion and immediate gratification.They pursue life with a vengeance aiming for what they desire and oblivious to the consequences.This is the complete opposite to their counterparts which believe in having a good image , condescense and in snobberry.

Word analyse.

The Importance of Being Earnest is a play written by Oscar Wilde throughout Victorian Period.In his play he uses various techniques to appeal to his audience which are seeking comedy..It a comedy of manner that satirizes Victorian manners and customs , but he does with a light , witty style that's absolutely unforgettable.He uses inversions , metaphors ,puns and many more.His use of language is also important to create comedy and some quotations will be discussed below


Throughout the opening sequence of the play' Algernon states'I really don't see anything romantic in proposing.It is very romantic to be in love.But there is nothing romantic, a definite proposal why one may be accepted.One usually i believe then the excitement is all over.The very essence of romance is uncertainty.If i ever get married,I ll try to forget the fact'.Oscar Wilde uses Algernon as a  prop to skewer the Victorians 's demeanor towards marriage.He begins by giving an opinion about romance which he then confirms with his own theory of romance.This used to be a common notion throughout , as  Victorians believed that love wasn't so important , and believed that marriage was only necessary for business.Algernon's notion seems understandable for numerous reasons , one of them being his personality of creating humor throughout the play , moreover he is also younger than Jack which explains his inexperience.The word ' But' is a irregular word pattern which is used in unformal speeches.This supports his youthfulness as well as his age , and his behavior which are informal.The part of the quotation which says ' The very essence of romance is uncertainity' is a inversion used by Wilde.Normally people tend to believe romance is based on trust and certainity however Wilde writes the opposite which is sarcastic.

Oscar Wilde also uses puns to criticize Victorian customs.He play with the word ' Earnest through it's different semantics'This is when Algernon says: You have to told me it is Earnest . I have introduced you to everyone as Earnest , You answer the name Earnest , you look as your name is Earnest , You are the most Earnest person i know'The word Earnest is used for different meanings in this specific moment.It is firstly used to represent Jack as Earnest which is his 'fake' name.However, shortly after , Algernon says to Jack that he is the most Earnest person he knows.This is irony used by Wilde to an extreme level, as throughout the book Jack is everything but Earnest.Jack lied at numerous occasions to Gwendolen and the most smashing lie he has made is saying his name was Earnest.The use of repetition is also important as in a live performance of the play  it would stay in the audience's mind.

Another moment when Wilde uses Algernon to skewer the system is when he says' I haven't the smallest of doing anything of the kind.To begin with i dine there on Monday and once a week is quite enough to due with one 's own relations.This is inversion used by Wilde.Throughout the Victorian Era , family life was considered as one of the prominent facet of a human's life.Notwithstanding Algernon seems to doing the whole opposite by saying he is not too keen on spending time with his own family.Perhaps Oscar Wilde's voice is emerging through the character of Algernon and giving his own belief on the subject of family.In a performance this would lead to an instant reaction of the audience feeling sceptical and bewildered however this will change after realizing the method used by Wilde is to promote comedy.







Sunday, 16 October 2011

How did Oscar Wilde explore Hypocrisy?

How did Oscar Wilde explore Hypocrisy?


The  novel Importance of being Earnest by Oscar Wilde was written in 1835 during Victorian Periods.Throughout the play , the reader discovers many themes , such as marriage , or the hypocrisy of the society during that period.Wilde utilizes various ways to approach this, which are his use of inversions and his satirical language.
 in the opening of act2 , Wilde uses inversions when Gwendolen says’ the old fashion respect for the young is fast dying out.Whatever influence i ever had over mamma , i lost at the age of 3.’This leads to the reader being flabbergasted by the current statement which in fact meaning the whole opposite.This is however an interesting notion from Gwendolen as it clarifies her view on how the role of respect differs through.Aswell as she adds her own experience of it to back up her statement.Moreover this could also be a device used by Wilde to give his own opinion on the society which he really dislike after their numerous prejudices on his sexuality.In other words Wilde is seeking  ‘ a payback’.

Furthermore , there is another moment when Oscar Wilde uses Inversion.This is when Algernon says: ‘Divorces are made in heaven’In this part of the play , Wilde labels divorces as a gift of God which is Heaven.Notwithstanding, this could have various purposes.Perhaps Wilde is trying to give his personal views on marriage. However another possibility could be that Wilde is trying to create a character that would mock the system of marriage which was prominent during  Victorian Era’s as it would set your status and importance in the society.Therefore Wilde might be exposing the attitudes of some characters toward marriage during that particular moment which left a mark on him.

Wilde also criticizes the hypocrisy of the society by exploring many other themes , such as money , and attitude towards marriage.Lady Bracknell being a member of the aristocracy is one of Wilde’s main targets.She comes across as a character which has a list of ‘eligible bachelors’.Just by that this the audience gets an idea of her personality and her position in the hierarchy of statuses.Nevertheless she is also established by Wilde as  ‘money hungry’.This is shown throughout her interrogation, when she states’:A country house! how many bedrooms?well that point can be cleared afterwards’ The use of punctuation and the use of prosodic feature is also important to maximise the semantic of this quotation. Consequently , Oscar Wilde uses Lady Bracknell to criticize the behaviour of the upper class and expose it to his readers.

Saturday, 15 October 2011

How are the characters, attitudes and prejudices of Cecily Cardew, Miss prism and Dr. Chausable are established during the opening of Act 2’




The importance of being Earnest is a script which was written by Oscar Wilde throughout Victorian Era. Wilde is keen to expose the hypocrisies of the Victorian era.In this play , he criticize the society by his  abundance use of satire language, his farcical inversions  and by the manner he portrays characters. At the beginning of Act 2 , Oscar Wilde uses various ways to distinguish to his readers the different characters and attitudes towards the society in the play and the way he shows it is by using the Victorian Melodrama ( exaggeration of the society) .


 First of all , i would like to discuss the character of Cecily.She comes across as a character who avoids her schoolbooks and most importantly her German lessons.This is predicated when she says:’But i don’t like German it isn’t at all a becoming language’. She would rather write than read and pulls out her diary, where she records her ‘wonderful secrets’A prominent thing to consider is that Jack Worthing desired himself that Cecily improves in all possible ways however she forgoes to do it , in other hand which could also mean she is refraining from the expectations of the Victorian era. Notwithstanding she also comes across as a welcoming character which confirm her status in the society To refer to the context , during Victorian period the higher class were educated and respectful especially towards other member of the higher class.The reader discover this when she says to Meriman’ I suppose you had better talk to the housekeeper about a room for him’.

The character of Ms Prism is different to Cecily.We first see Miss Prism in her role as educator, which she takes very seriously. As an unmarried woman in a society obsessed with marriage, Miss Prism takes her job as her identity. It gives her some status, when she normally would have none. She uses a lot of flashy vocabulary "utilitarian" and "vacillating" and even tries to impress Dr. Chasuble which she clearly appreciate a lot by her use of coinage such  as "womanthrope’ She is also conveyed  as an affable , virtuous and respectful character.She states: ‘I am surprised at you.  Mr. Worthing has many troubles in his life.  Idle merriment and triviality would be out of place in his conversation .You must remember his constant anxiety about that unfortunate young man his brother’. From this junction we learned that she highly approves of Jack’s presumed respectability and harshly criticizes his “unfortunate” brother.

The last character i would like to analyse is Doctor Chasuble. As the only clergyman in the play Wilde uses him really effectively to expose hypocrisy of the Victorian society. The playwright has already lampooned or publicly criticized  the Victorian ‘virtues’ of beauty, youth, fashion, social ascendancy, and education  he isn’t going to leave out religious piety. Chasuble is willing to christen the two wannabe Ernest’s which are Algernon and Jack with no real interrogation . Christening is a sacrament, usually meaning "sacred," but Chasuble just seems gay to get on with the business. Nevertheless this is ironic as during the Victorian Periods , many asserted that religion was the most prominent aspect of life hence be taken really attentively.