The Importance of Being Earnest: A Modern Parallel

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Modern Parallel

                      After finishing the play, I have been able to see some parallels between the play and modern culture.   I believe that really good books and plays are universal, and that the themes and ideas in them extend through different generations and places.  The plot of the play itself and even some of the memorable characters seem to have modern counterparts. 

                      One movie that I could compare the play to is Mulan.  Both Mulan and The Importance of Being Earnest have characters that have dual identities, conflict surrounding those identities, and end in the promise of marriage.  In Mulan, the main character tries to go into the army in place of her father.  In joining the army, she is also able to escape societal pressures. In The Importance of Being Earnest Algernon goes “Bunburying” in order to escape events in society. Jack also takes on the double identity of “Earnest,” a fictitious brother, to escape the country life.  In both works, these assumed personas caused problems when the love interests discovered the falsehood of these characters.  And in both cases the deceit potentially could have caused the permanent break up of the relationship.  The end of Mulan resulted in the promise of marriage between Shang and Mulan.  The Importance of Being Earnest ends with both Algernon and Cecily and Jack and Gwendolen betrothed.  Even though the two works are set in different times and places, many of the themes from The Importance of Being Earnest extend to Mulan.

                     One character that really stuck in my mind was Algernon Moncrieff.  Because of his outrageous behavior and mannerisms, he is an interesting character to compare to modern figures, but I believe that the figure most interesting to compare him to is Miss Jay Alexander.  Jay Alexander, or Miss Jay, is famous for his role as a judge on Americas Next Top Model, and he is also a model who is famous for his runway walk.  When he is on the show, he is notorious for his outrageous and flamboyant character.  In an article profiling him, the author claims “Since 1991, J. Alexander has coached models and established himself as the preferred contact for popular designers such as Valentino, Galliano, Bill Blass, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and Nina Ricci” (Americas Next Top Model).  In other words, Miss Jay is an “arbiter of taste” (Gillespie 168).  I think that Algernon is an interesting parallel to Miss Jay because like Miss Jay, Algernon seems to me to be an arbiter of taste.  I got this impression mostly from the beginning of the first act in which Algernon gives blanket opinions of the world. For example, Algernon claims, “Lane’s views on marriage seem somewhat lax.  Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility” (Wilde 6).  Another example that supports this idea is Algernon’s comment to Jack “It is very romantic to be in love.  But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal” (Wilde 7).  While these two examples are not necessarily about fashion, they are about “fashionable ideas.”  Even though it is not a strict comparison it is interesting to note the similarities between a modern and literary figure.

                     In general, I believe that The Importance of Being Earnest is a play that can be looked at from many different angles and is multifaceted.  Even though the language in the play is not exactly modern, many of the themes and ideas are still relevant today.  Because the work is a play, it is much easier to imagine the interaction of the characters.  I really enjoyed reading this play.

Works Cited

Gillespie, Michael Patrick. "From Beau Brummell to Lady Bracknell: Re-viewing the Dandy in The Importance of Being Earnest." Oscar Wilde and the Poetics of Ambiguity (1996). Print.

Mulan. 1998.

"Americas Next Top Model Cast: J. Alexander." Wetpaint.com. Wetpaint. Web. 11 May 2011.

Woman and Marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest- Response 3

Woman and Marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest

While the male characters in The Importance of Being Earnest are interesting, the female characters and the conflict around them take center stage.  Even though the play begins with the main characters and seems dominated by their dialogue, the center focus of the play (marriage) is impossible without the woman and their acceptance of the men. 

I will discuss Gwendolen first because she appears first in the play. Gwendolen can be described as a “confident socialite” (Bradford).   Her confidence is displayed in the following quote:

 ALGERNON   (To Gwendolen) Dear me, you are smart!

GWENDOLEN    I am always smart!  Aren’t I, Mr. Worthing?

JACK   You are quite perfect, Ms. Fairfax.

GWENDOLEN    Oh! I hope I am not that. It would leave no room for developments, and I intend to develop in many directions. (Wilde 12)

In this portion of dialogue, Gwendolen demonstrates that she is confident enough to praise herself in the company of society men.  Even though Algernon is her cousin, he has a way with words that could be intimidating, and yet Gwendolen seems more intent on accomplishing her goal of “catching” a man named Earnest than worrying about Algy’s little comments.  Gwendolen, in addition to be confident, was Lady Bracknell’s daughter.  Lady Bracknell was a wealthy society woman with apparently one goal in life: to marry her daughter to a well-suited companion.
            While Gwendolen could be considered a confident socialite, Cecily could be called a hopeless romantic.  According to an article written by Wade Bradford,  “When the audience first meets Cecily she is watering the flower garden, even though she should be studying German grammar. This signifies Cecily’s love of nature and her disdain for the tedious socio-academic expectations of society”(Bradford).  Also, we learned that Cecily keeps a diary in which she has been carrying on a fictitious relationship with Jack’s imaginary brother, Earnest.  In this relationship in her diary there have been proposals, breakups makeups, etc. In addition to be romantic in her own personal life, “Cecily delights in bringing people together. She senses that the matronly Miss Prism and the pious Dr. Chausible are fond of each other, so Cecily plays the role of matchmaker, urging them to take walks together”(Bradford).  Cecily is the traditional hopeless romantic and matchmaker. 

            Even though there are many different themes to be critiqued in The Importance of Being Earnest, “Wilde's most concrete critique in the play is of the manipulative desires revolving around marriage” (Critique of Marriage as a Social Tool).  Normally I would consider marriage to be a positive thing about love, but it seems to me that in the play, marriage is considered both to be a burden and some form of financial contract or business deal. For example, Lady Bracknell, speaking about Lady Harbury, seems to consider marriage a burden. She asserts, “I am sorry if we are a little late, Algernon, but I was obliged to call on dear Lady Harbury. I hadn’t been there since her poor husband’s death. I never saw a woman so altered; she looks quite twenty years younger” (Wilde 13). For me it seems that once the burden has been lifted off Lady Harbury, she has finally been able to live.  In addition to being a burden, marriage is also seen as heavily dependent on financial status.   For example, when Lady Bracknell finds out about Jack’s proposal, her biggest concern is Jack’s background and wealth.  She asks him a series of questions that includes such petty details such as how many rooms he has in his country home (Wilde 18).  Also, when Algernon wants to marry Cecily towards the end of the play, Lady Bracknell does not want them to get married until she finds out that Cecily is very rich (Wilde 50). 

            In general I believe that Wilde’s opinion of the marriage presented in the play is presented as satiric or sarcastic. Maybe his opinion comes from the fact that he doesn’t exactly believe in the gender norms in Victorian society especially since his own sexuality was not necessarily mainstream.  

Works Cited

Bradford, Wade. "Female Characters in "The Importance of Being Earnest" - Gwendolen and Cecily." Plays / Drama. About.com. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://plays.about.com/od/importanceofbeingearnest/a/wildefemale.htm>.

Crisp, Tony. "The Importance of Being Earnest | Inner Life | Dreamhawk.com." Dreamhawk - Tony Crisp | Dreams, Health, Yoga, Body Mind & Spirit. 2009. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://dreamhawk.com/inner-life/the-importance-of-being-earnest/>.

"The Importance of Being Earnest Themes | GradeSaver." Critique of Marriage as a Social Tool. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://www.gradesaver.com/the-importance-of-being-earnest/study-guide/major-themes/>.

Analysis of Male Characters- The Importance of Being Earnest- Response 2

 Analysis of male characters

The first character that is introduced in the play is Algernon Moncrieff.  The first scene of the play is set in Algernon apartment, and the stage directions describe the room as being “luxuriously and artistically furnished” (Wilde 2). From the beginning he seems to be a frivolous character, and his character sets the tone for the beginning of the play.  For example he discusses the subject of family life with his manservant, Lane in the discussion below

LANE
 I attribute it to the superior quality of the wine, sir. I have often observed that in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand.

ALGERNON
 Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralising as that?

LANE
 I believe it IS a very pleasant state, sir. I have had very little experience of it myself up to the present. I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person.

ALGERNON 
[Languidly.] I don't know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.

While this may seem to be a serious subject, the way that Algernon treats it shows the levity of his treatment. According to an article the main characters of The Importance of Being Earnest.  “Algy exemplifies wit, satirizes the world around him, and views his own life as art’s highest form” (Bradford). It almost seems that Algernon is the clown of the play.

John Worthing seems to contrast with Algernon Moncrieff in many ways.  Even the serious tone of the name John Worthing contrasts with the elaborate and decorated Algernon Moncrieff.  Jack seems to try to put on a serious and moralized front.  When Jack is explaining his position of guardianship to Algy, he claims, “When one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects. It’s one’s duty to do so” (Wilde 3).  In this instance Jack sees that he should behave morally, but he does not put on that behavior on all the time.

While Algy and Jack seem to be quite different they are actually quite similar.  For example, they both live double lives.  Algy goes “Bunburying.”  Bunburying is the idea of having a fake person that provides you with an excuse to get out of things you do not want to do.  Algy uses Bunburying to have fun. While Jack is appauled about this concept he actually participates in it aswell. He has created a person named Earnest, who allows him to go to town whenever he feels. 

Even though Jack and Algy seem to fight a lot, the way that they fight makes them seem like close friends or even brothers.  According to an article about this same topic,  “Although we do not find out that they are brothers until the end of the last scene of the play, we can see a brotherly relationship between them throughout the whole play”(Miller).  For example, when Algy reveals that he found Jack’s cigarette case, He plays a game of keep away with him.  This mix between teasing and playfulness highlights the fraternal relationship.  While I’m still reading I will be looking for signs of this relationship.

Works Cited

Bradford, Wade. ""Earnest" Male Character Analysis - Male Characters in "The

Importance of Being Earnest"" Plays / Drama. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/maleearnest.htm>.

Miller, Anna. "The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: Act 1." The

Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries. 30 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. <http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/being_earnest/2/>.

What predictions do you have for what will occur next?

The writer of this play, Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854, and went to Trinity College in Ireland.  He won the Newdigate prize for his poem Ravenna.  He became involved in the Aesthetic Movement, that had for its motto “Arts for Arts Sake.”  After college, he became a social personality and was known for his wit and charm.  In addition to this play, his other well known work is The Picture of Dorian Gray. Early in 1895, Wilde got into legal trouble with the Marquess of Queensbury, who was the father of Wilde’s lover Lord Alfred Douglas.  During this trial, Wilde was arrested for homosexual offenses and was sentenced to two years hard labor. After this sentence, Wilde hit a low in popularity and success, and he died shortly after.  (http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/)

The play, The Importance of Being Earnest, opens with Algernon Moncrieff discussing the night’s events with Lane, Mr. Moncrieff’s manservant. From their conversation, I can see that the play is not very practical or serious. For example, Algernon’s line “And speaking of the science of life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell,” shows errors in logic of the characters.  In my opinion, the science of life does not logically have anything to do with cucumber sandwiches.  Another example of this play being illogical is an exchange between Algernon and Jack:

                         

JACK     (pulling off his gloves) When one is in town on amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people.  It is excessively boring.

ALGERNON    And who are the people you amuse?

JACK    (airily) Oh neighbours, neighbours.

ALGERNON    Got nice neighbours in your part of Shropshire?

JACK    Perfectly horrid! Never speak to one of them.

In this exchange Jack says he amuses his neighbors, but yet at the same time, he says he does not speak to any of them.  I find it really difficult to amuse people without speaking to them.  This is another example of the nonsense existing in the play.  A third example would be when Algernon states “Well in the first place, girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right.” This statement seems to be both illogical and trivial.  I feel that these examples along with the subtitle of the play “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” seems to support the idea that the beginning of the play is not very serious.  Due to this observation, I can predict that the plot, tone, and characters of the play  are probably going to be impractical and not serious. As I finish reading the play, I will look for these characteristic in the plot, tone, and characters.