In lecture today Professor hunt argued that The Importance of Being Earnest is a comic’s comedy. She listed multiple classic scene and structural features as well as comic elements that are found throughout the play. I found it fascinating how the majority of them could blatantly be found in the first act. In the first few lines the feasting of cucumbers comes up and that is continued throughout the act. Jack and Algernon both have multiple identities, with different groups of people referring to them with different names- Mistaken Identities. “When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people”(250). Here the theme of the city vs. the country is exposed, and again when Jack explains where his uses which identity on the following page and is brought up again “By the way did you tell Gwendolen the truth about your being Ernest in town, and Jack in the Country?”(257). In the previous line Algernon states the name Ernest seven times clearly using the tool of repetition:
You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn’t Ernest. It’s on your cards. Here is one of them. [Taking it from case.] ‘Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The Albany.’ I’ll keep this as a proof that your name is Ernest if ever you attempt to deny it to me, or to Gwendolen, or to any one else. [Puts the card in his pocket.](251)
The character of Lane brings continual quick developments, as he will often enter, be given a command in one line and then be gone to return again keeping the plot going. “[Enter Lane.]/ Algernon. Bring me that cigarette case Mr. Worthing left in the smoking-room the last time he dined here./Lane. Yes, sir. [Lane goes out.]”(251). The themes of conflicts of young vs. old and marriage arise in Jack and Gwendolen’s intentions to get married, only to be help up by Lady Bracknell. In addition to these themes I thought it was clear how Algernon exhibits many of Oscar Wilde’s characteristics, primary his wit as shown in clever one liners: “All Women becomes like there mothers. That is their tragedy. No man Does. That is his” and “The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else if she is plain.”(Both 257)
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ReplyDeleteIn lecture today Professor hunt argued that The Importance of Being Earnest is a comic’s comedy. She listed multiple classic scene and structural features as well as comic elements that are found throughout the play. I found it fascinating how the majority of them could blatantly be found in the first act. In the first few lines the feasting of cucumbers comes up and that is continued throughout the act. Jack and Algernon both have multiple identities, with different groups of people referring to them with different names- Mistaken Identities. “When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people”(250). Here the theme of the city vs. the country is exposed, and again when Jack explains where his uses which identity on the following page and is brought up again “By the way did you tell Gwendolen the truth about your being Ernest in town, and Jack in the Country?”(257). In the previous line Algernon states the name Ernest seven times clearly using the tool of repetition:
You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to every one as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn’t Ernest. It’s on your cards. Here is one of them. [Taking it from case.] ‘Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The Albany.’ I’ll keep this as a proof that your name is Ernest if ever you attempt to deny it to me, or to Gwendolen, or to any one else. [Puts the card in his pocket.](251)
The character of Lane brings continual quick developments, as he will often enter, be given a command in one line and then be gone to return again keeping the plot going. “[Enter Lane.]/ Algernon. Bring me that cigarette case Mr. Worthing left in the smoking-room the last time he dined here./Lane. Yes, sir. [Lane goes out.]”(251). The themes of conflicts of young vs. old and marriage arise in Jack and Gwendolen’s intentions to get married, only to be help up by Lady Bracknell. In addition to these themes I thought it was clear how Algernon exhibits many of Oscar Wilde’s characteristics, primary his wit as shown in clever one liners: “All Women becomes like there mothers. That is their tragedy. No man Does. That is his” and “The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else if she is plain.”(Both 257)
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