1) Wilde originally subtitled The Importance of Being Earnest “A Serious Comedy for Trivial People” but changed that to “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” What is the difference between the two subtitles?
The original subtitle suggest the play is funny but also has some serious stuff hidden in it. The new subtitle says the play is mostly just funny and is meant for people who like to think about serious things while having a good laugh. It's like saying the play can be fun on the outside, but there's more to it if you look closely.
2) Which of the female characters is the most attractive to you among Lady Augusta Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax, Cecily Cardew, and Miss Prism? Give your reasons for her being the most attractive among all.
1. Lady Augusta Bracknell:
Lady Bracknell is a strict, upper-class woman who plays a significant role in the play. She is known for her sharp wit and her high standards when it comes to social class and marriage.
2. Gwendolen Fairfax:
Gwendolen is Algernon's cousin and the love interest of Jack Worthing. She is fashionable and determined to marry a man with the name "Ernest." Gwendolen is confident and has a strong personality.
3. Cecily Cardew:
Cecily is the ward of Jack Worthing and a delightful, romantic character. She falls in love with Algernon, who pretends to be her guardian's brother, "Ernest." Cecily is imaginative, innocent, and believes in the idea of love at first sight.
4. Miss Prism:
Miss Prism is Cecily's governess and is often lost in her own world of literature. She plays a part in the comedic mix-ups and misunderstandings in the play.
Cecily is an attractive character because of her innocence and romantic nature, which adds a touch of charm and humor to the play. Her unwavering belief in love at first sight and her fondness for the name "Ernest" contribute to the play's comical situations. Cecily's character brings a sense of youthful enthusiasm and imagination to the story, making her a memorable and endearing character in "The Importance of Being Earnest."
Cecily is a sweet character who really likes to write. She keeps a diary and makes up stories, especially about her relationship with "Ernest," who she thinks is Jack's brother. Her love for writing shows her creative and romantic side, and it adds to the funny mix-ups in the play because people get confused by her stories. It's a cute and funny part of her character.
3)The play repeatedly mocks Victorian traditions and social customs, marriage, and the pursuit of love in particular. Through which situations and characters is this happening in the play?
The play's story is very funny. One guy, Algernon, makes up a sick friend named "Bunbury" so he can leave his bossy aunt, Lady Bracknell. Another guy, Jack, invents a troublemaker brother named Ernest to win the heart of Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen. Later, at Jack's house, Algernon pretends to be Ernest to impress Cecily, Jack's ward. So, the whole story is about people pretending to be someone else, which leads to all sorts of amusing situations.
The play makes fun of the idea of marriage. In a funny conversation between Algernon and his servant Lane, marriage is portrayed as a misunderstanding among young couples, and the first marriage doesn't give any experience. When Jack joins, Algernon jokes that women don't marry the men they flirt with. The play treats marriage in a contradictory and amusing way. Algernon's comment that divorces are made in heaven goes against the saying that "marriages are made in heaven." All these jokes suggest that people were not taking marriage very seriously during that time.
During the Victorian era, the rise of the middle class often worried the aristocrats. The mistreatment of poor people in the industrialized age concerned social reformers, and some laws were made to protect the lower class. This lower class is often seen in the literature of that time, and Wilde's plays are no exception.
In one conversation, Algernon makes a comment about marriage, saying that if the lower classes don't set a good example, they are of no use because they seem to have no sense of moral responsibility. He's using irony to criticize the upper class without being too harsh.
In the Victorian era, many gentlemen had double lives. Wilde's play revolves around the idea of taking on false identities, which he calls "Bunburyism." This is clear in a conversation between Jack and Algernon, where they talk about their different names in town and in the country.
Both Gwendolen and Cecily are fixated on the name "Ernest," which Wilde plays on as a pun for "earnest." Gwendolen even says she's always wanted to love someone named Ernest. This shows that they care more about the name than the quality of being earnest. They rely on first impressions and quickly change their feelings and engagements without much thought.
The play also talks about how important it was to be seen as a "gentleman" in Victorian times. Lady Bracknell doesn't like her daughter Gwendolen being with Jack because he doesn't have the right social status. But she's okay with Algernon being with Cecily because her grandfather was in a fancy book.
At the end of the play, there's a clever twist. Jack learns his real name is Ernest John, named after his army general father. This surprises him because he's always been honest. Lady Bracknell doesn't like his sudden truthfulness. But Jack says that now, for the first time, he understands the importance of being "earnest," which is a play on words. It means that being serious is only important in the name. The play shows that the Victorian society's fake morality, hidden behind being "earnest," is actually not very important.
4) Queer scholars have argued that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of… homosexual desire" Do you agree with this observation? Give your arguments to justify your stance.
When we are looking at how male characters in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" might show signs of being gay. One can think that some of the guys in the play act in ways that suggest they are attracted to other men.
In the play, the women are shown as not being very interested in romantic relationships, and they take on roles that are usually done by men in the family.
Oscar Wilde, who wrote the play, was gay himself. At the time he lived, being gay was seen as bad and even against the law in some places. So, the authors are saying that Wilde might have put his own experiences and feelings into the male characters in the play.
Wilde's writing often had hidden meanings and jokes. So, it's possible that he used the play to talk about being gay and what people thought about it.
Wilde's work may have been a part of changing how people thought about love and relationships, and it might have helped set the stage for big changes in the 20th century when people became more open about their sexuality and LGBTQ+ rights.
For detailed reading upon this you ca visit this article.
WHO'S THE BIGGER (WO)MAN IN OSCAR WILDE'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
5) Write your critique on various adaptations of this play.
"The Importance of Being Earnest" movie from 1952 is a classic film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play.
This movie from 1952 is based on a play by Oscar Wilde, and it's a funny and clever story. The actors do a great job in their roles, making the characters come to life. The costumes and settings fit the time period well, giving us a glimpse of what life was like back then.
The humor in the movie is sharp and witty, and it keeps you laughing throughout. The story is all about mistaken identities and secrets, which adds to the comedy. The dialogue is full of clever wordplay and jokes.
One thing to note is that the movie is quite theatrical, which means it feels like you're watching a play on a stage. Some people might like this, while others might prefer a more cinematic approach.
The movie may remind us of a stage play, which means it's not as cinematic as modern films. It might find this a bit old-fashioned. Movie doesn't explore the important themes in the play as deeply as it could. It might miss the chance to talk about the social issues in a more meaningful way.
Overall, the 1952 version of "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a delightful and humorous adaptation of a classic play. If you enjoy clever comedy and a peek into the past, it's definitely worth watching.
Thank you.
Words: 1486
Image : 4
Video: 1
No comments:
Post a Comment