For the Lit. Majors, here is a 5 minute sure-fire way to understand Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest
Character List: Don't bother
Act I:
- Algernon and Jack are dandies.
- Lane is a servant who secretly hates Algy and wants to marry Lady Bracknell.
- Lady Bracknell is pompous and does not approve of babies being found in handbags.
- Gwendolen will become just like Lady Bracknell in a hundred and fifty years.
- Algernon believes "divorces are made in Heaven" so really what is the success rate of his and Cecily's marriage?
- Algernon is wealthy but he doesn't know why.
- Jack wishes Algernon would shut up.
- Lane wishes the whole family would go in exile to Ireland.
Act II:
- Cecily should marry the "tirra lirra" Sir Lancelot
- I reiterate point number 1
- Algernon falls in love with Cecily within minutes of meeting her. (And people say love like it means somthing. Pfft)
- Dr. Chasuble draws his metaphors from everywhere; flowers, trees, anatomy, manor houses and churches. He is only one step behind Fra Lippo Lipi.
- Black doesn't suit Jack.
- Cecily can be a pain in the butt.
- Miss Prism should not be left alone with three volume novels.
- Dr. Chasuble wishes Miss Prism would understand his metaphors so he doesn't have to hang anywhere anymore.
Act III:
- I'll comment on this portion if I manage to read it before next year.
Themes:
- Victorian society and its hypochondriac values
- Dandism
- Appearance vs. Reality
- Psychological problems faced by Lane
- Psychological problems faced by Lane that affect Algernon
- Humour, wit, irony, and epigrams used to abuse love
Motif and Symbols: wohi wohii
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