Monday, 26 September 2011

Act 2 Analyses.

Jack And Gwendolen.
The scenes where Jack and Gwendolen talk whilst Lady Bracknell and Algernon are in the Music room.
Throughout these scenes we know that the dominant speaker is Gwendolen, she is very proud and confident maybe even over confident and knows her status very well.The purpose of these scenes is for the two characters to discuss their love towards eachother and for Jack to propose to Gwendolen. There would have been quite a lot of stress and empathising used in these scenes as the topic is very important to both the characters. It is an emotional and heartfelt time for them so there would also be some inflection in their voices most probably during the proposal.
Although there is Turn taking going on between the characters, You can still see the difference of status, Gwendolen talks the more and she is very confident when she talks, even admitting she is not wrong “ I thought so, infact I am never wrong”.  Her dialogue is nearly always more then Jack’s, whereas jack is nervous and seems to be holding back, this could be because he is scared that he will be rejected or he wants this time to be special and leave time for them both to take it all in.
Oscar Wilde uses prosodic features to alert the audience on the intimacy of Jack and Gwendolens relationship. These features are shown when Jack proposes to her: “ gwendolen will you marry me?” these words must have been said slowly with a slow loving tone to show the impact of his love. Gwendolen replies: “ Of course I will darling” This seems to have been said with a high tone, a rising inflection with quick speed, as she must have been excited and didn’t want him to change his mind. Also the use of “of course” shows that she was overly confident and knew that he would propose.
Wilde also uses paralinguistic’s, “  these are shown in Stage directions when lady Bracknell walks in during the proposal and takes Gwendolen away: “ gwendolen goes to the door. She and Jack blow kisses to each other behind Lady Bracknells back”. This Paralinguistic of blowing kisses to each other could be done to create humour . The two lovers are blowing kisses to each other in the presence of the girls mother, and she has no idea of it. This could have been a way to make the audience intrigued, and to keep them watching . After all the play’s subtitle is “a trivial comedy for serious people”
Overall in conclusion Jack and Gwendolen do like each other, as we have seen so far Gwendolen is the dominant speaker and character in the scenes so far because of her status and upbringing , whereas Jack is a bit nervous and Is very truthful. Wilde has used a range of devices to show us the relationship between the two. As the act finishes we are left in suspence wondering whether Lady Bracknell will let the two be together or not?



Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Dinner with Lord Shoreman, Jack Worthing, Algernon Moncrieff.

Act 1 Scene 1.

( Algernon Sitting on Sofa smoking a Cigar )
Algernon: Lane, Have you arranged for the Champagne bottles to be brought down from the cellar? Our guests will be arriving any time.
Lane: Yes Sir, I bring, They are on the Table.
Algernon: ok, Well You Might as well pour me a bit as i should check whether the Taste is ok,( With a cheeky smile ) We dont want to be feeding our guests with off tasting champagne now do we?
Lane: Yes sir ( fills a fancy glass with 1/4 champagne and Gives to Algernon )
( Lane goes out )
(After a few Minutes Lane enters )
Lane: Mr Earnest Worthing.
Jack: Ahh Algy... Enjoying that champagne are we?
Algernon: I would have offered you some but lets wait for Lord Shoreman, It would be highly disrespectful drinking without him. ( Algernon Winks at Jack )
Jack: ( Sitting on the sofa.. Takes out his silver cigarette case and lights a cigarette)
Algernon: Jack! You know Lord Shoreman  doesn't like people smoking.
Jack:  And how is Lord Shoreman going to find out I ask?
Lane: I so Sorry to interrupt sir's But Lord Shoreman's car is here.
Jack: Holy Shit! ( Quickly puts out cigarette and runs to open the window, While Algernon hides the cigarette pushing it in the sofa cushions )
Lane: Enter Lord Shoreman.

Act one scene 2

( Sitting at the dinner table, all 3 men drink champagne and eat dinner hosted by Lane )
Shoreman: Well Moncrieff this is quite a feast, you must be trying to fatten me up
Algernon: No Sir, Just to thank you for always supporting me.
Shoreman: So Jack, How is that sick friend of yours? I dare say he is lucky to have a friend like you always going to visit.
Jack: ( chokes on Some chicken) ( drinks some water) Ohh, he sir is under full surveillance there is sign of his health improving I shall be Visiting  him soon, Thank you for asking.
Algernon- ( rolls eyes)
Shoreman: That's good to hear.. I must ask which hospita...
Jack: (Interrupting abruptly).. This champagne is marvelous Algy, I'll be pouring some more for myself Algy?
Algernon: Go on then fill up my glass
Jack: Lord shoreman.
Lord shoreman: No I think ill pass, and with that note gentlemen ill take your leave, Thank you once again Moncrieff for this Dinner.
Algernon: It was a pleasure having you. ( escorts him outside)
Jack: ( Sips the final of his Champagne) - Algy.. Ill be going to. See you soon
Algernon: (Enters room) Lane!
Lane enters: Yes Sir:
Algernon: The dinner is over could you clear the table ill be in my room.
Lane: Yes sir
Algernon: (Holding something in his hand) Lane, Make sure you eat and Have some champagne it taste's quite good
Lane: Yes Sir, Thank you

Algernon goes to his room and unveils the cigarette case.. he studies it deeply.

By Zahra

The Importance Of Being Earnest- Analysis

The Title "The Importance of Being Earnest" could be seen as a abstract title because you can dig up a range of meanings from it. First it sounds like a novel which is for mature readers, it doesn’t sound fun and exciting but the first reaction you get whilst reading the title is "Boring English play". The title also indicates that the purpose of the book is to give us a lesson eg. By using “The Importance” in the title the reader would automatically assume that the author wants them to realise something, However it doesn’t always have to be about a situation the title could be talking about someone called earnest and the play could be based around them. Overall the title doesn’t give away much about the contents of the book but gives us slight hints of what it could be based on.

The Characters from the cast of the novel are arranged into upper class and lower class. This straight away gives us a indication that the novel is dated from quite back and might explore the theme of status'es eg rich, poor- the hardships they face etc and relationships between the two classes.The first thing I noticed when I read the cast list was that none of the cast had titles except from the governess ( Miss Prism ), otherwise there are Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D and Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax alongside John Worthing, J.P. These characters have some kind of title. This could mean that Miss Prism works for one of them thats why she has a title unlike the other lower cast characters and that she is more respected or liked than the others, or that she is of more importance than the rest. Also John Worthing, J.P, Algernon Moncrieff are the first two people named in the cast and before Rev. Canon Chasuble. Rev. Canon Chasuble Is a clergyman and probably is respected as he has links to the church so it shows that John and Algernon might me more superior then him as the author did not place his name first. Also studying the cast list i realised that all the male characters are above the female. This could have been done purposely by the author to show us another theme (gender discrimination). By reading the cast list again i get a feeling that the discrimination is quite strong because even the butler has his name before "Lady" Bracknell. This shows that the status of women in the novel is not very high.

In the first scene of  the novel we are introduced to Lane and Algernon, the novel starts with them talking.Algernon has all the typical rich people values in him and his speech and hobbies also show this. Whereas Lane at the same time shows by his speech that he is of lower class and that he respects Algernon. When asked a question he replies "I didn’t think it polite to listen, sir" This shows that he knows his status. Also the first scene shows Algernon and Lane's relationship although they are from two different classes, there isnt discrimation between them, they seem to have an ok relationship. The author could be trying to explain that this is out of the norm. this could be done to give the reader a sense that the novel is also out of the norm.as we read on we explore Algernon and John's relationship, we now know that John Worthing the justice of peace is himself called Earnest. His relationship with Algernon seems very close and they seem to be good friends " Eating as usual, I see, Algy!" He uses a nickname for Algernon which shows friendship and closeness between the two.

In conclusion the author Oscar wilde has Cleverly intrigued the readers and captured their attention by using the theme of status in the novel.