What are the similarities between Cecily and Algernon? Compare and contrast their use of inversions and the role which imagination plays in their lives.
The First impression we get from Algernon is that he is Polite towards his Servants. He doesn’t treat them Inferior to himself and Talks to them with respect; this is shown in one case when he talks to his manservant – Lane: That will do, Lane, thank you.” He addresses his servant with his name showing that he remembers his name and has respect for him, also He doesn’t order him around he says politely “That will do” and he thanks him. This shows that Algernon’s character from the play is not stereotypical as in the Victorian era servants did not have this much status and respect, Algernon doing this shows that he was different to all the rest of the people and that he had a kind personality. We can compare this to Cecily as she also has a Governess who works for her; yet again she respects her and praises her like Algernon does to Lane- “Did you really, Miss Prism? How wonderfully clever you are!” This shows that Cecily is a sweet natured girl who has respect for her elders. She has no shame in praising someone with a lower status then her’s and again this is something out of the norm in the Victorian period, However Cecily seems to be closer to Miss Prism then Algernon to Lane. She talks with her full on and Miss Prism does the same back.
Algernon seems like a free spirit who is not scared of doing the silliest things. He doesn’t think about the consequences of doing it and how it will affect his relationship with others. For example he hears about Cecily from Jack and sets of to meet her; he has no relation with her what so ever, so he fakes that he is Mr Worthing. “You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure”. He is imagining that things will be Normal and that Cecily will believe him, This brings in the theme of humour as he is just being plain stupid, obviously she will find out one day. How long can he keep a secret?
This is Similar to Cecily; she is a perfect match for Algernon as she believes anything. Algernon tells her that he is her cousin and she believes him just like that. “I am your cousin Cecily”. She accepts him being her cousin without any proof, she has never seen him and still she believes him.
Cecily is shown as a young woman yet she acts very childish, she imagines things and makes them seem like they’re real. “You silly boy! Of course. Why we have been engaged for the last three months” This Again brings the theme of humour into the play, Cecily Has Been “engaged” to a person she has never met. She has been writing and imagining things that have happened with him. This shows that wilde is trying to create humour within a serious Book.
Overall to conclude Cecily and Algernon are both represented as characters who don’t take things seriously, they both represent humour and their characters evolve around imagination.
Zahra Choudhry
