As you know, we've been reading The Importance of Being Earnest, and we've been looking specifically at the aphorisms that Oscar Wilde creates throughout the play.
This is a link to the entire play for your reference: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm
- Choose one aphorism from the play and then write 15 sentence explaining what the what the aphorism means in the context of the play.
- Then write about how the aphorism relates to our current society.
- Do not write about an aphorism that someone has already written about. If you do, you will lose points.
As always be creative, witty, insightful, and brilliant.
Madison Ferris
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Aphorism: Jack: The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.
This aphorism in the context of the story is when Algernon is talking to Jack. Algernon is talking to Jack about how proposing is not a good thing to do. Jack thinks marriage is a beautiful thing. Jack is coming to town to express his love and propose to Gwendolen. Jack talks about how in love he is with Gwendolen. Yet, Algernon makes it sound like proposing is buisness and gritty. Algernon talks about that he never wants to get married. He says that if he were to get married, he would hope to forget the fact. Algernon said the key to real love is uncertainity. He would rather just date women, than settle down with one. But Jack says he is in love with Gwendolen. Algernon doesn't approve of definite relationships. They talk back and forth for a little bit about their differing opinions on marriage/ love. I think Algernon is afraid of divorce.
This aphorism relates to our society, because there are so many divorces nowadays. A lot of people still think marriage is the only true way to show your committment and love for someone. But more and more now, some couples never get married, and that works for them. But divorce is still prominent especially in the United States, and a lot fewer relationships are lasting forever.
Sophea Thach
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Aphorism: Jack: Well, yes, I must admit I smoke.
Lady Bracknell: I am glad to hear it. A man should always have an occupation of some kind. There are far too many idle men in London as it is.
Behind the context of this is that, Jack had just asked Gwendolen to marry him. Lady Bracknell, who is Gwendolen's mother, enters the room. Gwendolen then announces it to her mother. Lady Bracknell tells Gwendolen to get into the carriage. So that she can question him first. The first thing she asks him if he smoked and he said he did. She then says a man should always have an occupation of some kind. Her wittiness in that comment is saying that smoking is the only thing he does. Lady Bracknell is pretty much making fun of him.
The aphorism relates to our society because most people in the world smoke. Smoking cigarettes are addicting and once more people start, they won't be able to quit.
Jessica Bruce
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Aphorism:"I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing."
The context is that Lady Bracknell is asking Jack about himself and deciding if he is suitable enough for her daughter. She asked him about his work. She asked him about his property. She asked him about what he does with his time and if he smokes. Then she asks which one he is, the man that knows everything or nothing? He responds nothing which is exactly what she wanted to hear.
The aphorism relates to society because most young men in our society don't get married when they are really young. This aphorism is saying that the men that want to get married young are either ignorant or extremely educated and there isn't much in between.
Arthur Gulledge
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Algernon. When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me. Indeed, when I am in really great trouble, as any one who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except food and drink. At the present moment I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins.
In context, Algernon enters and goes to Cecily, but Cecily doesn't know if he is married to Gwendolen. There are other mix-ups, like Cecily not knowing that she’s embracing Algernon. Gwendolen asks Jack’s name is John, and he confesses. The mix-ups are resolved, but then there are the questions of who Ernest really is. Jack confesses, but then there’s the question of who Earnest and Jack will marry. Gwendolen figures out that no one will be able to marry Earnest, as he did a bunbury. Algernon agrees that was a wonderful bunbury. Algernon then figures out that now they know Jack is bunburing, now he can’t go to London as often. Jack and Algernon then express their loves, and then start arguing about how Jack and Miss Cardew should or shouldn't be united. This generates the quote above.
This quote relates to our society as it explores the complexes of engagement. Today, as it was in the Victorian era engagements are very confusing, if the couple are seeing other people. Algernon is in trouble of these complexities, and has to eat muffins to distract him. He’s so distraught that he won’t accept anything except food or drink, until the matter is cleared up.
Andrew Park
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Jack(Act III): "I've now realized for the first time in my life the vitual Importance of Being Earnest"
At that aphorism, Jack admits to his real identity. Initially, he attempted to cover up his real name "Earnest" because he was unhappy with it. He changed it Jack because he thought it would brighten his character. Algenon doesn't get decieved by the cover-up and presents evidence of the real name of Mr.Worthing being Earnest. At first after the revealings, Jack claims both names being different depending on the setting. However, it doesn't deny the evidence. Jack then tries to use the name "Earnest" as his so-called brother and still fails to decieve Algenon. Gwendolen also doesn't get fooled by the scheme when Jack gets prepared for his marriage to her. Surprisingly, even after Gwendolen sees Jack's deceitful act, she doesn't reject Jack. They ultimately get engaged. Later with Lady Bracknell, Jack is questioned regarding his identity. After all the info Jack gives her, Lady Bracknell had a hard time believing the information. Eventually, all of the info is found as false, damaging the chances of possible marriage between Gwendolen and Jack. Later, Jack finds out he he christened against such deceitful acts. Because of the christening, Jack accepts his identity and ultimately gets forgiveness from Gwendolen. It shows that being honest and admitting to facts leads to positive results.
This quote relates to society since it shows how claims can't be proven without evidence. For example, in court cases, there is a reason why police reports, and all the other documents of evidence are viewed by the judges. It allows the court to decide to rule in favor of the defendant or the prosecutors.
Isabelle Carson
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Lady Bracknell (Act I): “When you do become engaged to some one, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact. An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself . . .”
This quote in the context of the play is when Lady Bracknell is talking to Earnest. He had just proposed to Gwendolen who is Lady Bracknell’s daughter. Gwendolen accepts his proposal. Lady Bracknell then comes into the room. She asks what Earnest and Gwendolen are doing. When Gwendolen says that she is engaged, to which Lady Bracknell refuses. She says that a girl cannot choose whom they marry. Gwendolen is surprised that her mother just bluntly says this. Lady Bracknell sends her to the carriage. She then begins an interview of Earnest to see if he is could be a suitable choice for her daughter to marry.
This aphorism relates to our society because these kinds of views were very common in the time period that this play was written. Many thought that a girl shouldn’t have the power to choose whom she marries and that it should be left up to her parents. This was because thought that a girl is not capable enough to choose a husband in a sensible way. Today, people still have arranged marriages.
Elena Wagar
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"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
This quote is when Algernon is talking to jack. Algernon thinks it is perfectly said and is true in most civilized life should be. Algernon is talking about how realtions are abused and how about people don't know how to live or have an instinct when to die. That is when algernon said "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his" After that Jack is talking about how he is sick of cleverness and how everybody is clever now days. He wishes there were some fools left.
To me this quote means that women behave or become like their mothers when they grow up, but they should be less like their mothers and Men do not grow up to be like their mothers and that too is a little strange because men are difficult.
Riley Schroeder
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"The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public."
I enjoy this aphorism just because it's very funny, and it doesn't really make any sense in modern society. It simply sounds like Algernon doesn't really believe in real love, which is a reason to flirt with someone. He thinks of it as a way to start a relationship, but then it ends there and they should just be together and not have the same love as when they first started dating. In ways it can be a description of marriage, just not a very good one. It relates to when Lady Bracknell was talking about how a woman isn't capable of choosing a marriage for herself, and that it is a matter that should be decided by other people. Wilde is pointing out the flaws in arranging marriages, as opposed to falling in love, and staying in love. And earlier right before this quote Algernon was peaking about how "this sort of thing is on the rise" and just how absurd this is. Like i said earlier this just seems funny to me how there was a time where most of society looked down on this kind of marriage where they love each other and choose each other, not having the marriage be arranged. Algernons line about it being like clean linen was particularly funny to me because he thinks that showing your love to someone who already knows it is just redundant and shouldn't be done. If Algernon were to see modern marriages, good ones at least, he would be astounded by the amount of love and how they actually show it even in public. There are still cynical people who hate love and would probably feel the same way, but instead of them being the majority, they would be the minority.
Bryia Madison
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Algernon: "Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die."
This quote describes family at this time period when relations only meant something if there was money involved. If people with money die faster, then their close relations get that money. I think that Algernon understands the wealth of his aunt and knows that if he puts up with her when she is alive, then he'll get a reward when she is dead. Lady Bracknell is a hard women to please and seems to only be satisfied if her social group is satisfied. This is reflected in the, "relations are simply a tedious pack of people". Socialites in this time period, like Lady Bracknell, only spend time going to parties under strict rules of engagement. I think it is rather silly to lead a life like that and so does Algernon when he says, "who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live". Living by someone else's standards is pointless but in this day and age it meant money and power.
In current society, I think that this could still be relevant. People get favors off of who they know and how well they know them, just like back then. I still hear about people who marry into rich families and soak up the wealth for as long as possible and then leave. Also, it seems as if not knowing how to live and what to do with one's life is becoming a strong theme in society. I think the quote is still relevant to current society,
Algernon: "Lane’s views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility."
ReplyDeleteThis aphorism is pretty funny because it is a stereotypical example of how the upper class thinks that everyone else should do all the work while they do whatever they want. The lower class, according to Algernon should work for their money, AND set moral examples. The politically correct way of thinking would be that the upper class should set the moral standards because they are 'proper' and educated, and are portrayed as thinking they are enlightened compared to the lowly working class. Yet the upper class, being spoiled now puts the burden of acting like a decent human being on the lower class, because why should they have any responsibility? This relates to our current society perfectly, because of how much bad publicity celebrities and powerful people get. Politicians with sex scandals and disney celebrities with drug problems are not the way a role model should act, yet we see it every day in our society.
Ashley Barnett
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"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate, exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square." Act I
In the play this is a very interesting aphorism because it shows how the upper class feels on education. This shows that in this society the upper class cared more about the social status you were born with rather than one you could achieve. When the social status you are born with is threatened by education and being able to better your status the upper class opposes it. So that is why the upper class favors ignorance to education. Ignorant and uneducated people won’t question the society they are in or the class system. The speaker even stated if there were less educated people it would lead to protests of the system in Grosvenor Square. This quote shows the irony of how the speaker believes the upper class should be on top of the class system due to their family status at birth rather than how much work they are willing to put into their life to change their status.
This is funny in current society today because it is both true and not true. Many children of rich people choose to live of their parent’s wealth and status rather than creating their own because that is an easier way out. Also this quote can relate to people who are famous just because kinda like the Kardashians. Where they don’t work very hard for their wealth but they are just wealthy. This quote is also untrue in current society because people can change their social status and ignorance through hard work. Which explains the rags to richs stories that you hear in American society today. Also this quote is funny because there have been many protests throughout history where the poor have tried to overturn unfair class structures because they were educated to see that they should be able to improve their status through hard work. Overall this quote is still very relatable to everyday life.
Tristan Liebrock
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ALGERNON Act 1: "More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read."
I find this aphorism pretty funny because it says in a way reading is not something that we should do. Now granted this may not be something that everyone should do but still not reading? Granted being in the upper class means you can be lazy, but still reading is something you do no matter what. Now "modern culture" depending on someone not reading now what the heck? That makes no sense, seriously you need to read its one of those things that just has to happen. So honestly what did Algernon mean by that? So honestly the aphorism makes no sense to me but maybe when we see it in two weeks it will. And thinking about how it relates to our current society I can't see a way that people wouldn't want to read. I mean think about it book are every where some people may not like to read a lot but they still do read.
Julia McMichael
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"Me, sir! What has it to do with me? You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter—a girl brought up with the utmost care—to marry into a cloak-room, and form an alliance with a parcel? Good morning, Mr. Worthing"! - Lady Bracknell, Act 1. At this point in the play Algernon has asked Gwendolen for her hand in marriage. Lady Bracknell wishes to speak to Algernon about who he is before Gwendolen accepts. Before this Lady Bracknell had been asking questions to Algernon about his life and his family. When Algernon brings up the fact that he does not know any of his parents. Also that he was left in a cloak room at a train station. Lady Bracknell is shocked by this news. The aphorism she says means that she doesn't want her daughter to be married to a man who does not know where he comes from. She has raised her daughter and wants what is best for her. Her daughter marrying a man who has this past is not what she has imagined for Gwendolen. This aphorism is all revolved around class and what looks best in society. This could relate to modern day because we are all still so very focused on how other people view us throughout society.
Chris Root
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Aphorism: "An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant as the case may be."
This aphorism is an example of Cecily and how an engagement should look like. I think its relative to modern society because it shows that sometimes things do get screwed up and sometimes they workout. This aphorism shows how big of a deal an engagement is. It tells us that an engagement should be a surprise. There's a lot of times in modern society where engagements are predictable by a woman. When the engagement is a surprise it can either shock a girl into accepting you, or scare her off. That's the beauty of engagement and true love in not just The Importance of Being Earnest, but in real modern life too.
Payton Tirrell
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Aphorism: "I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal"
This aphorism kinda relates to todays society because it talks about romance and proposals. Romance and proposals will always be a relevant topic because as long as there are people there will be love and romance. This aphorism relates romance and proposals. its saying that proposals aren't romantic and I agree with that. They aren't really romantic but they're a promise. And you make that promise because of romance. You can propose in a romantic way but the proposal itself isn't romance. It is romantic to be in love and a proposal is a promise of that love. Therefore people mistake the proposal for the romantic part when in actuality the romantic part is the love and that you want to declare your love. Not the actual declaration itself.
Mallori Lindberg
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Aphorism: “In married life, three is company and two is none”
This aphorism was in the context of the play inferring that even though a married couple may act as if they are faithful, one or the other cant resist being interested in others. This also relates to the part when Wilde described his character as "Ernest in town and Jack in the country". Two separate lives and one is completely hidden. It's interesting because it makes me wonder if he is going off to others and giving himself a second identity. Also it relates to the ongoing curiousity that Wilde imposes on the audience if Earnest or Ernest is meant to describe a character or is just a name. To be earnest is something to strive for, and sure wouldn't describe someone being unfaithful to their husband or wife. This aphorism relates to today's society because it comes up in every relationship. To be in a marriage or relationship, requires a faithful commitment to that one other person. It happens several times when people break that commitment, and I think that quote that "two is none" applies to today so much. Often times you hear of that happening between couples. I think Wilde is really hitting reality when he wrote that.
Abbey Folsom
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Lady Bracknell: "I never saw a woman so altered; she looks quite twenty years younger"
Lady Bracknell is talking to Algernon about why she and Gwendolen are late to his house. She was visiting an old friend whose husband recently died. Lady Bracknell is saying how a husband can weigh a women down. Now that Lady Harbury's husband is died she looks almost new again. Later Lady Bracknell says how her hair is almost gold. She is saying that now she has all this money she can spend on herself without her husband commenting on what she is buying. Lady Bracknell says "Lady Harbury, who seems to me to be living entirely for pleasure now". Lady Bracknell thinks that a man holds back a women from living her own life. While a women's husband is alive she lives for him, but when he is dead she can finally live for herself. Also she doesn't have to worry about money. Algernon comments on Lady Harbury's hair changing gold from grief. Lady Bracknell then says "from what cause I, of course, cannot say". It is almost an unspoken agreeement that Lady Harbury's hair is gold simply because she is spending her money on herself.
This aphorism is stating that a wife lives for her husband and she can't do anything for herself while he is living. With our current society we see the opposite of this, more or less. Wives can now do whatever they want basically where back when this was written a woman couldn't do really anything.
Evyn Anderson
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Algernon: I'm sorry for that for your sake. I don’t play accurately—any one can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life.
This aphorism is an example of the views of Oscar Wilde. It is basically showing that Algernon appreciates art or music for what it is without adding in political or societal issues that people and critics and artists often create art for. Algernon is not worried with how precise his playing is; instead he is trying to appreciate it for its artistic value.
This relates to society today and societies in history because there have always been different opinions on art and what it means. This is especially historically relevant with pieces of music or artworks that are very old because the composer or artist is dead and without an explanation from the composer or artist one can never be completely certain what was meant by it. It is also relevant in the modern world because people often make up something ridiculous that they believe the piece of art or music means when it is not at all what was meant by the creator. Sometimes it means nothing at all, sometimes the artist or composer just liked the way it looked or sounded.
Mack Ohnemus
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"I am sick to death of cleverness. Everybody is clever nowadays. You can’t go anywhere without meeting clever people. The thing has become an absolute public nuisance. I wish to goodness we had a few fools left."
This aphorism takes place after Lady Bracknell is asking Jack a bunch of questions about his life. Jack and Algy are talking to each other. Jack says this to Algy, in which he replies that there are fools left and that they talk about the clever people. This aphorism means that everybody thinks they know everything, and have to show it. Jack also says that there need to be people who don't know anything too. This ties into what Lady Bracknell had asked him earlier about whether he knew everything or nothing. This relates to society today because we all want to know everything we can. In America, we go to college. We go even if our desired job doesn't require it.
Arezu Abdollmohammadi
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Miss Prism "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
What this aphorism is saying is that only in fiction will the ending be clean cut. If something starts out good, it is bound to end horribly. If something starts out bad, it is bound to end great. There is no inbetween in fiction. Cecily is talking with Miss Prism and Cecily says "I don’t like novels that end happily. They depress me so much." Cecily is saying she doesnt like stories that end happily because that means they had a horrible beginning. But what Cecily doesnt realize is that fiction is not real life.
This relates to our society because we know the difference between what is fiction and non fiction. In fiction, things can be clean cut and always turn out a certain way. But in reality everything is blurred and nothing has to follow the rules. In reality, things can start out bad and possibly end good or bad. And things that start out good can possibly end bad or good. Nothing in reality will ever be clean cut.
Alison Mowry
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Aphorism-
Algernon: “Oh! I am not really wicked at all, cousin Cecily. You mustn’t think that I am wicked.”
Cecily: “If you are not, then you have certainly been deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner. I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.”
This open interest in the idea of immorality is what takes Cecily out of the realm of Victorian hypocrisy, and makes her a suitable love interest for Algernon. Her notion that if Jack’s brother is not really wicked he has been "deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner” really turns the plot of the play upside down. She goes on to define hypocrisy as “pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time," even though hypocrisy is quite the opposite. Hypocrisy is in fact when a person takes part in something that they have once spoke negatively about and is typically when a person contradicts themselves, which is similar to Cecily's version but isn't the same thing. I think this aphorism is relevant to society today because people do tend to lead double lives and contradict themselves in every day life whether it is to please others or because one is insecure with their image or the person that they are. Even though Cecily's definition of hypocrisy isn't quite valid i think hypocrisy in general is also very relevant with today's society because it's human nature and it's inevitable for one to be hypocritical at some point in their life.
Joey Keating
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Aphorism: "Oh, I don't think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about."
This Aphorism appears early in the 2nd act. It can be related to todays society because, there is more broken relationships and divorces more than ever before. And in the aphorism she is talking about how she doesn't want to be with a sensible man. She wants to be with a weird corky man. Without this kind of man she will have nothing to talk about. This is very true today because over time people have nothing to talk about and begin to loose interest with each other. Although to many people it may sound funny that she would say something like that, but it does make sense. The fact that there is so much communication in a relationship, means that you must have interesting things to talk about. Also, you must have things to talk about. Without it then you aren't interested with what they have to do. I think that more people should see this and accept it for what it means. Other than it being related to modern day life, it is a very funny and witty comment at first.
Danielle Knapik
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Algernon- Well, my dear fellow, you need not eat as if you were going to eat it all. You behave as if you were married to her already. You are not married to her already, and I don’t think you ever will be.
Jack- Why on earth do you say that?
Algernon- Well, in the first place girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right.
This exchange takes place while Jack is attempting to marry Gwendolen. Algernon is the cousin of Gwendolen and is explaining why he cannot marry her, and if he does what needs to be done beforehand, such as a proposal and clearing up the question of Cecily and who she is to Jack. The play overall has many underlying themes, one of which seems to be the battle of what a marriage is worth. Is it pleasant or unpleasant? No one really knows. Connecting that to society today, still that question hasn't exactly been answered and has no right answer. This aphorism represents a stereotype of a flirt. Girls can go after guys for money, and other reasons and never have any intention of marrying them. Some things a girl will do for a guy she is doing because she will never settle down with him. In this case, Algernon says that thing is flirting, and that she will never marry him, because she is already flirting with him. Though I personally do not believe that to be a general truth in society today the underlying theme of the importance of marriage is relevant in this aphorism and still exists in society today.
Lily Kristjanson
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Act 1, said by Algernon: "I don't play accurately - any one can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."
This aphorism is the first of the play. It occurs when Algernon is discussing with Lane if he heard him playing on the piano from the other room. Having this aphorism at the start of the play, gives us a slight interdiction into the type of character Algernon is, as well as the type of writer Oscar Wild is. We get the impression that Algernon is a friendly, humorous and charming character in this play. Having Oscar Wild use an aphorism so early on in the play, also gave the impression that there are many more to occur throughout it. An aphorism is a somewhat brief statement, which is intended to express some type of truth. In this aphorism, Algernon is expressing that anyone can play music correctly. Though, his music has talent and is the type worth listening to because he plays with passion and attitude. The aphorism "I don't play accurately - any one can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression.", has a strong connection to current society. In today’s day and age, many people are skilled in a wide range of areas. A true talent is found when people are able to add passion and expression to their skill.
Claire Kennedy
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"Oh, I don't think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about."
This is said by Cecily during a conversation between her and Algernon. This is her response after he says any sensible man would like a woman with good looks. I believe she means that nobody would want a man who only wants a woman for her looks. I think she says 'sensible man' only because that was Algernon's description, not because she actually believes it. I believe she says sensible sarcastically, really meaning shallow. However, she is being truthful in that she wouldn't want a man as described. Nobody, man or woman, would want a partner like that. Cecily was told by Miss Prism that good looks are only a burden. So the compliment from Algernon ended up being quite empty to Cecily.
I think this can be applied to current society because obviously no woman wants a man who only wants her for her looks. 'Sensible man' was clearly used in a sarcastic way. A man as described by Cecily wouldn't be of any depth or great moral. Being with such a shallow man would be quite boring. There would be no base for a relationship. Nobody would want a relationship based on lust.
So I just saw that Joey posted the same quote as I did... I chose mine and wrote it before I saw that, I didn't copy him. But I'm not going to write another blog so hopefully I don't lose points.
DeleteJace Brandmeier
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Aphorism:
Jack: I am in love with Gwendolyn. I have come up to town expressly to propose to her.
Algernon: I thought you had come up for pleasure? . . . I call that business.
This aphorism shows how the characters in the play interact with each other. All of the characters say a lot of sayings that go against what we would usually think should be said. During this point of the play, the play has just started. Jack is talking with Algernon about marriage with Lane. Algernon is not interested in Lane’s life and makes marriage sound like a terrible thing. Then Jack and Lane are taking about where jack has been recently. Jack says he has been in the country. That he has a place there and it isn’t very fun. Eventually Jack and Algernon are talking and jack asks Algernon who is coming to tea. Algernon responds and says Gwendolyn will be there. Then Jack says he will be proposing to Gwendolyn, and Algernon thinks that’s business and not pressure. I guess I don’t really know what this means but it shows that the characters think differently from how we do. I don’t see how this really relates to society, besides that some people think that marriage is work. They don’t want to be married. Or they think that pleasure doesn’t involve any one else.
Joshua Scheck period 3
ReplyDeleteJack: I have lost both my parents.
Lady Bracknell: To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.
In context of the play, this aphorism is stated when Jack is talking to Lady Bracknell. This occurs right after Jack proposes to Gwendolen. Then she tells her mother who is Lady Bracknell, who doesn’t allow her daughter Gwendolen to make her own choice to marry. Lady Bracknell believes that an engagement should be planned by the parents and should be a pleasant or unpleasant surprise. Then in an attempt to see whether Jack is someone who might be legible to marry their daughter, she asks him a series of questions. The first few questions are in Jack’s favor, however after asking about Jack’s parents she starts to think of him as illegible for her daughter. This quote is basically just showing how snobby the upper class is. Instead of saying sorry for such an incident, Lady Bracknell states that losing both is an act of carelessness. Losing parents in this context is not an act of carelessness but more of an unfortunate event. It’s something that Jack cannot change nor was he to blame. With many of these quotes, the author really did a good job showing how snobby the upper class is. He also was able to show what qualities were valuable during that time period. After that Lady Bracknell tells Jack to find his parents which obviously will be super hard to do. Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen then go away and then Jack is left to talk with Algernon. This statement is an aphorism since it relates to the truth of the time period. Meaning that it showed what snobby qualities the upper class valued. Ultimately the author did a great job with all of these aphorisms trying show the snobbyness of those individuals.
This doesn’t really relate to what we know today because marriage now is between two individuals who love one another. However, there are a couple countries that do practice this type of marriages in current times. Marriage back then was to create ties between families for power and wealth. And this obviously occurs at a lesser extent in modern times.
Taryn Riegel
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Aphorism: “No married man is ever attractive except to his wife” (Act 2).
This has to do with a scene with Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble. Miss Prism is going after that man. Miss Prism strongly thinks that Chasuble should become married, but he disagrees. He does not agree with matrimony because he believes in the tenants of the church. Miss Prism constantly tries to get his attention, wanting a romantic relationship, but he isn't buying it. As he rejects the idea of being married, Miss Prism says that society creates temptations for women because of the celibacy in men. What Prism is basically going at is that Chasuble is going to be less desirable as time goes on. Women won't see him as something to look at.
This relates to today's society because a lot of adults are married, but a lot aren't meant for marriage because of high divorce rates.
Sarah Porter
ReplyDeletePer 3
“Algernon: Well, in the first place girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right.”
This aphorism is interesting because it seems to contradict itself. At the same time, it does make some sense, especially given the time period of the play. Personally, when I think of marriage in the Victorian era, love isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. As Algernon says in the first Act: “I thought you had come up for pleasure? . . . I call that business.” This seems like a strange thing to say, but in this era many people did marry purely for financial or social status-related reasons, which could be why Algernon has a hard time accepting the fact that Jack is about to voluntarily get engaged to someone. Algernon is suggesting that it is unheard of for a person to marry someone they flirt with. It almost sounds as if Algernon believes that love and marriage are two different things. Even though flirting with someone and being in love with someone aren’t necessarily the same, people who are in love still flirt as well. If Algernon is saying that girls don’t marry the same men they flirt with, and since people flirt with those they find attractive, he is also implying that people do not marry those they find attractive, which is hard for me to accept because to marry someone, even if you don’t find them very attractive physically, there has to be some level of love in the relationship, or there really isn’t a point in getting married. One would think that in today’s era this would be a completely untrue and ridiculous concept, and that people have to at least like each other in order to be married, but I think that even today people confuse physical attraction with love, and so they get married thinking they are good for each other and that they are love, only to find out that is most often not the case, which is why so many marriages do end up in divorces.
Byron Murray
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“Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury. A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.” – Algernon
In this aphorism Algernon is talking to Jack in act one and is replying to Jacks remark that he is going to kill off his imaginary brother. Jack also suggested to Algernon that he kill of Bunbury and he also denied that he was a “Bunburyist” meaning that he led a double life so that he could misbehave and still look virtuous. This is a very funny line to me in the play because in fact what Algernon said was the complete opposite. Instead people who know Bunbury have an extremely hard time getting married and that knowing Algernon as Bunbury caused far too many problems for the person who has to deal with him. This is shown later on in the play when Jack is trying to kill of his imaginary brother and Algernon gets involved and pretends to be Jacks brother and messes up the entire wedding Jack had planned with Algernon’s cousin. However, Jack also interfered with Algernon pretending to be Jacks younger brother who was trying to marry the girl under Jack’s care. This aphorism in the play relates to our current society because people in modern day society cant really live doubles lives very effectively and they it is impossible to get married and live happily if you are living two lives at the same time and hiding one of your life’s from the other one.
Austin Stenberg
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Algernon: “It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don’t mind hard work where there is no definite object of any kind.”
Jack and Algernon are trying to plan a night out but can’t decide what to do. In their conversation they bicker about where to go to dinner at. They converse about dressing nicely to be able to get a table because if you aren’t dressed nicely then you won’t be socially accepted and will be rejected by this nice restaurant. They go on to try and decide what to do after. Jack says for them to do nothing. Sarcastically Algernon says it’s awfully hard work to do nothing… However he doesn’t mind hard work if it’s going to be worth it or pay off well. Meaning he is willing to work hard only if it is going to pay off in the end.
Most people in our society don’t want to work hard but expect a lot in return from someone or something. Some people will do very little work and say its impossible work, there are few hard workers now a days.
Sean Rankin
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Jack - I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Lady Bracknell, but this engagement is quite out of the question. I am Miss Cardew’s guardian, and she cannot marry without my consent until she comes of age. That consent I absolutely decline to give.
Lady Bracknell - Upon what grounds may I ask? Algernon is an extremely, I may almost say an ostentatiously, eligible young man. He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?
In this part of the play Jack is talking to Lady Bracknell. Lady Bracknell is trying to explain the qualities of Algernon to Jack so that Cecily and Algernon can be married. Lady Bracknell thinks that Cecily is the perfect fit for her nephew Algernon. Cecily and Algernon both like each other but Cecily's guardian Jack wont allow them to be married. He believes that Algernon has moral flaws. Lady Bracknell tries to circumvent the problem caused by Jack and tells Algernon to wait until Cecily is of legal age to marry her. Jack then explains that as her guardian Cecily doesn't become legal until age 35. Jack basically black mails Lady Bracknell and tells her that as soon as she agrees to his marriage of her daughter Gwendolen, he will agree to Algernon's marriage to Cecily. This aphorism is still relevant even in today's society, people can be shallow, not smart, and rude but if you look like you belong you can go along way.
Laney McFarland
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"The very essence of romance is uncertainty" Jack is talking to Algernon after he came to purpose to Gwendolen, Algernon says that a proposal is business not love and definitely not romantic. In the story marriage is treated like a proposal to make a better life for yourself. And Lady Bracknell talks as if when she picks the man Gwendolen will get married to she has to find somebody who will bring her class, money and a better social appearance. AKA a business deal to better her family appearance. In reality marriage is about tying a bond between two lovers. This is a aphorism because it contradicting how hugely important love is compared to what your partner does to your social standing. Also you never know what love holds for your life one day you could love somebody who's lying about being Ernest.
Mark Gibbons
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"I don't play accurately - any one can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression."
"Algernon. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?Lane. I didn't think it polite to listen, sir.Algernon. I'm sorry for that, for your sake. I don't play accurately—anyone can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life.Lane. Yes, sir.Algernon. And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?Lane. Yes, sir.[Hands them on a salver.]Algernon. [[Inspects them, takes two, and sits down on the sofa.]] Oh! . . . by the way, Lane, I see from your book that on Thursday night, when Lord Shoreman and Mr. Worthing were dining with me, eight bottles of champagne are entered as having been consumed.Lane. Yes, sir; eight bottles and a pint.Algernon. Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne? I ask merely for information.(act 1)"
It relates to our current society because it shows people that they can do what they want and they don't have to follow the ground. it is good to express yourself differently then other people.
Ashley Glinn
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Miss Prism, Second Act: "I am not in favour of this modern mania for turning bad people into good people at a moment’s notice".
This aphorism was said after Miss Prism had been talking with Cecily. The topic of her guardian, Uncle Jack (John Worthing) and his reckless brother had come up and Cecily, was asking Miss Prism why Jack's brother couldn't come down to visit them every once in a while. Cecily said to Miss Prism, "We might have a good influence over him, Miss Prism. I am sure you certainly would. You know German, and geology, and things of that kind influence a man very much". Miss Prism had then replied with, "I do not think that even I could produce any effect on a character that according to his own brother’s admission is irretrievably weak and vacillating. Indeed I am not sure that I would desire to reclaim him. I am not in favour of this modern mania for turning bad people into good people at a moment’s notice. As a man sows so let him reap". The aphorism was able to emphasize Miss Prism's personality of being very opinionated. It helped validate Miss Prism's character as being assertive and a powerful young lady, which was a rare sight to see in the Victorian era. As Cecily's nanny while John was away, I think her straight-forward viewpoints was a good influence for Cecily. By saying this aphorism, Miss Prism I think would hate today's society. Celebrities on a daily basis who commit crimes and participate in vulgar or inappropriate activities, are brushed off for their wrongs, and praised only for their achievements. While the media is able to blantantly criticize celebrities for their wrong doings across various forms of media such as social networking websites, newspapers, magazines, and television, the story will be old news after only a day or two, and the majority of the time, they are able to get away with whatever it is that they have done without any sort of punishment. I completely agree with Miss Prism, I don't think that someone who has been known for having a history of being troublesome and causing problems, to have those past events disregarded and suddenly allowed to be seen and treated as a completely innocent and virtuous person.
Chris Reed
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Jack: My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false impression.
At first I thought nothing of those quote, but then as the play progressed I realized it is making fun of both jack and Algernon. They both are pretending to be someone they are not, and they both are creating false impressions on people. False impression are bound to not last because people unknowingly will destroy them. Such as when Algernon came to Jack's country home pretending to be his brother and effectively exposed himself and Jack as being frauds. Both had "bunburyed" someone they cared dearly about and frantically tried to reclaim their honor. In all honesty this only applies to some aspects of our society, if you're talking face to face it is much harder to lie about your identity then if you are online. If you are utilizing technology to become someone you aren't, you most likely wont get caught. But if you create a fake persona in person, you could be asked to conjure up some legal documentation proving your name and age. Either way I still found it neat that I was able to connect this reference to the literal entirety of the play.
Mimi Gerhardt, Period 4
ReplyDeleteAphorism-
ALGERNON:
"Oh! it is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read."
This is one of Algernon's many aphorisms. In this case, his aphorism is a snarky comment about banning books. Algernon is saying that people shouldn't read what was banned from being read in the first place, and how nowadays most of our culture is based off of what we aren't allowed to read. Banned books, The Bible were banned for someone's personal opinions of the book. Algernon's comment is also very true, that "more than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read". Christianity is a huge religion all around the world, obviously inspring a lot of people. This aphorism relates to modern society because books are rarely banned anymore. Banned books are now frowned upon and people disagree and say that whoever is reading the book should just close it and find another novel to read. These books that have been banned supposedly "shouldn't" have been read, and yet they shaped our country so strongly that it would be impractical to ban it in the first place.
Wyatt Smith P.4
ReplyDelete"The only way to behave to a women is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to some one else, if she is plain."
Algernon said this when him and Jack were talking. He says this because Algernon asked him if he was planning on telling Qwendolen that he is Ernest and Jack. Jack then explains to Algernon that telling the truth is not the way to treat a women. This is obviously not true and so he tells him how to treat a women. jack then explains how he is going to get rid of his "brother" Ernest by killing him off somehow. This is funny because i think he is trying to say that he does not find her attractive also because I think that "to someone else plain" is talking about himself. This relates to our society today because that is still true today. Men need to treat the ladies right so they can make love to them. Then making love to them is how you treat them right. And its all butter from there.
Campbell Gunnell p4
ReplyDeleteAlgy- Well, in the first place girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right.
this is honestly just a representation of the way men view woman. even if they think they understand them they don't and there is really nothing they could do about it. back in those days the men were just the same and really understood nothing. also woman at the time were not usually in charge of who they married, it usually was up to the parents. even if the woman flirted with a man and liked him it was ultimately the will of the parents they had to submit to. I think this quote is perfectly absurd and does not represent the time period accurately. it sounds like it was written just for tis play and doesn't actually reflect a popular belief of the time. of course I am no historian so what do I know. I think that this play will be rather boring to see but I may be pleasantly surprised.
Katie Daniels
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Aphorism "I am in love with Gwendolyn. I have come up to town expressly to propose to her."
The aphorism above is being said by Jack, who is speaking to Algernon, as this quote had came from the beginning of the play. I specifically chose to use this quote because i was the voice of Gwendolyn in class, and really felt understanding of her, and her personal connection with Jack. At this point in the play, Jack had been talking with Algernon about Lane. Algernon seems to be giving the feel that he does not agree with marriage, and that it ends up being something unpleasant. Jack had then been missing, and decides to explain himself to lane, using the fact he was out far away, however it was not a fun thing or place for him to be. Jack is then due to have a cup of tea with Algernon, and he quickly had learned that Gwendolyn will be present. Going back to the quote, Jack had decided she will be the one he will propose to. In my opinion, in today's society marriage is looked at differently. People think that it is some sort of "job" that takes a lot of time and work. Many marriages don't last as long in today's society either because it seems there is more pressure, but that pressure seemed to still exist at the era of this play. Today's society is so caught up in other things, that people tend to fade away from there soul mates, and forget what is important in life. Many need to realize that marriage is the farthest from a job you need to keep up, and instead it is beautiful time spent with ones who lift you higher. I think that Algernon needed to learn to not be afraid of marriage himself at the time.
Taylor Ingrum
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Gwendolen talking to Jack (Act I):
"Pray don’t talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. And that makes me so nervous."
In this passage, Gwendolen is talking to Jack after Lady Bracknell and Algernon go into the music-room. Jack and Gwendolen are now alone. Now that they are finally alone, he wants to talk to her about his feelings for her without an audience. He is nervous so he tries a "conversation starter" with Gwendolen. He hopes this will be an easy question, but Gwendolen is too smart to play games. She quickly turns down his comment and get straight to the point. She calls him out and basically asks him what he really wanted to ask rather than beating around the bush or making awkward conversation. She is aware of his feelings of her and wants to hear him say it so she edges him on. When reading this part of the play, iy didnt seem like Jack was too surprised by her saying this. Instead, he replies with a simple, "I do mean something else". They both have feelings for each other and are comfortable enough to be forthright about it.
In today's society this sort of thing is rare in my opinion. Often times people feel awkward when trying to communicate with one another face to face and result in conversation that doesn't matter. People also mostly communicate through texting, email, phone calls, social media etc. All electronically. So, when put ina situation where people are face to face and have to be forthright about their feeling they are often afraid or don't know how to act. Which I think is very sad and a huge drawback to our generation.
Gracie Legg
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"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
This is true in todays society because girls really do become just like their moms. But I disagree with men not becoming like their fathers. Whoever they is their father figure is exactly who they will be just like. People will grow up just like whoever they surround themselves around. And that's why it is important to surround yourself with good people. I think that a lot of parents don't realize its important to show good standards to their own children because what they see growing up is what they will think is normal and they will grow up and be just like that. Or they could be the exact opposite. But not enough kids are given a good example to grow up with and that's why we see so many people turning out so badly today. I really respected this quote and that's why I chose it and I hope people who read this post can respect it.
Grace Nelson
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"Pray don't talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. And that makes me so nervous."- Gwendolen (Act 1)
In this scene Jack begins talking to Gwendolen about the nice day and she knows that he didn't actually want to talk about the weather with her. He wanted to confess his love for her. He was very nervous hence is why he began to avoid the topic. I and many others use the weather topic in several different situations in everyday life. I have talked about the weather when I simply have nothing to talk about, when I'm nervous, and when I'm talking to someone whom I've never spoke to before. I think it's funny that Jack talked about the weather with Gwendolen when he had something very serious to talk to her about. Like Gwendolen, I think people can usually pick up on the fact that who's ever talking about the weather really isn't too interested in the matter. I chose to write about this aphorism because I find it very relatable in everyday situations.
Hannah Hunt
ReplyDeleteper. 3
"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."
Because this is a comedy, and not a tragic one at that- things are going to end happily. That is not always how reality ends up. In the real world, sometimes bad people end up in good situations with everything they want. And sometimes good people don't always get what they deserve. The world is not a perfect, well-thought out piece of literature. It's a hodge-podge of people with different circumstances and personalities that continue to change the world into a new place each day. Things are sometimes unpredictable, but not in plays and other works of literature. For example, if a high school senior with a grade point of 3.97, solid extra-curriculuar activites, and expressed good interest in a school and they didn't get in because the admissions conselour thought they would be better suited somewhere else, that is an example of a good person not getting what they deserve. I also think the aphorism comments on the cheese factor of the play.
Desirae Lopes
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The aphorism I chose is from act one: "An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself..."
This is an aphorism because it is talking about a girl's decision to be married. Her decision is her decision, not her parents. The quote talks about how everyone has a say in her future except herself. In these times arranged marriages were very common and that is what her guardian expects from her. Gwendelon is a very forward moving girl and wants to choose herself who her husband is. Celicly is also of this nature and feels the same toward Algy. These feelings and thoughts create problems when they are expected to carry out an average life. Eventually, Lady Bracknell gives in to the marriage. It all works out for both parties in this situation. It makes me wonder how many other stories there are about this same topic, but the ending in not in the young girls favor. It must be hard not to marry the person you love so dearly. This play opened up a new age for me. I began to see how people have lived in the past and what their lives were like. The customs and traditions were very different then what we have now.
Alex Rees
ReplyDeleteper 3
"I could deny it if I liked. I could deny anything if I liked."
This is talking about how people have a choice if they want to deny things or not. Now why do people deny things? I feel they do this is because they want to get out of the situation because they are self conscious about what they did or don't like what the situation is. I'm thinking that when people are in situations they don't want to be in, their natural reactions would be deny it because they have something to hide or they don't want people to get involved with their affairs. This is just a common thing in peoples lives. The aphorism is using this to show the message that people could deny everything or just deny a couple of things. I feel it also includes not denying anything at all. Denying everything is just bad because it just makes things harder for you and can't remember if anything is a lie or the truth.
Michael Stiles
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Aphorism:
Gwendolen: My own Ernest
Jack: Yes, I know it is. But supposing it was something else? Do you mean to say you couldn’t love me then?
Gwendolen: Ah! that is clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculations has very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know them.
Jack: Personally, darling to speak quite candidly, I don’t care about the name Ernest. ...I don’t think the names suits me at all.
Even though jacks name wasn't Ernest in the end he realized the true value of being Ernest. Gwendolen was able to see the depth and sincerity within him. She seems to be obsessed with the name Ernest rather then the actual being of Ernest.