Wit, Problem solving, Resourcefulness, Deception Flashcards
How do Jack’s Problems resemble the Hegelian dialectic?
-Wilde - interested in Hegel’s theories of Historical development.
-first element of Hegelian equation for social change:
Tension between two things stop progression:
-Jack is discontent with rigid codes and conventions of Victorian era - suffering from responsibilities.
-Jack has to find relief in the pretence of having a younger brother called Ernest/being Ernest.
-In a state of alienation - Discontent shown ins stage directions.
-Dandy Algy - represents aspects of Jacks own persona he is in conflict with.
-To progress - must resolve dichotomy between Victorian repressive respectability and extreme amorality of Dandy.
Second element:
-Believes Prospective marriage to Gwendolen propels him forwards.
-Lady Bracknell - antithesis - produce ‘one parent, of either sex, before the season’
Stage directions indicating Jacks discontent due to tensions of his two personas?
-he ‘looks indignantly at Algernon’
-he ‘groans, and sinks into a chair’
-He is ‘perfectly furious’ when Algy ‘strikes up the Wedding March’.
He is in a state of alienation.
How do Jack’s Solutions resemble the first element of Hegelian dialectic?
-Future progress relies on dynamic force - trigger a dialectical movement.
-Recognition of Miss Prism + Army records - dynamic force.
-Two elements synthisize (conventional marriage and his rebellious persona).
-Solution - he is free to marry Gwendolen - and antagonist Bracknell completes harmony - becomes a redemptive force - revealing his parentage.
-His name is found to be ‘Ernest John’ - no longer needs to chose between to personae:
He is then a happily married member of society - but he is also Ernest - embodies an escape route.
-Audience warm to his success - happy and satisfying ending - problems solved.
Cecily and Gwendolen
Problem Solving and Wit
-Rebellious – suggest changing attitudes of the younger generation.
-Gwendolen’s disobedience to her mother
-‘Blows kisses’ to Jack ‘behind Lady Bracknell’s back’.
-orders her mother out during Jack’s proposal ‘This is no place for you’.
-Subverts norm commenting ‘The old-fashioned respect for the young in dying out’- suggest Victorina principles may be outworn.
-Cecily – humorously subverts stereotype of shy, unsophisticated, country girl.
-Manipulates governess about ‘headache’.
-Shocks Algy – self-confidence and assertion ‘I believe I am more than usually tall for my age’, accuses him of ‘hypocrisy’.
-Teatime battle – witty come backs – source of humor – also their restraint due to the presence of the servants – perhaps suggest their wit and intelligence has no useful outlet due to their position as women in society.
Algernon
Wit, Resourcefulness and Problem Solving
-Contributes to charm of the play - Makes many witty comments on society – epigrams ‘All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man doe. That is his.’ Says this is ‘perfectly phrased’ – style over substance.
-Creates invalid ‘Bunbury’ to escape his Victorian duties – see it as an essential part of life ‘If you every get married… you will be very glad to know Bunbury’ – ironically Bunbury is ‘dead’ when he does get married.
-Society protects him as a privileged male – Lady Bracknell testifies that he could never ben ‘Untruthful’.
-Think of being christened – way out of problem.
- imagination to create fictional life – resourcefulness to sustain them for a time.
Truth and Fiction:
C-Wilde is an Aesthete - relationship between life and art - “Does art imitate life, or life imitate art?”
-characters participate - fine art of fabrication not just to deceive, but also to create a reality that is more like fiction.
-Cecily diary - “why, we have been engaged for the past three months!”
-Jack - whose names is really Earnest (truth) - mistaken for Fiction (three volume novel) - fictionally assumes name Earnest.
-Jack and Algernon Bunburying.
-Line of fact and fiction blurred “Christian names, Earnest John.”
Lady Bracknell: “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.”
-Simley – suggesting knowledge is corruption
-Perhaps satirizes upper class not wanting education to empower others.
-Humorous – the opposite of what you would expect – surely you would want intelligence.
-French revolution – empowerment, upper-class fear democracy and equal rights.
‘All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man doe. That is his.’
Makes many witty comments on society – epigrams.
Says this is ‘perfectly phrased’ – style over substance.
-Pehraps Wilde suggest masculinity of the Victorian era is too rigid - men would benefit from behaving more like their mothers.
