[22] Max Beerbohm said that the play was sure to become a classic of the English repertory, and that its humour was as fresh then as when it had been written, adding that the actors had "worn as well as the play". It has been adapted for the cinema on three occasions. Gwendolen: Merely that I am engaged to be married to Mr. Worthing, mamma. Gwendolen: You are here on a short visit, I suppose. The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. [9] The four-act version was first played on a BBC radio production and is still sometimes performed. Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. cecily: so glad you like it, miss fairfax. I will communicate with you daily. An understated take, to be sure, but with such a well-known play, packed full of witticisms and aphorisms with a life of their own, it's the little things that make a difference. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Gwendolen: I think it would be an admirable opportunity. Alexander presented another revival of Earnest at the St James's in 1909, when he and Aynesworth reprised their original roles;[41] the revival ran for 316 performances. Some consider the three-act structure more effective and theatrically resonant than the expanded published edition. Gwendolen: You will call me sister, will you not? Gwendolen, on one hand, is confident, worldly, and at home in the big city of London. From the expression on mamma's face I fear we never shall. In fact, I am going to be his. Is it? A city girl up and down, Gwendolen embodies sophistication. Jack: And I would like to be allowed to take advantage of Lady Bracknell's temporary absence Gwendolen: I would certainly advise you to do so. She is a young attractive woman who is eminently marriageable, despite her resemblance to her formidable mother; she will clearly grow more and more like her as the years go "[11] The theme is hinted at in the play's ironic title, and "earnestness" is repeatedly alluded to in the dialogue, Algernon says in Act II, "one has to be serious about something if one is to have any amusement in life", but goes on to reproach Jack for 'being serious about everything'". Found inside Page 699GWENDOLEN : Do you allude to me , Miss Cardew , as an entanglement ? CECILY : Do you suggest , Miss Fairfax , that I entrapped Ernest into an engagement ? CECILY ( sweetly ) : I suppose that is why you live in town ? GWENDOLEN [81] In Victorian times earnestness was considered to be the over-riding societal value, originating in religious attempts to reform the lower classes, it spread to the upper ones too throughout the century. A. Gwendolen, quite unlike her mother's methodical analysis of Jack Worthing's suitability as a husband, places her entire faith in a Christian name, declaring in Act I, "The only really safe name is Ernest". For me you have always had an irresistible fascination. This powerful work of speculative fiction sheds a blazing critical light on the present and is considered to be Aldous Huxley's most enduring masterpiece. I am not sure, however, that the news inspires me with feelings of unmixed delight. were employed. Gwendolen: I am always smart! She enjoys this advantage over Cecily, whom she considers a country bumpkin. [109] Eva Malagoli varied this source-oriented approach by using both the English Christian names and the adjective earnest, thus preserving the pun and the English character of the play, but possibly straining an Italian reader. [111] French offers a closer pun: "Constant" is both a first name and the quality of steadfastness, so the play is commonly known as De l'importance d'tre Constant, though Jean Anouilh translated the play under the title: Il est important d'tre Aim ("Aim" is a name which also means "beloved"). [90] Sir Donald Sinden, an actor who had met two of the play's original cast (Irene Vanbrugh and Allan Aynesworth), and Lord Alfred Douglas, wrote to The Times to dispute suggestions that "Earnest" held any sexual connotations:[92], Although they had ample opportunity, at no time did any of them even hint that "Earnest" was a synonym for homosexual, or that "bunburying" may have implied homosexual sex. Gwendolen Fairfax Algernons cousin and Lady Bracknells daughter. His voice alone inspires one with absolute credulity. He defends himself against her "A handbag?" Jack. Cecily: Whatever unfortunate entanglement my dear boy may have got into, I will never reproach him with it after we are married. Cecily: Quire sure. Charming day it has been, Miss Fairfax. A show with a book by Douglas Livingstone and score by Adam McGuinness and Zia Moranne was staged in December 2011 at the. Since wordplay is often unique to the language in question, translators are faced with a choice of either staying faithful to the original in this case the English adjective and virtue earnest or creating a similar pun in their own language. with the clarification, "The Brighton Line". He is the very soul of truth and honor. [142], Mrs George Canninge as Miss Prism and Evelyn Millard as Cecily Cardew in the premiere, Act I: Algernon Moncrieff's flat in Half Moon Street, W, Act II: The Garden of the Manor House, Woolton, Act III: Morning-Room at the Manor House, Woolton, "Bunburying", which indicates a double life as an excuse for absence, is according to a letter from. It becomes a pleasure. Found insideOh, flowers are as common here, Miss Fairfax, as people are in London. GWENDOLEN. Personally I cannot understand how anybody manages to exist in the country, if anybody who is anybody does. The country always bores me to death. CECILY. Wilde embodied society's rules and rituals artfully into Lady Bracknell: minute attention to the details of her style created a comic effect of assertion by restraint. Of course you are quite, quite sure that it is not Mr. Ernest Worthing who is your guardian? In 1963, Erik Chisholm composed an opera from the play, using Wilde's text as the libretto. [105] Gwendolen: Yes, but men often propose for practice. She has ideas and ideals, attends lectures, and is bent on self-improvement. Jack refuses to tell Algernon the location of his country estate. [42], For a 1913 revival at the same theatre the young actors Gerald Ames and A. E. Matthews succeeded the creators as Jack and Algy. Gwendolen: An excellent idea! A. Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist known for his careful, but rather mechanical, plotting. Gwendolen has been raised in the city and is polished and sophisticated. For Gwendolen and Cecily it inspires absolute confidence but also symbolizes the ideal husband/ lover. [134], On 13 December 2000, BBC Radio 3 broadcast a new adaptation directed by Howard Davies starring Geraldine McEwan as Lady Bracknell, Simon Russell Beale as Jack Worthing, Julian Wadham as Algernon Moncrieff, Geoffrey Palmer as Canon Chasuble, Celia Imrie as Miss Prism, Victoria Hamilton as Gwendolen and Emma Fielding as Cecily, with music composed by Dominic Muldowney. Jack: Personally, darling, to speak quite candidly, I don't much care about the name of ErnestI don't think the name suits me at all. Gwendolen: Then that is all quite settled, is it not? Lady Bracknell: Mr. Worthing! How dare you? Cecily is studying with her governess, Miss Prism. Gwendolen: Five counties? Cecily. How I used to toy with that Tiger Life. Gwendolen: Really? Found inside Page 399CECILY : Do you suggest , Miss Fairfax , that I entrapped Ernest into an engagement ? How dare you ? This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners . When I see a spade I call it a spade . GWENDOLEN ( satirically ) : I am glad Ernest proposed to me exactly ten minutes ago. x x Jack. [106] His return to work was brief though, as he refused to write anything else, "I can write, but have lost the joy of writing". Gwendolen, you will accompany me. To the east was the ramshackle LC&D Railway, on the west the up-market LB&SCR the Brighton Line, which went to Worthing, the fashionable, expensive town the gentleman who found baby Jack was travelling to at the time (and after which Jack was named). You may! In fact, I am never wrong. Algernon Moncrieff A young gentleman from London, the nephew of Lady Bracknell, in love with Cecily Cardew. Mr. Worthing, what explanation can you offer to me for pretending to have a brother? The successful opening night marked the climax of Wilde's career but also heralded his downfall. Found inside Page 407Playing in Earnest Thomas R. Whitaker I The Action of Farce ' For me ' , says Gwendolen Fairfax to her nervous suitor , ' you have always had an irresistible fascination . And why ? ' We live , as I hope you know , Mr Worthing , in an Algernon mentions killing him and Bunbury exploding before getting out that the doctor decided he couldnt live. That is all!" The gentleman whose arm is at present round your waist is my guardian, Mr. John Worthing. [n 3], In contrast to much theatre of the time, the light plot of The Importance of Being Earnest does not seem to tackle serious social and political issues, something of which contemporary reviewers were wary. View Full Monologue Text Character Name: Gwendolen Fairfax Gender: Female Age Range: 20s - Early Dialects: Standard English Ethnicities: Caucasian. [Merriman does so, and goes out with footman. I hope I am not that. It is his brother-his elder brother. Jack and Algernon: Our Christian names! In revising, "Wilde transformed standard nonsense into the more systemic and disconcerting illogicality which characterises Earnest's dialogue". What effrontery! Cecily: I am sorry to say they have not been on good terms for a long time. Cecily: My dear guardian, with the assistance of Miss Prism, has the arduous task of looking after me. There is something in the name that inspires absolute confidence. Gwendolen: If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life. Gwendolen also has strong ideas about social protocol, which we see in the first scene. Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew are the two female leads in Oscar Wildes The Importance of Being Earnest. Why did Oscar Wilde make them so similar? Gwendolen: Yes, dear, if you can believe him. [82] In a study of Italian translations, Adrian Pabl found thirteen different versions using eight titles. Jack: Well, really, Gwendolen, I must say that I think there are lots of other much nicer names. I suppose that is why you live in London? [23], The play's original Broadway production opened at the Empire Theatre on 22 April 1895, but closed after sixteen performances. Cecily: It is almost an epidemic amongst them, I have been told. Gwendolen: I thought so. Oliver Parker, a director who had previously adapted An Ideal Husband by Wilde, made the 2002 film; it stars Colin Firth (Jack), Rupert Everett (Algy), Judi Dench (Lady Bracknell), Reese Witherspoon (Cecily), Frances O'Connor (Gwendolen), Anna Massey (Miss Prism), and Tom Wilkinson (Canon Chasuble). In turn, both Gwendolen and Cecily have the ideal of marrying a man named Ernest, a popular and respected name at the time. Gwendolen Fairfax: The daughter of Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen Fairfax is in love with Jack but believes that she could not love him if he were named anything other than Ernest. During Acts One and Two, the women are deceived by the well-meaning male characters, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff. Gwendolen: Ernest, we may never be married. The fact is constantly mentioned in the more expensive monthly magazines, and has reached the provincial pulpits, I am told; and my ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest. The curtain rises on Algy strumming away at the piano, singing 'I can play Chopsticks, Lane'. Soon we meet Gwendolen Fairfax, played very nicely by Robin Mae Becar. [88], Queer scholars have argued that the play's themes of duplicity and ambivalence are inextricably bound up with Wilde's homosexuality, and that the play exhibits a "flickering presence-absence of homosexual desire". Gwyndolin Fairfax; Lord Henry Wotton; Basil Hallward lives and finds a better bf because thats what he deserves; Ernest and Gwyndolin are happy also; Summary. She accepts, but seems to love him in large part because of his name, Ernest. The journalist Mark Bostridge comments, "The libretto of a 1957 musical adaptation, Half in Earnest, deposited in the British Library, is scarcely more encouraging. I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It would have been terrible if any cloud had come across a friendship like ours, would it not? A young gentleman from the country, in love with Gwendolen Fairfax. First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Found inside Page 274She had considerably more than 500 a year to live on; and as for a room of her own: in England she had a town As a young woman she was like Oscar Wilde's Gwendolen Fairfax; gay, paradoxical, unrestrained by the rigidities of her Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always feel quite certain that they mean something else. Cecily: There is just one question I would like to be allowed to ask my guardian. Gwendolen is in love with Jack, whom she knows as Ernest. Pray don't talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing. [39] Broadway revivals were mounted in 1902[24] and again in 1910,[40] each production running for six weeks. Gwendolen: My darling Cecily, I think there must be some slight error. [74] [75] [76], The play is set in "The Present" (i.e. "[91] The word "earnest" may also have been a code-word for homosexual, as in: "Is he earnest? I think that whenever one has anything unpleasant to say, one should always be quite candid. Gwendolen: Thank you. Found inside Page 133Do you suggest, Miss Fairfax, that I entrapped Ernest into an engagement? How dare you? I suppose that is why you live in town? [Gwendolen bites her lip, and beats her foot nervously with her parasol.] GWENDOLEN. [Looking round.] In a 2003 study, Richard Fotheringham writes that in Australia, unlike Britain and the US, Wilde's name was not excluded from billings, and the critics and public took a much more relaxed view of Wilde's crimes. And I don't like that. Lady Bracknell, for instance, embodies respectable, upper-class society, but Eltis notes how her development "from the familiar overbearing duchess into a quirkier and more disturbing character" can be traced through Wilde's revisions of the play. You know that I love you, and you led me to believe, Miss Fairfax, that you were not absolutely indifferent to me. Gwendolen: I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. Rutherford switched roles, from Miss Prism to Lady Bracknell for the North American production; Twenty-three years earlier Dench had played Cecily to the Lady Bracknell of. 59 ] the opera for two pianos, percussion and singers was composed in.! 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