Lane's Instruction

TASK

Imagine that Lane has to leave work for a short period and writes his instructions to a

temporary replacement. Write Lane's instructions about how to deal effectively with

Algernon.

Give careful consideration to your language choices, form and style, in order to convey a

sense of Lane's voice and attitudes. 

(45 marks)

Dear Butler,

                     I am writing to inform you that I am leaving for a short period of time to visit an ill relative. During this time away I would like you to take care of Mr Moncreiff. He requires a lot of attention and care for he can not do the simplest things for himself. Follow my instructions carefully and you should have no problem.

Algernon has a friend called Ernest that like to visit a lot. When he enters the room you should leave them to there privacy. The way they banter one would assume that they are brothers. They consume extreme quantities and blames it on the servants so the best thing you can do is just play along.

He also likes to eat. Whether he would admit it or not he can devour several sandwiches which are not prepared for him, he has an extremely large appetite . I had once prepared several cumber sandwiches for when Lady Bracknell arrived for afternoon tea, before however Ernest had arrived and whilst they had there conversation, Algernon had eaten them all. Then when Lady Bracknell had arrived she was quite disappointed that there were no cucumber sandwiches. This is where I had stepped in and said that the market had no cucumbers, even for ready money. This little lies are what you need to do for Mr Moncreiff in his time of need.

Another thing he enjoys doing almost as much as eating is playing the piano. However he may like playing the piano does not mean that he is any good at it. In fact he is dreadful, if he asks how he plays just say 'I didn't think it polite to listen, sir' then say no more. His excuse for his dreadful piano skills is '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.'

Hopefully I will return soon, but until then I would like to say good luck because working for Mr Moncrieff you will need it

Lane

Resolution

 The play 'The Importance Being Ernest' is resolved when Ms Prism reveals that she left a baby at Victoria train station that belonged to Lady Bracknell's sister. The child inside the hand bag was infant Jack and he could now do all the thing he wanted (marrying Gwendolyn) because he had status.

Jack could now marry Gwendolyn because he now had position, status  and most importantly the name Ernest 'I always told you, Gwendolyn, my name was Ernest didn't I' This suggest that when we find out what his name it brings him status. When he finds out that his has a place in aristocracy he immediately becomes arrogant. This shows that aristocracy brings arrogance and a sense of importance.

When Ms Prism Reveals that she left the handbag at the station with little Jack/Ernest held within you think that the play is resolved. 'Unmarried! I do not deny that is serious blow. But after all who has the right to cast one who has suffered ?' Jack is quick to forgive her because the first thing he thinks about is that he forgives her before his status because he has finally found his mother. This is completely different  to what  he believes later when he finds out that he is part of aristocracy.

Biography

Oscar Wilde Biography 

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet born on 16 October 1854 and died 30 November 1900. In 1964, his father William Wilde was a surgeon who was knighted for his services to medicine and his mother was a writer and literary hostess. Wilde was educated at Trinity College and then Magdalen College, Oxford. While at Oxford, Wilde became involved in the aesthetic movement.

After he graduated, he moved to London to pursue a literary career. Oscar Wilde wrote fairy stories and a novel called ‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’ which wasn't a success but his greatest strength was writing plays. His greatest talent was for writing plays, and he produced a string of extremely popular comedies including 'Lady Windermere's Fan' (1892), 'An Ideal Husband (1895)' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (1895)

In 1884 he married Constance Lloyd and they had two sons, but in 1891 Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. In April 1895, Wilde sued Alfred's father, the Marquis of Queensberry, for libel, after the Marquis has accused him of being homosexual. Wilde lost and, after details of his private life were revealed during the trial, was arrested and tried for gross indecency. He was sentenced to two years of hard labour. His wife took their children to Switzerland and adopted the name 'Holland'.

Gwendolen Speech About How Important She Is

My name is Gwendolen and I can say without a doubt that I am the most important character in this play. I am never wrong.

This entire play is centred around me, I mean the whole reason why Jack had kept this lie about a brother named Ernest was to stay with me.

My ideal is always been to love someone named Ernest, that name inspires absolute confidence and once dear Algy told me he had a friend names Ernest i knew at that moment i was destined to love him.

I am Lady Bracknell's daughter, a high member in society why wouldn't i be important and without me this entire play crumbles to pieces. I am utter perfection, within society and my appearance. The perfect character.

The only reason why Jack went to look for his parents in the first was so he could marry me, This whole charade is because of me

I Gwendolen Bracknell am THE most important character in this play and don't forget it.

How does Wilde create humour at the expense of his characters Gwendolyn and Cecily?

How does Wilde create humour at the expense of his characters Gwendolyn and Cecily? 

The importance of being Ernest is a play written by Oscar Wilde in the Victorian era.Wilde uses humour between Cecily and Gwendolen by using various devices, linguistic and language features. He often reverses writes the opposite of what society really thinks in his play.

The scene where Gwendolen and Cecily sit down to eat is humour in itself. We as the audience know that Ernest is Jack and Algernon, but they both believe they are talking about the same man. At the beginning of the scene Gwendolen announces that 'I like you already more than I can say. My first impressions of people are never wrong'. This shows that she is self centered and believes everything she says is right however later on in the scene after she finds out that they are both engaged to Ernest says ' From the moment I saw you I distrusted you, I am never deceived in such matters. My first impressions of people are invariably right' which is the exact opposite of what she had said to begin with.

 Another bit of humour in this scene is when Gwendolen talks about her father.'And certainly once a man neglects his domestic duties he becomes painfully effeminate, does he not? This suggests that a man loses his masculinity the moment he leaves the household. This brings humour because the audience know's this is wrong.It is an inversion because people would think that by staying at home you would become 'effeminate' not by 'neglecting his domestic duties'. This could refer to Oscar Wilde's sexuality because he neglected his wife and kids which in this case make him effeminate or 'camp' which can be him subtly hinting to the audience that he was gay.

The fact that Jack plays Ernest in town and Jack in country is quite funny because Algernon who also has an alter ego Bunbury becomes Ernest in the country. When Gwendolen and Cecily meet they both believe they are talking about the same man. The audience finds this funny and it creates alot of drama and humour

Lady Bracknell's Speech to her husband about Jack

How dare he, soiling our precious family name with his presence. Being found in a handbag is simply inexcusable, loosing both his parents. To think that we would allow our precious, unspoilt Gwendolen to marry that man is laughable. He is not down on my list of eligible young men, which is the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. 

Lord Bracknell, i believe if this man had not lost his parents, then he would have been most suited for Gwendolen, but this outrageous lie is has made me realize that we should chose a husband for her whether she likes the man or not.

Another thing, this Mr. Bunbury should make up his mind whether he was going to live or to die, his constant illness is preventing Algernon from meeting any women. Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. It would be very nice of him if he should not fall ill again this Saturday.

Gwendolen's Diary Entry

Dear Diary,

I am to be married to Ernest Worthing, I will be Mrs Ernest Worthing. To be married to a man with a name that produces vibrations such as Ernest has always been my dream and it is about to come true. His name strikes utter confidence and that is who I'll be married to. However I am afraid that mama will question him to harshly and not accept the proposal, even so I will marry Ernest he is my soul mate. I am destined to be married to a man named Ernest, it was written in the stars.

He started the conversation with the weather, a topic which makes me nervous, I new this was not what he intended to talk about, of course I was right, I'm never wrong. he told me that he loved me and then I revealed my love for him as well. He stated that we must get married at once but he didn't propose to me. When he did i knew my life was complete.Although a strange thing occurred before Ernest proposed to me, he asked if I would still love him, if his name were Jack.

Jack, that name has very little music, and produces absolutely no vibrations. I know several Jack's who are all quit plain, I pity any woman who is married to a man called John for the only safe name is Ernest. A man whom i am marrying. 

I Gwendolen Bracknell will become Mrs Ernest Worthing