The Importance Of Being Earnest

Title: The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

Author: Oscar Wilde

Algernon Moncleiff goes to welcome his best friend Jack Worthing, alias 'Ernest', who comes all the way from countryside to propose to Gwendolen Fairfax, Algernon's cousin. Algernon gives consent to this proposal of Jack on the condition that he explain the inscription on Jack's cigarette case that says:

"From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack."

Ernest confesses on living a life with two identities- the strict and disciplined guardian of young heiress Cecily Cardew through the name of Jack in the countryside, and as the carefree man Earnest in the city. After this confession, Algernon himself confesses to be living a double life. Gwendolen accepts the proposal of Ernest, and convinces him to rechristen himself as 'Ernest' as the name is a big part of why she loved him. Meanwhile, Gwen's mother Lady Bracknell disapproves of Ernest, and forbids any engagement between Gwen and Ernest.

In the meanwhile, Algernon visits Jack's countryside to meet the young, beautiful heiress Cecily Cardew to whom he had been attracted to when Ernest mentioned. He introduces himself to Cecily as 'Ernest', and Cecily presumes him to be the brother of her guardian 'Jack' Worthing. The two fall in love, and plan to get engaged. Since Cecily loved the name 'Ernest', Algernon decides to scrap off his dual identity and rechristen himself as Ernest. 

During this time, Gwendolen decides to run away from Lady Bracknell and come to the countryside to meet Ernest(Jack). She chances upon Cecily, and they both end up claiming that they love 'Ernest'. What ensues is a drama that sends you in fits of laughter, and entertains to ensure a smile is pinned on your face!

This is the first time I am reading a play of Wilde, though I have read his short stories before. I absolutely loved it! With other stories like The Canterville Ghost, one is already familiar the unbeatable humour of Wilde. But, this play is a gem! The fluidity and the spontaneity of the characters that has been captured in the script was mind-blowing. This is a short play, and you can read it in a couple of hours. The interplay of the characters, situations, and their hilarious impersonations left me literally laughing out loud, and enjoying every line of this play! 

This is a must- definitely must- read!

Loving Shakespeare: A Convergence Of Many Factors

To read, or not to read, that is the question: but, if you do read Shakespeare, read it as you like it. 

For the longest time during my schooldays, I hated reading Shakespeare, more because of the fact that I never understood and consequentially it just bored me. The world of thy, thou, art, hath, shalt and other other archaic usages made my head rivet, thanks to lack of comprehension. At this stage in Class VIII, we got one of the best English teachers I had in school and a compulsory, non-detailed lesson of The Merchant of Venice. And, that turned around the world of Shakespeare for me. I fell in love with The Merchant of Venice, with Portia (also as Balthazar), Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano, Shylock, and everyone!

I remember me slipping into a mull of thoughts when Shylock breaks out on his moving monologue.  

"I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction." 

I remember my excitement at Gratiano's sarcastic comeback at Shylock, giving the Jew a taste of his own medicine on calling Balthazar(Portia) as the most learned judge when she went against Antonio, every single time my English teacher read out the 'O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!' with the utmost zest and sneer of Gratiano. What a pleasure it was to read Shakespeare, suddenly!

The same year, we also had Julius Caesar to be performed as a play for internals, and I remember the enthusiasm with which I took up the lead to read the original play and work on the script, and I also remember playing Brutus! Our teacher really liked the play, and we felt so proud!

I went on to read Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream and As You Like It after that- and I enjoyed every one of them! In Class IX, I took part in a stage play of The Taming of the Shrew for my school anniversary, and it was again a wonderful experience with the story and being a part of it!

That's when I realized I had to be taught to read Shakespeare, and that has to happen at the right age. Maybe a couple of years younger, I'd have refused to give it a try, and maybe a couple of years older- I'd have refused to change my view about Shakespeare. I'm sure that these non-detailed books planned for syllabus maybe with that optimum view- but I was extremely lucky to get a teacher who could make me fall in love with it!

This reminds me of the "right book, right time" theory by Sara Nelson in So Many Books, So Little Time.

If you are one of those who don't really think you can read and enjoy Shakespeare- try listening to someone who knows to read his work, and follow the text while it is being read out loud! It can really do wonders, like it did with me!

My Post For YOCee - My experience on stage and backstage

Katherina contemplates her empty plate in The Taming of the Shrew (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is the post I wrote for YOCee after participating in an English play named "Matrimorphosis" ( adapted from Shakespeare's comedy 'The Taming Of The Shrew' ) in the School Anniversary.

http://yocee.in/2013/08/my-experience-on-stage-and-backstage/

Happy Reading!!! Do share you comments.