A handbag dear, he was found in a handbag. Yes I know, it sounds absolutely ridiculous! He may be wealthy and have an estate but I have a reputation to uphold. He has neither family nor any connections to anyone. What would people think? Not only is he an orphan but he is also a guardian to a child who is of no blood relation to himself. It worries me to hear that she is both young and beautiful. Why this is a concern to me, I don’t know why. Gwendolen is of course the most beautiful person I have seen.
I know you’re feeling unwell dear but the idea of him marrying my precious Gwendolen is enough to make me want to retch! It is inconceivable to allow for Gwendolen to be at all connected to this man. I feel quite strongly about this and will try my upmost to prevent this marriage from going ahead. Society is something that has classes for a reason, if we allow Gwendolen to marry this man our standards will fall, what will people think of us? He is also very mysterious, he seems to be hiding something, his story sounds rather bizarre. I fear he may be one of those foes who pretend to be someone who he is not. In fact I believe Algernon mentioned it before...Bumburying, yes that is what it was called! The idea that someone could lie about their identity is positively frightening! High society should not mix with lower class people, the underhandedness of this behaviour, moving your way up society should be classed as a crime!
Speaking of Algernon, I believe he is being influenced by this so called Ernest! I believe he may have gotten the idea of bumburying from Ernest. I worry that his behaviour may tarnish our reputation if he carries on playing around. I will have to put him in order. When we arrived at his home, we didn’t receive any refreshments. I believe that he may have eaten the food before we had arrived; he seems to be looking slightly rounder than usual. I appreciate a healthy looking man; it shows that they are from a high society family.
I want my Gwendolen to be happy, so if that means that she marries that man, then so be it. I will have to discuss how the home will be run with him. The house is the home for a man and he will have to learn to accept that. Also, the marriage preparations will be carried out by myself, if it should be a classy affair. Now where is my book, I need to add him to my list of eligible men...
www you draw on the text at times and seem at least initially to display some flair for emulating the voice of Lady B.
ReplyDeleteebi however, this is rather confused and lacks structure or precision. I think there is a clear missed opportunity here. Lady B (herself from a penniless background - or so she says) discussing Mr Worthings lack of social status. SHe is after all torn - one the one hand society would decry the alliance between Mr Worthing (Orphan - and we know only too well what the Victorian's thought about orphans: Oliver, Pip, Jane Eyre etc.) and his wealth which she as a fortune seeker herself finds very alluring. I don't honestly think she is much concerned about Gwendolen.
This would benefit from fixing clearly at a specific time in the play either after meeting Jack or after the end of the play. At present it is confused.
Finally, the use of Bunburying cannot be right - Lady B believes in Bunbury as a person until she is informed that he has died.