By looking at Act 1 humour is seen through Algernon speaking to Lane, through the use of dramatic irony. The humour used in this context is especially humorous to the audience as they they know the inner meaning behind what is said. 'Good heavens! Lane! Why are there no cucumber sandwiches?! I ordered them '. Earlier in Act 1 Algernon is seen eating all the sandwiches greedily, without letting John have any. For the sake of keeping up appearances Algernon lies in front of Lady Bracknell and allows her to assume that there were no sandwiches available, and that it was out of his hands. The audience knows full well that Algernon is lying in dramatic fashion which is meant to be humorous. The fact that Algernon blames Lane for something that is clearly his own fault, reflexes the way society treated the lower class during the Victorian era. Although Lane knows that Algernon was the reason why there are no cucumber sandwiches she plays along with his lies because she has know choice but to do as she is told as she is of a lower class and his servant. It also reflexes the views that Algernon has on the lower class; he doesn't care about the way he is perceived by them as they are of know concern to him. However the way he is viewed by those of a higher class are more important; by keeping up appearances and to avoid embarrasment Algernon lies to his Aunt. This is a clear indication that appearances are something that are always kept in Victorian society.
The interview that takes place between John and Lady Bracknell is another scene that is packed full of humour, 'I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires.' The prospect of finding a suitable husband for her daughter is something that Lady Bracknell takes very seriously. The fact that Lady Bracknell is taking this very seriously is humorous because it is so ironic because the questions asked are based on superficial and meaningless concepts. 'Do you smoke' for example is a question asked by Lady Bracknell, an irrelevant question to most people but to Lady Bracknell this is something she needs to know. This suggests that she is someone who is interested more on the appearances that is seen from the public instead of being based on character, ' the unfashionable side. I thought there was something'. This presents the vain side of Victorian society. Although the play presents vanity, something which is usually not something that people are proud of, the audience are not suppose to take this seriously but find it funny because it has been specifically chosen for humorous effect.
During Act 2 the revelation that John's 'brother' has died is something that should be addressed as a serious incident however, the conversation that takes place during this news are ironically humorous. From the viewers point of view this information is something that will induce laughter as it affects the scene that will follow, another effective use of dramatic irony. The audience is well aware that before this scene occurred Algernon has revealed himself as Ernest, the idea that John has now ‘killed’ of his brother from his life will consequently make the situation more complicated. The lie that was started by John has slowly begun to fall apart and the conversation between John, Chasuble and Miss Prism is the key part of the play in which this lie will begin to unfold. The way in which John decided to present the way his brother died was by following the idea given by his good friend Algernon ‘A severe chill, it seems’ was the words spoken by John which were offered as a good idea from Algernon. The fact that the scene before was between Algernon and Cecily, with him pretending to be Ernest is ironic because John is using the idea concocted by Algernon to help him get rid of Ernest but Algernon has brought the character of Ernest to life by pretending to be him.
Act 2 is full of humorous conversations but the scene that occurs between Algernon and John after it is revealed that Ernest is in fact alive is one that stands out. The conversation is full of banter that is so hypocritical of each other’s behaviour that it is something that is presented in a funny light. ‘What a fearful liar you are, Jack I have not been called back to town at all’, the idea that Algernon is accusing Jack of being a liar is funny because the reason why Algernon is in the situation that he is in is because he lied his way to get there. Although they’ve put themselves in an awkward situation they are still able to talk to each other as friends, who can comfortably tease one another. ‘Your duty as a gentleman calls you back’ is said by Jack in reference to Algernon’s behaviour and his attempted ‘bumburying’. The behaviour of both them is worthy of being described as childlike but the idea that they are both mocking one another for their childish ways comes across as humorous.
These quotes clearly identify the way that Oscar Wilde presents humour and how it is related to the characters within the play as well the Victorian society, in which the play was written.
No comments:
Post a Comment