Lane's instructions

To whom it may concern,

My name is Lane, the servant of Mr Algernon Moncrieff. I hope you found your way hear safely. I will be away for quite a long period of time, during this time I hope the standards that are in place in this household do not fall. I am aware that you have experience in the serving quarters but I felt that it would be a good idea and frankly quite necessary to tell you a few things about Mr Moncrieff and his... unique personality. Firstly, he has quite the appetite and tends to finish food at a remarkably fast rate, how he doesn’t suffer from indigestion is a miracle! It would be wise if you had a mental list of a few of his favourite foods. He is partial to the odd muffin and can eat a tray of cucumber sandwiches in one sitting.

                As you are the servant and he is the boss I hope you understand that what he says, goes, even if you feel you have been wronged. A mere servant doesn’t hold the authority or right to question the actions of someone of a higher class. Mr Moncrieff has a habit of telling the odd white lie. So if you find yourself in the situation were you have ‘forgotten’ to buy the cucumbers then, well you did ‘forget’ to buy the cucumber sandwiches. On the topic, I think it would be appropriate to bring up the topic of bumburying. You will most probably be oblivious to this concept but as I may be gone for quite some time, you may come across it. To put it simply bumburying refers to the young sir’s second life. From time to time Mr Moncrieff may feel that it is a necessity to pretend to be someone else. If this is the case then don’t be alarmed and let him do as he pleases.

                You may come across a few visitors during your time here. One of Mr Moncrieff’s closest friends is Mr Jack Worthing. He comes to visit Mr Moncrieff from time to time. They may bicker but they are very close, they share a brotherly relationship. Mr Moncrieff’s Aunt: Lady Bracknell also comes to visit. You will, I am sure of, have heard of her. She is quite well known in the area and is treated with the up most respect by everyone. You must NOT treat Lady Bracknell in any way that may make her feel affronted. If this is the case then it may cost you your job.

                Finally, if the situation calls for it, if you are asked to give your opinion on a subject keep it short. If this is to happen then you speak only when asked to. Mr Moncrieff doesn’t care about your personal life and wants to maintain the balance of servant and boss. He has quite the odd personality but you will soon learn to adjust, he is not your normal boss. He often acts childish but I believe this may be due to losing his parents at a young age. Treat him well and you will find your time in this household to be quite enjoyable.

All the best,

Lane

Resolution of 'The Importance of being Earnest'

In act III of the play many thing are resolved, this in turn effects relationships and social statuses within the play. Jack's true identity is finally revealed including his Christian name: Earnest. This development allows for relationships to develop between different characters. Jack and Algernon discover that they are long lost brothers. "You are the son of my poor sister, Mrs Moncrieff, and consequently Algernon's elder brother." This revelation allows Jack to discover that he is a blood relative of Lady Bracknell and also that they are of the same class. This allows for Jack to be more eligible husband to Gwendolen. This idea is represents the feeling that Wilde has for Victorian society. Jack is the key example of the point that Wilde is trying to convey. The nature of society is vain and the hold of not mixing social classes is unchangeable. In addition to this point Wilde can also express his feelings about hypocrisy in Victorian society. Lady Bracknell shows hypocrisy within the play. Before she met Lord Bracknell she was of a lower class and therefore she moved herself up the social class. However, once she is in the higher social class she is adamant in preventing lower classes form mixing with the higher class people. This once again allows Oscar Wilde to reveal his feelings he has for society. He is clearly suggesting that Victorian society is very hypocritical and is an unfair. 

The resolutions made at the end of the play are rounded off; ending the play with the title. It could be argued that the ending of the play was inevitable. The relationship between Jack and Algernon was always a playful one that brothers usually share. Therefore the idea that they both reunite as brothers at the end of the play could be something that was destined to happen. They both share common interests such as having two identities, they have both had there fair share of bumburying within the play. 

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet and critic. He was regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian era. He was born on 16 October 1854, in Dublin, Ireland, the second of three children born to writer Jane Francesca Agnes née Elgee (1821-1896) and surgeon Sir William Robert Wills Wilde (1815-1876). Wilde's mother was a prominent poet and nationalist; his father a successful ear and eye surgeon and noted philanthropist, knighted in 1864.

In 1884 Wilde married Constance Mary Lloyd (1858-1898) with whom he would have two sons; Cyril Vyvyan. The Wildes settled in Chelsea, London where Oscar continued to write and work for such magazines as the Pall Mall Gazette and became editor of Woman's World in 1887.

Wilde’s ‘scandalous’ past is well known. In 1891 Wilde met English poet Lord Alfred Douglas "Bosie". It was the beginning of a tumultuous relationship that caused many problems for Oscar and eventually led to his downfall. Alfred had a tempestuous relationship with his father which did not help matters. He disapproved of his son's lifestyle and when he learned of his openly living with Wilde, he set out to defame Wilde. For the opening performance of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London the Marquess planned to publicly expose and humiliate Wilde. Oscar took legal steps to protect himself against the 'brute' but he ultimately won a case whereby Wilde was charged with "gross indecency" for homosexual acts. He was sentenced to two years of hard labour.

Wilde’s final play and arguably greatest play: ’The Importance of being Earnest’ was a play that could be directly identifiable with Wilde’s personal life. He was someone who was against the norms of society, being a gay man, hiding his true identity.

By late November 1900 Wilde had developed Meningitis and died.