Puns in the importance of being ernest

The older is very dark, involving the concealment of official neglect, crime or possibly treason. The more modern meaning closely resembles the character’s multiple misunderstandings. – Chasuble – The word chasuble is a vestment worn during services. This is, of course, appropriate given the nature of Chasuble’s profession. Chasuble’s name is also a pun because when said aloud can sound like chaseable. Regarding Miss Prism, he is in fact chase-able, which he had previously claimed he was not. Act I, scene 1, Algernon “ Anyone can play (piano) accurately but I play with wonderful expression” – This is a good thumbnail of Wilde’sphilosophyof art. Wilde was heavily influenced by Walter Pater and the other aesthetes of the Victorian age.

They believed art should concern itself only with its aesthetic qualities that art should exist for art’s sake alone. Therefore, art should not be a straightforward representation of reality–it should not be ” accurate,” as Algernon would say–but rather it should be an extension of its creator’s artistic styles. Hence, it should have ” wonderful expression. Act I, scene 1, Algernon – ” If the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? ” – We have a humorous depiction of class tensions here, where Lane, the butler, is given his fair share of droll sayings, and even Algernon seems to recognize that the lower clas has more power than they seem to. Act I, scene 1 (Algernon to Jack) Algernon: “ You don’t seem to realize that in married life; three is company and two is none. ”

The fight over something as basic as food-something that everyhuman beinghas a carnal need for (like Algernon’s wolfing down of the cucumber sandwiches to Lady Bracknell distress, Jack’s settling for bread and butter, Algernon’s consumption of Jack’s wine and muffins)- we suspect that the food fights are all puns for mocking their repressed sexual life expression and frustration in the face of unusually domineering women. Algernon. [Picking up empty plate in horror. ] Good heavens! Lane! Why are there no cucumber sandwiches? I ordered them specially. Lane. [Gravely. ] There were no cucumbers in the market this morning, sir.

I went down twice. Algernon. No cucumbers! …Algernon. I am greatly distressed, Aunt Augusta, about there being no cucumbers, not even for readymoney. Act I, scene 1 (Lady Bracknell to Algernon) Lady Bracknell: “ Well, I must say Algernon that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or to die. This shilly-shallying with the questions is absurd. Nor do I in any way approve of the modern sympathy with invalids. I consider it morbid…I should be much obliged if you would ask Mr. Bunbury from me to be kind enough not to have a relapse on Saturday for I rely on you to arrange mymusicframe…”