Quote 1
I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact.
Who is the speaker?
Algernon
"I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men, although I have the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. We work together, in fact. However, I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires. Do you smoke?"
Who is the speaker?
Lady Bracknell (Aunt Augusta)
"Well ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him after all."
Who is the speaker?
Cecily
"...your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier"
Who is the speaker (two speakers)?
Gwendolen and Cecily
"A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her"
Who is the speaker?
Lady Bracknell (Aunt Augusta)
"I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact."
What is the context (page number for +300 points)?
Algernon and Jack are chatting over cucumber sandwiches and bread and butter while waiting for Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell. Jack mentions he came to town to propose to Gwendolen, sparking this conversation regarding each’s perspectives on marriage. (Page 111)
"I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men, although I have the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. We work together, in fact. However, I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires. Do you smoke?"
What is the context (page number for +300 points)?
Aunt Augusta is “interviewing” Jack to see if he would be a suitable husband for Gwendolen after he proposes to her. (Page 124)
"Well ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him after all."
What is context (page number for +300 points)?
This is a conversation between Cecily and Algernon when they first meet. Algernon has introduced himself as Ernest, Jack's fake younger brother. (Page 149)
"...your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier"
What is the context (page number for +300 points)?
Jack and Algernon are trying to win back Gwendolen and Cecily. Both girls tell Jack and Algernon that they need to change their names to Ernest in order to marry them. (Page 166)
"A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her"
What is the context (page number for +300 points)?
Lady Bracknell is talking about Algernon’s engagement to Cecily to see if she is a viable option for marriage. (Page 169)
"I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact."
What technique does Wilde use in this quote?
People typically see marriage as a positive thing to be cherished, the complete opposite of Algernon who would wish to forget the fact. By having Algernon express that proposals and marriage are unromantic, a belief contrary to societal values, the author uses inversion to develop satire. Through leveraging the audience’s preexisting values, Wilde is able to turn Algernon’s reasoning for his desire to remain unmarried into comedy. This satire is further developed by the fact that Algernon immediately wishes to marry Cecily upon meeting her, a fact that runs contrary to his actions prior.
"I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men, although I have the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. We work together, in fact. However, I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires. Do you smoke?"
What technique does Wilde use in this quote?
Wilde uses inversion, treating the process of marriage analytically rather than with emotion and passion. Instead of trying to connect with Jack on a personal level and determine if he would be a good partner, Lady Bracknell sees the process of her daughter’s engagement as a task. Her references to “eligible men” and a “list” shows that Lady Bracknell doesn’t care about traditional elements about Jack’s background, or whether or not he is a good person for her daughter. Instead, she treats the process analytically, disregarding the love that her daughter might have for this man.
"Well ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him after all."
What technique does Wilde use in this quote (two techniques)?
Here, Wilde uses both inversion and dramatic irony. The inversion comes from Cecily falling in love with Ernest because he is a mysterious troublemaker, which is not typical, especially from the Victorian times. Associating love with popularity rather than emotion changes love from a professional to personal environment. The dramatic irony is that we, the audience, know that this is Algernon, not Ernest, while Cecily fully believes she is talking to Ernest.
"...your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier"
What technique does Wilde use in this quote?
Inversion; Wilde makes the situation of Jack and Algernon not having the name “Ernest” a serious issue in their relationships with Gwendolen and Cecily. He contrasts the frivolity and playfulness of each relationship with the drastic measure of changing one’s identity. This “transactional” requirement, where the men have to change their name in exchange for marriage, adds a layer of humor to the love in Wilde’s play, making it seem more professional than emotional.
"A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her"
What technique does Wilde use in this quote?
This example contrasts wealth and love in marriage to satirize this situation. Lady Bracknell’s enthusiasm early on shows her satisfaction with the amount of money that Cecily has. Her later remark about her being attractive “now that she looks at her” is the satirical aspect because it shows that Cecily is now found “beautiful” enough and “worthy” for marriage because of money and status, not because of traditional elements such as love, support, or an overall healthy relationship.
"I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact."
What is the purpose of satire as used in this quote?
Wilde’s use of satire in Algernon’s expression of his opinions about marriage is intended to demonstrate the absurdity of political and arranged marriages. Through this satire, Wilde hopes to dissuade people from taking part in these “business” marriages and instead marrying for love. This quote reveals Wilde’s intention to challenge the Victorian standard of “business” marriages and support the prevalence of love.
"I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men, although I have the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. We work together, in fact. However, I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires. Do you smoke?"
What is the purpose of satire as used in this quote?
Wilde’s satire shows how Victorian society doesn’t value people for who they are as a person. Society didn’t value important traits such as intelligence, character, or generosity. It is more important that someone was rich, had good status, and comes from a respectable background. A successful relationship usually comes from the partners having true love for each other and having good qualities and character, not from status or how well they look or “appear”. Lady Bracknell's comments in this quote highlight these unconventional ways of going about a relationship.
"Well ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him after all."
What is the purpose of satire as used in this quote?
Wilde uses this inversion and irony to show Cecily's delusion in who she thinks Ernest is, revealing another satirical element of the play. Choosing to marry Ernest because of his name and his appearance, while being lied to about his true identity, mocks society’s trust in attractive people and products despite not knowing what actually is true about them. Cecily’s diary and her delusions about Ernest emphasize the satire that Wilde establishes.
"...your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier"
What is the purpose of satire as used in this quote?
The immediate seriousness assigned to the situation makes a mockery of the social standards to which members of the higher classes in society held their partners. Wealth, social status, social connections, upbringing, and many uncontrollable factors were criticized and optimized in picking a partner; Wilde’s over-exaggeration here is commentary on the high bar set for dating and marriage. In addition, the men’s readiness to change their identity for marriage criticizes the misguided hunt for wealth and status in society.
"A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her"
What is the purpose of satire as used in this quote?
Wilde incorporated this quote into the play to emphasize the transactional nature and the materialistic ideals of Victorian society. By creating an ironic remark about how someone is now extremely beautiful because of their money shows that true bonds, connection, and character don’t matter as much as status, wealth, and image does. There are no deep connections: everything is very surface level and based on appearance.
"I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact."
What is a connection that can be made from this quote to today's society?
Due to inflation, increased prices of goods and housing, and increased cost of living, more people are getting married for financial reasons. The difficulty of making enough money to live comfortably is pushing many people to get married for financial stability, with this being listed as a major factor for marriage, sometimes more important than love. While the nuances might not be the exact same as in the play, maintaining a balance between class structure and financial stability, fewer people are marrying for love, an idea Wilde opposes in this quote.
"I feel bound to tell you that you are not down on my list of eligible young men, although I have the same list as the dear Duchess of Bolton has. We work together, in fact. However, I am quite ready to enter your name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother requires. Do you smoke?"
What is a connection that can be made from this quote to today's society?
The satire in Wilde’s quote connects to today’s society by reflecting a judgemental and overly critical side of modern communities. By approaching love and relationships with an analytical perspective, trying to find the optimal partner rather than one that makes someone happy, society has grown to judge quickly and to point out flaws more easily. Although “interviews” aren’t necessarily common today, critical evaluations still exist, even outside of dating culture.
"Well ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him after all."
What is a connection that can be made from this quote to today's society?
This connects to today through social media, where people read and see things online and believe them without a second thought, often creating delusional beliefs in their head. Just as Cecily was brought to love Ernest and trust him because of how he initially appeared, society is brought to trust influencers and products because of how they appear in social media. Often, our society is misguided by the things we find online.
"...your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier"
What is a connection that can be made from this quote to today's society?
Today, Wilde’s satire connects to high standards of appearance that society perpetuates. Social media and famous influencers represent a small portion of the population that misrepresents wealth, physical appearance, diet, and more. The ability of this small portion to be portrayed as a “standard” for the rest of the world through social media platforms influences society, which equates their appearance with a reasonable expectation.
"A hundred and thirty thousand pounds! And in the Funds! Miss Cardew seems to me a most attractive young lady, now that I look at her"
What is a connection that can be made from this quote to today's society?
This connects to today’s issues with popularity and money. Today, many people base someone on being a “good fit” in a relationship, or assign high praise to someone, based on how much money they come from or their popularity, with social media being a prime example. Many people hold influencers or popular figures in high regard even if they are not morally good, or have the qualities a relationship needs to be truly successful.