Oscar Wilde claimed that art only existed for its own sake. "All art," he said, "is quite useless." He thought it should be free from any religious, political, or social interference--rather, art should not interfere with those things. His indication was that art is merely meant to entertain and not as a platform for social commentary; however, The Importance of Being Earnest seems rife with social commentary. Some motifs that arise in the play are the matter of morals, of the proper ordering of society, the use and abuse of language, and the relationships between men and women. Choose one of these motifs, and explain how it traces and develops throughout the play. What point seems to be made, despite Wilde's claims otherwise?
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We are about to start a Drama unit, so I need to know what plays you have already read. I would also be willing to accept suggestions if there is a play you particularly want to read. Please do not suggest musicals--I can't sing but I will. Your ears will bleed, and I will send Nick home with you tonight.
What if the situation was reversed? Suppose Lizzie was the one with all the money and Darcy was but an upper-middle-class scrub. What would be different about the plot of the novel? Would a woman in Regency England deign to date below her class? What would their courtship look like? If money is power (and, let's face it, it is), would a relationship work with the suggested paradigm?
Austen has been accused of creating overtly feminist characters. She has also been accused of propagating negative, stereotypical gender types. Select a character, and explain the extent to which he or she is an archetypal character. For help on archetypes, click here.
Please post one of your dating profiles--the one of which you are most proud.
In response, you need to comment to each other which of the ladies of the novel would be most likely to go out with your posted man--and why that would be a good pairing. Remember that there are several women--Jane, Lizzie, Caroline, Kitty, Mary, Lydia, Charlotte . . . Read about changes in Victorian England here, then answer this question:
How has the text, so far, illustrated some of the changes occurring in Victorian culture? Use specific examples from the text (quoting passages where necessary) to make parallels between the changes specified in the article. After reading the chapter on Marriage and Family, consider your own point of view. What does the ideal relationship look like to you? What values are important that both you and your partner need to share? What differences are acceptable? Are there any non-starters (as in, I will not date anyone with less education than I have)? Why are these things important to you? Where do you derive your own ideas of what a "good" relationship looks like? Which on the six basic needs are more important than others? Finally, what is your carry-away from the chapter (in other words, what does it help you understand insofar as marriage and family is concerned)?
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April 2016
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