Algernon and Jack Essays

Algernon and Jack Essays Algernon and Jack Essay Algernon and Jack Essay The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wild was first performed on the 14th of February 1895, St Valentines Day. It is a play about love and romance in the upper classes, it is set in the present (1890s). It is drawing room comedy, otherwise known as comedy of manors. Oscar Wild is one of the worlds literary greats, he wrote this play shortly before he was imprisoned for gorse indecencies. This play is divided into 3 acts; I will be discussing and contrasting scenes one and two from the first act. It is a play about two idle young men, Algernon and Earnest (otherwise known as Jack), who in attempt to marry two very attractive young ladies pretend that there names are Earnest. In the first act the key relationships between Algernon and Jack are as friends who have not seen each other for a period off about a week. It is in the first scene that Algernon discovers that his friends name isnt earnest, its Jack. In the second scene Earnest proposes to Gwendolyn but gets refused by her mother and Algernon decides to go visit Jack in the country. I believe that too correctly portray the relationships between the two characters I need to show differences between; mood, tone, dress and personality. The first act, scene 1, opens with Algernon talking to his manservant in a very incoherent manor; I would portray Algernon as a man who is not very interested in anything but himself. Algernon is constantly talking in the first person always with emphasis on the word I this referring to himself, this gives the audience helpful insight into what really matters in life, him! Jack enters dressed in a smart but not ostentations attire, Algernon in contrast is dressed in an ostentatious suit with large cuffs and is eating. The men talk idly; Algernon is a dandy, he see only the pleasures in life and has no worries, I as Algernon would constantly smile, raise my eyebrows and lounge around on the couch or chair, crossing my legs and eating in a most informal manor. Jack is much more serious and formal, his clothes are a darker colour, he has come up too town to propose to her [Gwendolyn] this is making him nervous, but he is a complete gentlemen. He is easily manipulated by Algernon, the tone of his voice is slightly deeper then Algernons and I would portray his personality at this point as one who is board but as the same time is nervous. Jack confesses that his name isnt Earnest at all, its Jack, to Algernons amazement. At this time I, as Algernon, stand up horrified with looks of shock and stunned indignation upon my face and my tone would go up a note to signify surprise, I place my hand on my hips and stair at Jack up in arms that he did not tells this to me sooner. Lady Bracknell enters with Gwendolyn (Jacks bride to be) and I watch with pleasure as Jack squirms and blushes in front of Ms Fairfax (Gwendolyn) I leave the room to allow Jack to propose. Algernon is constantly trying to get one over on his naive friend but in contrast Jack (formally known as Earnest) has shown that in some ways such as; mood, tone and personality he is quite similar to Algernon and is not so naive and easily manipulated as one might think. Scene two, in mid proposal, on bended knee Lady Bracknell enters and is shocked at what she sees, I as Jack am even more shocked and suddenly start with absolute fright as the colour drains out of my face. Lady Bracknell begins to interview me as to my suitability to be married to her only daughter, I am extremely nervous, fiddling with my hand, running fingers through my hair and playing with my cuffs to show the audience just what an unpleasant situation it is. My voice is shaking. As the interview digresses I (Jack) starts to fell more comfortable with some of the questions, I starts to relax and gain more control over my emotions. Aunt Augusta then asks about my parentage (Jack is adopted) and I hurriedly confess that I have none, to her abhorrence lady Bracknell leaves and Jack is left looking stunned and shocked. Shakespeare wedding march can be heard coming from Algernons piano and he walks in very gay and debonair strutting and swinging his arms, he suddenly sees that his friend is very upset and his temperament changes to one of compassion, Gwendolyns always refusing people as if to tell Jack that he is not the only one. Jack confesses that it was Aunt Augusta that refused him, in contrast to the first scene Jack becomes less of a Gentleman and displays his anger by distributing Aunt Augusta, I as Jack have a very upset tone and am pacing, which is one of Algernons mannerisms. Gwendolyn enters and confesses her love to Jack, Jack is pleased and blushes, and he is once more his chivalrous self. Algernon confesses that his Aunt would not like this meeting taking place and is hurriedly told by Gwendolen to turn his back and give them privacy. I (Algernon) am not used to being told what to do especially in my own house, I pace over to the fireplace and start eavesdropping on there convocation in full view of the audience, I am trying to find Jacks address in the country and am behaving slightly sly about it. The scene ends with Jack rushing out on Algernon telling him that there meeting has not been a grate success, Jack is flushed, red in the face and peeved that is friend is acting so languidly about the whole situation. Jack leaves via stage right leaving Algernon and his manservant Lane occupying the stage. I look pleased and tell Lane to bring me some sherry, I am smiling, quite in contrast to Jacks last portrayal of his emotions, I stand up and confess in contrast to Jacks statement that the whole situation has been a great success and tell Lane, smiling and arrogantly, to fetch my suits as I am going to go visit Jack in the country and propose to his beautiful young ward whom I am in love with. I believe that as an actor the relationship between Jack and Algernon is not a complicated one. I as Algernon want to be married to Jacks excessively pretty young ward. Jack wants to be wed to my excessively pretty cousin, in this case are wants are similar. We both want to live happy, aimless lives with the woman we love. In my opium the only differences between Algernon and Earnest are there moods, personality, dress and tone; they both want the same things. As an actor I would portray this relationship kindly, in the first scene we are good friends and in slight contrast the second scene we are friends who have had a dispute but both know that we cannot stay exasperated at each other for ever and indeed in the final act, not to give the conclusion away, our relationship concludes, happily.