Habib
QuotesThemesEarnest/EngA10 November2013/Short
Key Quotations for Themes in The Importance of Being Earnest
Choose ONE of the following themes. From what we have read so far in class, select 2 quotations, say who is speaking to whom and when, and comment on what the quotation shows about the theme. Use the chart below. An example has been done for you.
Theme: MARRIAGE
Quotation
Who is speaking to whom/ when
Significance/Comment
“in married life, three is company and two is none”
Algernon to Jack, discussing marriage in Act 1
Shows a cynical view of marriage as boring unless there is cheating/flirting going on. Funny because it reverses a common saying: two’s company, three’s a crowd
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.”
“Lane's views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility.”
Algernon to Jack
Algernon to himself
Demonstrates a fixed and cynical view of family relationships. Funny as it opposes men and woman as if they both grow up opposed direction, but none of them are right. Woman should not become like their mothers although they do, whereas men should become like their mothers but they don’t.
This is hypocritical as Algernon states that it is the responsibility of the lower classes to set a moral example for the higher classes. This is contrary to conventional thinking
Marriage
Family relationships
Good manners and appearances
Education
Happiness
Key Quotations for Themes in The Importance of Being Earnest
Choose ONE of the following themes. From what we have read so far in class, select 2 quotations, say who is speaking to whom and when, and comment on what the quotation shows about the theme. Use the chart below. An example has been done for you.
Theme: MARRIAGE
Quotation
Who is speaking to whom/ when
Significance/Comment
“in married life, three is company and two is none”
Algernon to Jack, discussing marriage in Act 1
Shows a cynical view of marriage as boring unless there is cheating/flirting going on. Funny because it reverses a common saying: two’s company, three’s a crowd
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.”
“Lane's views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility.”
Algernon to Jack
Algernon to himself
Demonstrates a fixed and cynical view of family relationships. Funny as it opposes men and woman as if they both grow up opposed direction, but none of them are right. Woman should not become like their mothers although they do, whereas men should become like their mothers but they don’t.
This is hypocritical as Algernon states that it is the responsibility of the lower classes to set a moral example for the higher classes. This is contrary to conventional thinking
Marriage
Family relationships
Good manners and appearances
Education
Happiness