Blog #7

The characters in an Oscar Wilde play often sound alike--they sound like their author. Are the witticisms of Wilde's characters a distraction to the plot or do they actually help to build the individual characters?

Part 1)
I enjoyed this drama. It was short, quick to read, and funny. I understood more of the jokes in this drama than in The Taming of the Shrew. I think it would be even funnier performed with the different intonations of the voices and the actions of the characters. There was not a long plot, but the characters definitely tangled themselves into a mess in a short amount of time. I was interested in finding out how everything was going to work out. But, I was surprised at the ending that no one cared that Jack (or Ernest) turned out to be Gwendolyn's cousin.

Part 2)
The witticisms of Wilde's characters do have a similar style, however, each character has their own twist to the jokes they make. The different characters are still developed to have varying personalities. It's the clashing of the different flavors of witticisms that makes the characters' interactions so humorous. For example, most of the witticisms made by Algernon characterize him as an outspoken smart aleck. The jokes that Jack makes characterize him as a little more serious. In the scene with the cigarette case, the men take on very different roles. Algernon is setting Jack up the whole time. He knows the truth, but he is just picking Jack apart until he admits it. The two different personalities mesh with each other to create a back and forth, funny conversation. Similarly, the characters of the women in the play are developed very differently. The witty remarks that Lady Bracknell makes would not have the same effect coming from Cecily and vice versa. Although the type of humor is similar throughout the play, each character uses the humor a little differently.

Blog #6

Most of the humor in Taming of the Shrew is based on romantic conflict. Choose one of the many conflicts between two (or three) characters where romance is in the air. Looking at particular passages in the play, discuss how is humor generated by the situation and what sort of subtext that humor may or may not be concealing.

Part 1)
So far, I am enjoying the play. Sometimes it is a little hard to follow, but it reads quickly. I definitely think that it would be much better to watch the actual play performed than to read it. I'm pretty sure that I don't understand all of the jokes. I can tell some lines are supposed to be funny, but I don't know why. I find it interesting that the women have no say in who their husband is, and that marriage is based on material things.

Part 2)
The interaction between Petruchio and Katharina is an interesting romantic conflict. Petruchio wants to marry Katharina because he wants her dowry. Although most men do not think that putting up with Katharina's wench-like personality is worth her dowry, Petruchio insists that he can tame her. Katharina wants absolutely nothing to do with Petruchio, and repeatedly insults him. Petruchio, however, does not deter. The meeting of these two extreme characters is humorous. While most women probably respond submissively to Petruchio dominating attitude, Katharina resists it. Even when Petruchio tries to be sweet to Katharina, she insults him:
PET. Nay, come, Kate, come; you must not look so sour.
KATH. It is in my fashion, when I see a crab.
PET. Why, here's no crab; and therefore look not sour.
KATH. There is, there is.
PET. Then show it me.
KATH. Had I a glass, I would.
PET. What, you mean my face? (35)
The humor in this passage shows the feisty personality of Katharina. She, most likely, will not be a typical housewife that will cater to her husband. Her humorous insults however, could be concealing her want for a romance and a husband. Maybe she does not know quite how to express her feelings.