Although this passage in the play is often forgotten, it underlies some important themes and reveals true yet opposing personas of some of the characters. This passage initially introduces Miss Prism and Cecily to the play where they begin to discuss Jack. The key concern in this passage is undoubtedly about how he is supposedly proper and wishes that Cecily would further her education. This passage is significant in the play as it additionally shows how social classes are used even in the countryside of people with lesser social status. Comedy of manners and finally how literary techniques are used in the play also play a main role in this passage.
As this is the first introduction of Cecily and Miss Prism, we get a clear insight of their facade. Firstly, Cecily appears innocently, yet quite naïve. When she states that she looks, “quite plain,” after her German lesson, she comes across as unintelligent. As this play was set in the Victoria era, looks and beauty were of a higher value than education, especially among females allowing Wilde to show their injudicious ways. This statement also duplicates as a take on the comedy of manners, associating looks with education.
It is also revealed that Cecily doesn’t seem to care for education, unlike her guardian and Miss Prism. When she is told to begin her German she …show more content…
When Cecily is watering the flowers she calls it a “utilitarian occupation” and that it’s “rather Moulton’s duty.” Again as it is set in the Victorian era and due to their social class, occupational labour is kept for servants. It shows her old-fashioned yet ludicrous ways that just merely watering the flowers is a servant’s work. Miss Prism is also shown in her role as a teacher and educator. She has the upmost respect for Jack, and his alleged high “sense of duty and responsibility,” showing she does value true and rightful characteristics of a
As this is the first introduction of Cecily and Miss Prism, we get a clear insight of their facade. Firstly, Cecily appears innocently, yet quite naïve. When she states that she looks, “quite plain,” after her German lesson, she comes across as unintelligent. As this play was set in the Victoria era, looks and beauty were of a higher value than education, especially among females allowing Wilde to show their injudicious ways. This statement also duplicates as a take on the comedy of manners, associating looks with education.
It is also revealed that Cecily doesn’t seem to care for education, unlike her guardian and Miss Prism. When she is told to begin her German she …show more content…
When Cecily is watering the flowers she calls it a “utilitarian occupation” and that it’s “rather Moulton’s duty.” Again as it is set in the Victorian era and due to their social class, occupational labour is kept for servants. It shows her old-fashioned yet ludicrous ways that just merely watering the flowers is a servant’s work. Miss Prism is also shown in her role as a teacher and educator. She has the upmost respect for Jack, and his alleged high “sense of duty and responsibility,” showing she does value true and rightful characteristics of a