Scene 4 writing task

Sitting around the table are Stanley and Stella conversing on the events of the previous evening.

Stanley  Stella baby im so sorry.

Stella  Its alright Stan i happen to be used to it but what about Blanche, the poor thing was shaking out of fear.

Stanley  I was drunk Stell, it wasnt my fault.

Stella  I was talking about Blanche.

Stanley  Do we have to talk about that drama queen.

Stella  Stan she is my sister and I happen to be the only one she has at the moment so show a little interest.

Stanley  Well she aint doing us any good Stell.

Stella  Why do you say that? She has been through so much after last night only God knows hows she's feeling or what she's thinking.
  
Stanley  Well that's her fault for being where she is'nt wanted!

Stella  You are really not helping Stan, not one bit!

Stanley  (goes over to her in a lazy stride, kneels to her level and whispers something in her ear softly) Baby we dont need her, we dont need her. It can be just you and me, like old times.

Stella  (moves her head the opposite way to Stanleys face, and looks out of the window) She's my sister Stan, how many times do i have to say that to you, she's blood. She has been through far too much for me to just leave her like this.

Stanley  Stell just think about, think about us, think about me, then you'll realise. (walking towards the door) I'm off to grease the car, be back in a minute. (shouts) Think about it Stell.

Stella  (turns her head slowly round) But I love her Stan - Oh he's gone.

a) Imagine that while Stella is in hospital after having the baby, she writes an entry in her diary about how she feels about returning home to Stanley and Blanche. Write this diary entry in which Stella expresses her hopes and fears for the future. 


Dear diary,


I am so overwhelmed at the idea of having a baby. I always wanted there to be a third member to my perfect little family. Yes there are complications, such as Stanley and his violent outbreaks but what can i say i love him dearly. He means the world to me, im HIS baby. I think this baby is going to do us good. It will help calm Stan and hopefully  minimise his drinking; i wouldnt want him to be in that terrorising state near my baby, my life. Oh how much i miss him, i wish he was near me... oh and Blanche my beloved sister how could i have forgotten. I miss her so much, it feels comforting to know that a family member is beside me. Someone i can talk to and relate to. She's been through so much bless her i just hope she's getting on well at home with Stanley. I hope everything goes to plan with her, she really and truly seems to be in love with Mitch. He is a wonderful person and a gentleman just as Blanche likes them. He seems to be the only one who can make her forget about the going ons of the past but look forwards to her future. 

Homework: A Streetcar Named Desire

Why does Blanche replace the bottle and wash the glass after having a drink?

Blanche ‘carefully replaces the bottle’ because she doesn’t want there to be a sign of her ever drinking. This is because she may have stopped drinking and so wouldn’t want anyone to know that she still does. Blanche then ‘washes out the tumbler at the sink’, making sure she takes precaution not to leave any visible signs to show that she has continued drinking. It may also be that this one drink is only a one off, as she has been confronted by a whole new environment that is far different to what she is used to. She is wary that her nerves are getting the better or her as she says ‘I’ve got to keep hold of myself!’ She has faced a lot of difficulty in life, drinking has somewhat become a friend to her, it is something that keeps her together and may be that one factor within her life that has helped her keep going. 

Pick out the pet names which Blanche has for Stella and explain why Blanche uses them?

‘Stella for star’ seems to be the first pet name that Blanche calls Stella. This shows that in Blanche’s eyes Stella gives off the impression of being a star, in ways of her joyful and bubbly personality and the way she behaves in general. The other such pet name that Blanche has for Stella is: Precious lamb, signifying that Stella maybe the youngest and most spoilt sibling. Baby, honey and blessed child/baby are another three; these words suggest that Stella is very near and dear to Blanche. They have a close relationship, and share a close sisterly bond. 

What evidence is there that Blanche is concerned about her looks? What does this tell you about her character?

Blanche begins by saying ‘you haven’t said a word about my appearance’ suggesting that she may be in need of compliment. Spending everyday teaching might have made her feel bland and plain, and so being complimented may bump up her self-esteem. On the other hand this passage could also show Blanche’s vain side, the side of her that constantly wants attention, and to be admired. ‘I want you to look at my figure! (She turns around)’ this again shows her craving for compliments or simply that she thinks highly of the way she looks. ‘You see I have that awful vanity about my looks even though my looks are slipping!’ she wants reassurance from Stella to let her know that she looks fine. This shows that Blanche is concerned about her looks, age maybe being one factor and the amount of stress she has been through the other factor. Over all Blanche during her early years may have been used to being praised about her looks, this may explain her yearning for positive comments from Stella.

What is Blanche’s attitude towards the place where Stella lives?

Blanche’s first impressions give away her thoughts towards the place where Stella lives ‘This – can this be – her home?’ this response to first laying eyes on Stella’s home shows how shocked she is. It wasn’t what Blanche was expecting and the paused between her spoken words suggest this. In the stage direction it is described how Blanches behaves towards the home of her sister ‘BLANCHE sits in a chair very stiffly with her shoulders slightly hunched and her legs pressed close together and her hands tightly clutching her purse as if she were quite cold....’ this passage implies that Blanche is very uncomfortable and in disbelief of the accommodations of her younger sister Stella. Blanche is used to a higher standard and way of living since that’s how she was brought up but she also expected Stella to live the same way (the way they used to) little did she know that those ways had changed. Blanche is quite put off by the size and sheer elegance of Stella’s home. ‘What? Two rooms, did you say? Blanche is in shock and gives off the thought that she doesn’t approve of the way her sister lives.

Instructions

Dear Sir/Madame

I am writing to inform you of my short absence from the Manor, in which case you will have to replace me. I am sorry for the short notice but you seemed to me to be best suited as my replacement. As you have applied for this position I am afraid to mention it bears with it very hard word and dedication. Mr Moncrieff has many needs to be tended to, and so I hope very dearly that you do a good job of it. He in particular has a very big appetite, so make sure that food is always at hand otherwise his temper will get the better of him and we certainly don't want that. Muffins are of his favourite so keep plenty in the house. But do remember that when Sir Algernon is a slight bit upset he will overeat with little emotion.

Lady Bracknell Speak

Dear Eugene

Ernest, Ernest, Ernest, this name has an absolute repulsive ring to it. The cheek,  how could he even consider having interest in my dear Gwendolen let alone propose to her. Today my own Eugene, I came across a terrible situation. Ernest Worthing asked for Gwendolens’ hand in marriage.

Gwendolen must be worth 10 of him. She is such a beautiful girl at a Young ripe age, with an amazing unspoiled nature. He would not be able to look after her properly, Although he claims he loves her profoundly he does not have any relations! How ridiculous is that? He was found in a leather bag! I must say when I heard these words from his mouth I found is extremely hard to control my laughter!  Found in a leather bag! What a joke!

I understand that i might seem like a cruel person, but in these days you have to be careful. The society is not like it was 5 years ago. We are higher class people we have to worry about every little thing. What will everyone say when they find out about Gwendolen marrying a Man Found in a Bag! we will become a laughing stock! all the women will mock me.

What shocks me most is the daughter I raised to be sensible and understanding has now for the first time gone against me. She is also persistent in wedding Ernest. She says she will not marry anyone else. She will never forgive me etc. But this is her inner child speaking. Soon she will come to her senses.

What are the similarities between Cecily and Algernon?

What are the similarities between Cecily and Algernon? Compare and contrast their use of inversions and the role which imagination plays in their lives. 

There seem to be many underlying similarities between Algernon and Cecily in the play ‘The importance of being Earnest’. They are both outspoken and imaginative individuals who enjoy having a laugh once in a while. They are both of similar status and so come across more alike than different.  Oscar Wilde enjoys including his humorous and witty side within Algernon and Cecily’s characters, and this can been witnessed throughout the play. In the following essay I will be comparing the similarities between Algernon and Cecily.

Algernon is very laid back and down to earth about life in general. He doesn’t take anything seriously and enjoys the pleasures of being a bachelor, for example he says ‘the only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain’. He doesn’t believe in committing to one person and takes pleasure in variety. Similarly Cecily is also a much laid back and realistic young girl who enjoys dwelling on the beauty of imagination and thinking less about the more unentertaining side of life; education. ‘But I don’t like German...I know perfectly well that I look plain after my German lesson.’ She is very young and would not want her youth to be worn out by studying. She has perfect intention to do far more interesting things with her life as with Algernon who always conjures up better and more inventive ideas; they rather not spend their time doing useless and uncreative things that would bring boredom to one’s life/lifestyle. 

Algernon and Cecily are both incredibly imaginative. Algernon has himself an invalid friend who goes by the name ‘Bunbury’, whom he uses to get out of tedious social occasions. This aspect of his personality makes him amusing and somewhat sarcastic. ‘I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose’. Bunbury is a work of fiction and imagination working hand in hand. Similarly Cecily also has a wicked imagination; her fascination with ‘Uncle Jack’s brother’ had moved her, so much so that she fabricated an elaborative romance between herself and Earnest. This romance consisted of a ring, love letters (written by her) and an engagement that had also been broken off sometime during the all invented love story. 

The play by Oscar Wilde contains many inversions that portray accepted Victorian practices with regard to gender roles. For example Lady Bracknell seizes the role of the father in interviewing Jack, since typically this was a father’s job to do so. In another case it can relate the practice of marriage which seems to be the main focus of the play. When Algernon remarks, ‘Divorces are made in heaven,’ he inverts the cliché about marriages being ‘made in heaven.’ 

To put it briefly Algernon and Cecily share many aspects of their personalities together. They indeed have more similarities than differences. They are both witty and outspoken individuals who aren’t afraid of letting their imaginations run wild.

Analysis of Act1 Scene 1 of the Importance of Being Earnest

In act 1 scene of the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' we can see that Argenon has a higher relative status than that of Jack Worthing. This is because he is leading the conversation, he has a strong grip on the conversation and does not let it be taken into Jacks control. All the way through the scene Algenon and Jack seem to be having a normal one-to-one conversation, as they take turns to speak; one doesn't have superiority over the other to be speaking continuously throughout the scene. 

The manner of the conversation is informal. It's between two close friends talking about as well as teasing each other over their made up names or people. This also comes in under 'coinage'. Argenon has made up a  term for an 'imaginary friend' if you like to call it that.