The Importance of Being Earnest Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
20 May 2009

"The Importance of Being Earnest"

"MISS PRISM: Lady Bracknell, I admit with shame that

I do not know. I only wish I did. The plain facts of the

case are these. On the morning of the day you mention,

a day that is forever branded on my memory, I pre-

pared as usual to take the baby out in its perambulator.

I had also with me a somewhat old but capacious hand-

bag in which I had intended to place the manuscript of

a work of fiction that I had written during my few

unoccupied hours. In a moment of mental abstraction,

for which I never can forgive myself, I deposited the

manuscript in the bassinette, and placed the baby in

the hand-bag." (Wilde 185)

This section of "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is about when Miss Prism confuses a baby with her manuscript. She mistakenly puts the baby in her handbag instead of the manuscript. The author's purpose in this passage is to be humorous and entertaining. This is achieved through the use of imagery, connotation, and farce.

Imagery is used to describe the surroundings and the typical actions that were to take place. Miss Prism says she "prepared as usual to take the baby out in its perambulator" (Wilde 185). This is funny because of the irony. The reader knows what really happened and how Miss Prism actually put the baby in an "old but capacious handbag" (Wilde 185). This presents another image of the handbag. It is humorous because of how outrageous a picture it provides of a baby in a large, extravagant handbag.

Similarly, connotation is used to provide entertainment. Miss Prism calls that day one "that is forever branded on my memory" (Wilde 185). The word branded implies that it is unforgettable, which is humorous because she forgot about the baby, confusing it with a manuscript and then leaving it in ia handbag at the train station. The word shame, when Miss Prism said, "I admit with shame" (Wilde 185), has strong connotation symbolizing embarassment and remorse which is funny because it seems like she made no effort to fix her mistake after it happened.

Finally, Wilde uses farce as a final way to ensure the humor in this passage. Miss Prism said, "In a moment of mental abstraction, for which I never can forgive myself, I deposited the manuscript in the bassinette, and placed the baby in the hand-bag" (Wilde 185). This mistaken identity is so improbable that it is comical and extremely entertaining.

In these ways Wilde makes this section humorous and enjoyable for the reader. This was accomplished through his use of imagery, connotation, and farce.

Atsumori Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
5 May 2009

Twice, three times he strikes; then, still saddled,
In close fight they twine; roll headlong together
Among the surf of the shore.
So Atsumori ffell and was slain, but now the wheel of Fate
Has turned and brought him back.
"There is my enemy," he cries, and would strike,
But the other is grown gentle
And calling on Buddha's name
Has obtained salvation for his foe;
So that they shall be reborn together
On one lotus seat
"No, Rensei is not my enemy.
Pray for me again, oh pray for me again."
(Motokiyo 228-240)

This passage is from the play "Atsumori" by Seami Motokiyo. It is about how the priest, Rensei, killed Atsumori, "but now the wheel of Fate/ Has turned and brought him back" (Motokiyo 231-232). Through this the author is trying to portray the themes of peace and forgiveness. Motokiyo achieves this through the use of imagery, dialogue, and allusion.

The use of imagery of Rensei murdering Atsumori and the bad deeds that were committed strengthens the ideals of peace and forgiveness. "Twice, three times he strikes; then, still sddled/In close fight they twine; roll headlong together/ Among the surf of the shore./ So Atsumori fell and was slain" (Motokiyo 228-231). This is showing the passion and hatred put into the fight and is used to demonstrate how if Atsumori is able to forgive Rensei for something as terrible as killing him, people should be able to forgive each other for lesser things.

Dialogue is used to demonstrate the ability to look past the mistakes of another person and to make peace with one another. At first Atsumori declares, "There is my enemy" (Motokiyo 233) when he sees Rensei, but later says, "No, Rensei is not my enemy" (Motokiyo 239). This shows how he was able to forgive and forget after he saw that Rensei had changed and "grown gentle" (Motokiyo 234). This promotes a tranquil atmosphere and peace between people.

Lastly, allusion to Buddhism and Buddhist ideals is very prominent in this passage. It says, "But the other is grown gentle/ And calling on Buddha's name/ Has obtained salvation for his foe" (Motokiyo 234-236). This is alluding to Buddha and nirvana, because by obtaining salvation Rensei is being forgiven for his sins and by not being ignorant and realizing his ways were wrong he is one step closer to achieving nirvana. In the play it also says, "So that they shall be reborn together/ On one lotus seat" (Motokiyo 237-238). This quote refers to the cycle of being reborn, known as samsara. Through samsara one is supposed to be peaceful and do good deeds until they achieve nirvana. The image of being reborn on a lotus is especially strong because the lotus is sacred to Buddhists, so putting it together with samsara is a very calm, beautiful thing. Also, to achieve nirvana one must be forgiving and focus on the present rather than dwell on events of the past and in that way is achieving the author's purpose.


This passage concludes the story and in that way is also the author's purpose for the play as a whole. The themes and literary devices used show a representation of the story because both sides of the issue are present in the passage. Motokiyo's use of imagery, dialogue, and allusion show the importance of peace and forgiveness and how important it is that they are achieved.