Dishonesty in The Importance Of Being Earnest

In the play, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde dishonesty and deceit are employed throughout the entire play.  In my perspective I feel that the restrictions and standards of Victorian Society lead that particular group of people into behaving the way they did. If it weren't for society's restrictions people of high society wouldn't feel the need to lie and hide feeling and thoughts. Nearly every line in the play was a pun, epigram, or implied some sort of irony. Dishonesty in marriage is expressed in Lady Bracknell's line, "... I am not in favor of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which I think is never advisable." I think this justify the fact that marriage wasn't about love, but the appearance of it. Two people living under one roof, putting on a show for those around them. Dishonesty is boldly seen because Jack the main character , has been lying about his name." Jack?... No there is very little music in the name Jack, It does not thrill... the only really safe name is Ernest." This example of dishonesty goes beyond a reference to the name Ernest but, also adds humor to the idea of love. Love isn't based on name, or social standings but of pure attractions between one another. Deceitfulness in the pursuit of pleasure is seen in our everyday lives. The dreams we set for ourselves are all our pursuit of pleasure. But, I think the main example of the  pursuit of happiness in the play is Jack pretending to be Ernest. It is for his own selfish reasoning that he lies and it is for his own personal gain. He didnt think about the longterm effects, he just thought about himself.


In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde uses satirical writing style to poking fun at the foolishness of Victorian society. But, I think he's also poking fun at the fact that lying, if done well, ends well. For example, if he would have lied and never truly let known who he was he would have still lived a promising life with his wife and family. He is mostly creating an alternate ending to his life, the happily ever after that he never received. I feel that he is also, trying to express his feeling that lying only separates people farther from one another.

Animal Farm Project Evaluation

Annie: Video

I enjoyed Annie and Austyn's Video of their depiction of Animal Farm. The idea and concept of animal Farm was shown mainly through the words and caption in the movie. The scenes with the animals throughout the movie conveyed a strong sense of relevance to the book.

Emily: Photoshop Graphic Organizer

Emily's photoshop of art paralleling very obvious, which made her presentation clear and direct. The effect that added to my understanding and cause me to rethink was the different and varied  people who worked throughout the social pyramid.

Kelsey: Comic Strip

Kelsey and Kayla's comic strip really play by played showed the events in Animal Farm. These clips actually cleared up some of my thoughts about the book. Overall, the theme illuminated strongly through there presentation.

Talia: Photoshop Graphic Organizer

Talia's Photoshop picture  took a different perspective of the book. Her paralleling of the Russian Revolution and Animal Farm to many issues today, such as social class. Also, her graphic organizer depicted the social standings of the characters of Animal Farm.

Levi: Video

Levi's video was very amusing to watch! he in a sense paralleled, or more redefined what Animal Farm is in today's world, he touched all the bases of the themes and retold the story of Animal Farm!

Hailey: Poem

Hailey's poem was a poem that was fun an yet informative. She seemed to have mentioned ideas that I noticed while reading the novel and from discussions from class. The poem in general showed a good understanding of Animal Farm.

Angela: Poster

Angela's poster was a graphic organizer which included unique elements. She really paralleled Animal Farm to the present day life.

Sidney: Poem

Sidney's poem was very relevant to the novel, it in face retold the story of Animal Farm. The overall message was strong.

Giselle: Slide show

Giselle's slide show presentation was very well done. The theme of authority taking advantage of power was show clearly and also the symbolism and paralleling shown through.

Daniel: Photoshop Pic

Daniel's picture paralleled the Russian Revolution to the book it was  based of very well. The heads of the founders of the revolution attached to the corresponding animal bodies gave a good understanding of the book.

Adora (me): After looking back on all these projects I think that I did a good job. I put in a decent amount of effort into my poem, "I'm Old and Tired", which was just enough! My project was unique in the sense that I took a perspective of a character not looked at closely enough, which we studied Animal Farm. I think that in general everyone enjoyed doing this and ultimately sharing their own talents with technology intertwined with language arts.

Extra Credit: New Year's Resolution

           New Year's Resolutions seem to always fade by late January and if your really lucky early February. I look the idea of writing a list of things that we feel will make us better, whether that academically, socially, mentally, or physically. Personally, the goals that I've made for myself are to become my physically fit and honestly to learn to mange my time better. As well as maintain my lifestyle, with of course those few adjustments.

  

          Getting healthy and physically fit can be something easy if your mind is in the right place. I plan to continue to play tennis and soccer. This means running regularly exercising and just getting out of the house and maybe a nice walk around the neighborhood. Occasionally, going to the gym, when I can get a ride. Also, eating the right foods and knowing when to cut back as well as what to cut back on. educating myself on what need to be in my daily diet.

           My other goal, is to learn to mange my time. The last year, I was finally getting my act together, for example getting ready for school on time and going to bed on schedule. But, also not procrastinating whether that's with assignments or heading out the mall. I know that in the long run preparing myself ahead of time will lead to the later success in my life. 

Animal Farm Creative Project

         For my Animal Farm Creative Project I decided to write a poem from the perspective of Benjamin, the old and thought to be wise donkey. I took his perspective of what was happening to his home,the farm. The destruction and betrayal of the trusted leaders. It is more of his thoughts on the Napoleon and Snowball and somewhat more explaining his own insight to why he was set on opposing the pigs. Within the poem I really tried to emphasize the theme that there will always be a leader, or social hierarchy, and even with the will of the people, this ultimately leading to abuse of power.

I'm Old and Tired

I'm old and tired,

I'm not gonna be like those young things.

The difference between me and them

Is that I've seen more, I've heard more

I known that in the end leaders will always emerge.

We've seen it science the beginning of time.

Solomon, Hitler, Lincoln.

Some were born good leaders,

While others motives were to gain ultimate power.

I'm old and tired,

I'm not gonna be like those young things

And follow blindly.

I know bad when I see it.

I do want freedom and equality but, this isn't it.

The time will come and maybe I wont ever witness it

But, being old and tired has made me see

That in the end hierarchy will always be.