Cecily Cardew

Cecily Cardew

1. Langauge

   • Also takes part in periphrastic conversation with Gwendolen in order to avoid direct expression of emotions, due to her upbringing.
     • 'Oh, flowers are as common here, Miss fairfax, as people in London.'
   • The female characters (except Prism) do not stutter or loose control of articulation as Jack and Algernon do in places, more formidable and confident in expressing views acceptable within society, also do not lie as much (because allowed less freedom) so less emotional repossess to reflect in language

2. Attitudes

   • Love and marriage
     • Like Gweondolen believes engagement and marriage should play out in a way that forms a pleasing story/acceptable union.
       • A; 'But why on earth did you break it off? What had I done? I had done nothing at all...' C: 'It would hardly have been a serious engagement if it hadn't been broken off at least once. But I forgave you as soon as the week was out.'
       • Interest in marriage overlaps with her ideas of fact and fiction (with Ernest) but also Cecily's role as a match maker
       • Loves Ernest despite never meeting him before, attaches her ideal to the name (for Gwendolen ideal is confidence, possibly in knowing he can be beaten into submission) for Cecily ideal is a wicked person.
         • 'I have never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I'm so afraid he will look like every one else.' p30
         • A; 'But be serious, Cecily...[moving to her].... if my name was Algy, couldn't you love me? C; '[Rising] I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear I should not be able to give you my undivided attention.'
           • Like Gwendolen basis love on inconsequential first name (satirising obsession with marrying for last names) also shows character really of no importance really
   • Social hierarchy/ étiquette
     • Is bluntly honest with Algernon despite his patronising comment
       • A; 'You are my little cousin Cecily.' C; You are under some strange mistake. I am not little. In fact I believe I am more than usually tall you my age.' p30
       • Is less afraid of speaking bluntly, perhaps knows she can because she is from the country so not judged so harshly
         • 'This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.'
     • Also far less emphasis on social hierarchy
       • Able to use lower social status with Gwendolen to mock her comic obsession with fashion and choices.
   • Women
     • More (seemingly) innocent and romantic than Gwendolen
       • Not really innocent, C; 'Well I am really only eighteen, but I always admit to twenty when I go to evening parties.' LB; 'You are perfectly right in making some slight alteration. Indeed no woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating...'
         • Demonstrates Cecily is aware (through feeding into stereotype that women would try to appear younger and more beautiful) that she would benefit from creating an illusion to suggest she is older and therefore more worldly.
   • Fact and fiction
     • Sees romance through blended view of fact and fiction
       • Match-macking (/manipulation)- 'C; Miss Prism has just been complaining of a light headache. I think it would do her good to have a short stroll with you in the park, Dr Chasuble.' Miss P: 'Cecily, I have not mentioned anything about a headache.'
         • Invents falsities and enjoy pushing people together, demonstrates her powers of manipulation and reading people, knows Dr Chasuble wants to pursue a relationship, so plays this to her advantage in order to escape tedious situations- makes her a perfect match forAlgernon
       • Ernest
         • See greatest blend of fact and fiction in her fantasy engagement with ernest, that ultimately absurdly easily shifts in to reality (shows how Algernon is appealed to absurd escapism)
           • P42, 'C; '... The next day I bought the little ring in your name, and this is the little bangle with the true lover's knot I promised you always to wear.' A; 'Did I give you this? It's very pretty, isn't it?' C; 'Yes, you've wonderfully good taste, Ernest. It's the excuse I've always given for your leading such a bad life.'
             • The level of detail and the pure ease in which fiction is accepted as fact is very comedic in its effect, helping Wilde to keep energy high and satires the extent of escapism people will go to combat the strict rigidity of Victorian society.
       • Also see diary and letters motif section
       • See her view of romance and life as fictional, refers to Algernon's desires to reform himself as 'quixotic' probably a reference to Don Quixote by Cervantes in which a man with delusions of grandeur has adventures

3. How she fits key motifs

   • Town and country
     • Cecily represent the country in battle with Gwendolen but she does not conform to stereotype of innocence and meekness,
       • Is able to insult Gwendolen not only through taking advantage of her comedic obsession with fashion but also through subtle mocking her morals through highlighting her coming from the town
         • 'It seems to me, Miss Fairfax, that I am trespassing on your valuable time. No doubt you have many other calls of a similar nauture to make in the neighbourhood.'
           • Highlights Gwendolen only come to the country to pursue her so-called fiancee to suggest she has many others is highly insulting, suggesting she has many similar engagements, therefore calling into question her moral character/
   • Satire
     • Seriousness
       • C; 'Dear Uncle Jack is so very serious! Sometimes he is so serious I think he cannot be quite well.'
         • Cecily values pleasure and romantic love, links to Algernon saying, 'What on earth you are serious about I haven't the remotest idea' links them in charactersiation.
     • Allows Wilde to explore and satires education and repression of passion (how repression can lead to manifestations of it in ways that blend fact and fiction)
       • Belief forcing education takes appreciation away from aesthetics, not everything has to exist for an intellectual or moralistic purpose.
         • 'But I don't like German. It isn't at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I always look quite plain after my german lesson.'
   • Diaries and letters
     • 'Your see it (her diary) is simply a very young girl's record of her own thoughts and impressions, and consequentially meant for publication.'
       • Diary uses to enhance themes of fact and fiction but also a tool Wilde uses to comment on literature (particularly sentimentalist literature) at the time.
         • 'If you will allow me, I will copy your remarks into my diary.' 'I don't thin you should tell me that you love me wildly, passionately, devotedly, hopelessly. Hopelessly doesn't seem to make much sense ,does it?'
           • Suggests Cecily more invested in the escapism of the emotion, and wishing to record in such a way that comedically it looses spontaneity, emphasising the emotions but also their lack of grounding or depth.

4. Interactions with other characters

   • Algernon
     • Like Gwendolen love him more for an idea than a person (also loved him before she ever met him.) Also like Jack and Gwendolen Algernon seems more invested in relationship longterm than she is.
       • Perhaps satirising of traditional gender roles
       • C; 'Algy, could you really wait for me till I was thirty-five?' A; 'Of course I could Cecily. You know I could.' C; '... but I couldn't wait all that time. I hate waiting even five minuites for anybody.'
   • Jack
     • Dismisses the adult and serious and refuses to meet Jack on a level of moral seriousness
       • 'But what horrid clothes you have got on (mourning clothes)! Do go change them' 'You look as though you have tooth ache'
     • Similar to Gwendolen able to escape/ outwit guardian of Jack (p37-8 manipulates Jack into shaking algernon's hand)
       • Reflects again the difference in freedoms that men and women have in this society
   • Gwendolen
     • Their relationship essentially follows Algernon's prediction, 'Women only do that (call it other friends) when they have called each other a lot of other things firsts.'
       • After realising neither engaged to Ernest aline themselves with each other to exaggerated comedic effect, also of course adds to humour of physical level because of the opportunities for symmetrical staging that it allows.
         • G; 'My poor wounded Cecily!' C; 'My sweet wronged Gwendolen!' G;...' you will call me sister will you not? [They embrace...'
   • Lady Bracknel
     • Very limited in Cecily's response to LB, mainly LB assessing her and Cecily answering her question- interestingly unlike Jack she is not afraid of marriage being forbidden because of her background and her dialogue's eloquence never falters (unlike Jack and Algernon's)
       • Begins calling her 'Aunt Augusta' once she is permitted.
       • LB; 'Kindly turn round, sweet child.... no the side view is what I want...'