The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

I have written a brief literary analysis of The Importance of Being Earnest from the famous Irish writer, and one of my personal favorites, Oscar Wilde. My analysis will give a short summary of the work itself and how studying Wilde's play will enhance my experience on my trip. I would recommend either reading the play or watching the movie of it with actor Colin Firth. It is rich with witty situations, laugh-worthy humor, and a simple yet tangled plot.

The Importance of Being Earnest is a whimsical and humorous play written by Oscar Wilde the celebrated Irish writer. Through Wilde’s brilliant playwright, he takes his readers through the world of Jack, the main character who does not know his parents or birth right and daredevil Algernon—two raucous-thriving friends that begin living a double life of a fictional brother “Earnest” to win the affections of their fiancés who claim to only love a man by the name of Earnest. As a profound writer Wilde succeeds in word play and hidden symbolism, even in his lighter works. Wilde plays on the double meaning of the word Earnest and the importance of living in integrity. He demonstrates this as Jack and Algy find themselves in tight and sticky situations trying to uphold their identity as another person than who they truly are. After a series of misguided events and when the true identities are revealed, Jack and Algy go through a period of being shunned and rejected by their fiancés where they must win back their affections from being Christened by the church, picking fresh lavender, and performing quality music. As the play comes to an end, when the men finally come forward clean and honest, they gain the love back from their women and Jack comes to find that his true actual name is Earnest when his roots are manifest by his aunt. The story is resolved when Earnest (Jack), now a married man with a known identity, finally realizes, “the importance of being earnest.”

I believe that any work from Oscar Wilde could improve my experience in the UK. As a pronounced writer, Wilde has touched the lives of many with his work. The way Wilde writes is like soft lyrics to my ears as I cherish many of his quotes that stick to my mind like glue. He has a way of capturing his audience in a stylish and elegant fashion which draws a reader in to his plot and allows them to explore his hidden meanings and treasures. Wilde has so much depth in his works that has allowed him to leave his mark in history and how excited I am to be visiting his homeland in Ireland where I can feel an even greater connection to him beyond reading his works. Wilde has inspired me beyond measure, and having the opportunity to become even more familiar with his works will give me an even vivid perspective of Ireland and allow me to experience it at an entirely new level.

The Journey

I would like to bring attention to the fact that I leave on a plane for Dublin, Ireland in exactly two weeks!!

I can hardly even believe how quickly the time has gone by. A year ago, leaving on this trip was merely a speculation and discussion point of how to afford the trip, how to prepare, and if it was worth going. In January, almost 8 months ago, I was accepted into the program. In these past 8 months, there have been many trials regarding funds for the trip, many times I've questioned myself, and many things to buy, prepare, and think about before leaving. And now here I am, two weeks away, ready to go! Ready to adventure. Through my preparations I have completed many assignments (only two left), have learned songs, have written my own works, and have set goals. It truly has been a journey for me, and makes me excited to have the experiences I will have and to move forward with my life.

As far as way of communications on the trip, I've been getting a lot of questions. Here is where I stand when I leave in two weeks: Phone use will be extremely limited. I'm not planning to text or call anyone while out in England. I'm using this trip as a way to explore externally and internally and distractions need to be at the minimum. My family and friends can always leave Facebook messages or text message or voicemails that will be waiting for me when I return but as far as communication on the trip, it will strictly be limited to sending my parents an email in the places I do have wifi. In the wifi places, I might post an occasional picture on Instagram or Facebook, but I will have to see when I'm actually at that point. As for this blog, I will be taking a three week break, then when I get back my readers can expect lots of blog posts and very fun pictures. For anyone that has read my itinerary, we are on a pretty tight schedule, so I think my choice in this is understood and respectable. I want to also thank my friends and family for understanding and their constant support. Most importantly, I want to thank my parents for their aide in helping me go on this trip. I've worked a lot this past year and summer, but I absolutely know I would not have been able to do it without them.

For clarification: I leave for Salt Lake City September 10th, Leave for Dublin, Ireland September 11th, Fly into Salt Lake City October 3rd, return home October 4th.

My itinerary is posted here: http://melaniewalkerenglishliterature.blogspot.com/2013/07/itinerary.html

You can expect quite a few more posts in the next two weeks of assignments and my thoughts.

Now that the technicalities are done, I just want to leave with a short testimonial of traveling and English Literature. My whole goal in life is to live my passions and share what I love with others. That is the main reason I am becoming an English Lit teacher because I know the power that literature can have in a person's life and how language and writing are the cornerstone in every culture. Where would we be without poetry or stories? Where would English Literature be if a simple "Beowulf" wasn't written on a shard piece of Old English parchment to be found by scholars and linguists? Language and writing affects every aspect of our lives and I want to teach others the significance of it when I'm finished in my studies. I'm so excited to travel and expand that knowledge I have of English Literature. I walk the path of Dickens, Wordsworth, Austen, and many others and breathe the same air they have. I can see the places of those who have gone before me, as well as find hidden treasures of my own. It is such an honor for me to have the opportunity to travel, to marvel at something, to adore and implore. With my personality, everything I do, I do it full force and completely in it 100%. I'm ready to take on the British Iles at full speed with my heart and soul committed in every way to this trip. I'm ready to adventure. I'm ready to journey.

Bleak House, by Charles Dickens

Recently I've studied the book Bleak House, by Charles Dickens for some school work before I leave on my trip. I would recommend watching the BBC 2005 version on Netflix to anyone. It is an 8-episode series full of mystery as viewers are pulled into Dickens' London and follow the story of a young orphan Esther who's roots are found through scandal and blackmail. In my assignment, I was asked to write a short essay in general about the story. My short essay will answer my feelings about Charles Dickens and his work, some themes I found in Bleak House, and how studying it will enhance my experience in London. If you are unfamiliar with the story and want to read a synopsis, the link is posted following. I would hate to be the spoiling culprit.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bleakhouse/summary.html

After studying the story Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, I have come to learn many things; I have gained feelings and perspectives of the type of writer he is, have found many literature themes in this particular story, and have reflected on how my experience in the UK will be improved by reading his works. Charles Dickens continues to fascinate me with his style of writing and his stories. He is unique in his manner of writing and how he presents a 19th century London. As true to his reputation, Charles Dickens presents a darker, grittier, and dirtier London. I think this factor is most manifest in his characters as he describes their filth, mannerisms, and linguistics. He draws a clear line for readers on the difference in class in a 19th century England and how class affected everything about a person’s destiny in that time period. Another thing I love about Dickens is his wit! Now his works are a tough read, but if a reader pays attention closely to the words, they can pick up on the settle humor and wittiness of the way he writes and describes such things. One more thing I love about Charles Dickens is the characters he creates. First, the names he creates; he names his characters in reflection of how that character reacts and their mannerisms. Using Bleak House as an example: the most ridiculous and spastic character in the book is named Mr. Guppy, the most tortured and fatal character is named Mrs. Dedlock, and the sneakiest and troublesome character is called Mr. Krook. Dickens’ names give readers a chance to foreshadow and make connections about the characters like no other author. I also love the number of characters he creates in his stories and how they somehow all connect to each other by the time the plot is resolved. By diving into his work this summer, I can honorably say I am a Charles Dickens fan now.

Bleak House was a very interesting story line for me and quite recreational to reflect on. There were many themes I observed from the story. I observed the theme of death versus living in scandal. Lady Dedlock lived her whole life with the scandal of her secret affair and child with Captain Nemo in youthful years and she had to decide if it was better to live her life in blackmail and fear of what society would name her or if death was the easier road. She chose death and her husband Sir Leicester leaves us readers heartbroken when he reveals at her grave that he wished she would’ve known how much he would have still loved her no matter what the world thought of her. Another theme I noticed was the idea of debt leading to madness. This book was full of debts on the hands of all the characters and how those unpaid debts and empty expectations of money lead them all to destruction. A third theme I saw was the difference between loving someone and being truly in love with them. In the story, Mr. Jarndyce proposed to Esther and believed they could begin a marriage despite their drastic age difference. Esther fell for a young doctor Mr. Woodcourt but believed his commitment to her to be indifferent because of his duties to travel away for some time. Because of this, she accepted and convinced herself to be in love with Jarndyce because of her gratitude and caring for him as her guardian. Woodcourt comes back and as their feelings rekindle, Woodcourt proposes to Esther but Esther claims that she is “not free to love him.” Jarndyce, realizing Esther’s unhappiness and love for Woodcourt, sets her free with a house for her and Woodcourt to stay in when married and he gives her away at her wedding. In my own words, I would say Esther realized the importance of not giving herself to someone unless it was true, passionate, and undying love that would make her happy for the rest of her life.

I believe any Dickens book would enhance my experience in London because that’s where Dickens lived and wrote tales of. He shows a different side of London then what I’ve ever read before from any other authors and he gives me a different perspective. Like all good writers, it’s important to see and witness all different viewpoints and styles before I create something of my own. Dickens teaches a lot through his writing, which is important for me to know the history of a city or place before I adventure it on my own. Reading literature and watching films about England will prepare my mind to grow as I expand that knowledge I already have. This way, I can be prepared to have a foundation of knowledge before I add to it by traveling and studying. By creating this foundation, making experiences, and allowing my mind and heart to grow, I hearken to Dickens words which read: “There is wisdom of the head, and wisdom of the heart.”

Cracking Shakespeare

Two weeks ago I ran into an old childhood friend that I went to elementary and middle school with. I noticed her from afar when I was working at the CA State fair and called our her name. It was a very exciting reunion. After sixth grade she went to an art charter school for the end of middle school and on to high school, while I remained in public school. When asking her about her current state, she confirmed she was attending school in Ashland, Oregon studying Shakespeare and theater, which like most faithful English saints know, Ashland is the heart of the Shakespeare festival and study. I laughed with joy. "How exciting!" I said. I told her about my English studies which brought us to talk about our separated interests now in our adult years. I confided that in my trip in September (which is in exactly one month today, I might add!) I will have the opportunity to attend "Hamlet" in the Globe Theater in London. Needless to say, when it comes to William Shakespeare, Theater and English majors will always join forces to unite. So as any good, true English major, I will dedicate this blog post to Shakespeare. I will give you my thoughts and feelings on him and a little bit of history.

William Shakespeare. How do I feel about William Shakespeare? I wouldn't quite say I'm one of those English majors that's completely in love with him and still thinks he's still alive somewhere (the theories I've heard countless times...the poor guy would be ashamed). I also definitely would not say I'm spiteful of him because of the endless hours I've spent in school listening to 70-year old teachers monotonously read his works and pretending I actually understand what I'm reading. Lets have a little integrity with each other for a moment-- I'd say about 10% of people actually fully understand Shakespeare and 90% pretend they do. And those 10% are found in Ashland, Oregon. (A little joke for you.) So here is where I stand with him: though hard to decode his work and not an easy read, I acclaim William Shakespeare and will always appreciate what he has done for literature. Probably my favorite play of Shakespeare is "Hamlet," where I really connected with Shakespeare and felt the passion of his theme of illusion versus reality in life. The most recent work I read was Macbeth, where I really liked exploring with Shakespeare the darker side of human nature and how he left readers to question where their own ambitions could leave them. Most of all, and easier a read I believe, I love Shakespeare's sonnets on love. His views and take on romance really leave me something to marvel at and help me feel something in my heart, which is the purpose of all poetry and writing. Whether William Shakespeare is his real name or not, dead or alive, people miss the true importance of what he has done. You do not have to understand or be in love with his work to really value what he has done for the world. Heck, he has a whole period of the English language named after him! (The History of the English Language, David Crystal). Many of the words we speak today are because of Shakespeare and how he altered English. He created a new era and dynamic of playwright, created a new genre, created countless words, created new types of poems and explored deeper sides of love and life. When I read his works, I feel the passion and the brilliance bursting through the page, even if I can't always decipher what it means. If you do not read his sonnets because you do not understand the expressions or definitions of words, at least read it because of the softness of his language on your tongue and how it feels to speak in his carefully crafted pentameter.

William Shakespeare's birth date is unknown but it is recorded that he was baptized April 26th, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. A little bit of demographics for you: his works include 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every known language and performed more than any playwright ever in history. Married at age 18 to 26-year old Anne, he begot a daughter and a set of twins, one of the twins dying at the age 11. It is unknown when exactly Shakespeare began writing, but records show his first play was on the London stage by 1592. Shakespeare kept writing up until three years before his death in 1616, then he was buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. Something I will have the privilege of seeing when I travel there.

A quick word about his the Shakespearean style to really grasp the beauty of his work: his standard poetic form was blank verse composed in Iambic pentameter-- something he created himself. His work made a lasting impression on theater today because he created the ideas of tragedy related to romance and soliloquies to explore character's minds. The marvelous things he has done for history! We could go on and on. But I will end with even Shakespeare created theories on human nature, called Shakespearean psychology which was explored by Sigmund Freud.

Acclaimed author, pronounced dramatist, rejoiced poet, celebrated creator, and brilliant theorist. William Shakespeare made a dent in human civilization. What he has done relates to every side of the human spectrum-- not only the Iambic pentameter fanatics. I suppose the whole purpose of my writing this day is to urge my readers to give Shakespeare a chance. I encourage everyone to find something in Shakespeare that relates to him or her. Whether you choose to read him for his common themes in his work, choose to speculate at his creation, or would simply read him just because of his impact in our language, open a book or look online and read. He has quite the selection for every single person. This is our culture and life he writes about and I strongly believe he has written these things for our day.

I highly honor William Shakespeare and what he has done for me as a writer and reader. He has opened new doors and given me hope as I write poetry and short stories. I have an understanding that I do not need to showcase any obsession or fanfare for his works; all I need to do is simply appreciate him, even if at times I can only try to understand his works and sometimes succeed to only a minimum. Now, I love his dramas and the themes I can find in them, but I believe my writing is mostly based on poetry. I love poetry and everything about it. So below, I have posted two of Shakespeare's sonnets, which I think are written beautiful beyond measure. Normally I would go to analyze and give my thoughts on them for my readers, but this time I am simply going to post them and leave all to figure out the meaning and truly appreciate beauty of the Shakespearean language. Let this be a soloist journey to crack Shakespeare, and welcome him into our lives.

Sonnet 18, William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.


Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

De-bugging: To My Readers

So I've heard from a lot of my readers that they are not getting my blog post updates even though they subscribed by email. I have looked into this issue and I think Google has fixed this for those who are not receiving my updates. So here are some simple solutions to "de-bug" these blog issues as well as more options to stay connected to this blog:

Try entering your email (again, if you have already tried) into the "follow by email" box you will find on the right. --->
It is listed right under my short bio and website URLs. When you enter it in, a second screen will pop up and it asks you to type in a code. I think it's required you type in that code or else you won't receive the updates. Type it in, then the next screen that pops up will say that your email is confirmed and that you should receive updates. If you still don't receive them, comment on this post and let me know and I will try to look into it more. That will be super helpful.

Another issue to fix this, is just to subscribe to me. That way my feed will pop up in your Google reading list. Even if you don't have a blog, I believe it is still possible to subscribe. It will be listed under "blogger" in your Google account. Also, if any of my readers have me on Facebook, every time I have a new post I update that on Facebook. So that is definitely an option.

Another way to keep in touch is to find me on my website! There you will find some more works done by me, my resume, career path, and perhaps a little more about me as well! The website is--

http://www.mkwalker.weebly.com

There you are also able to email me and let me know what you think of my work. Keep commenting and emailing. Feedback is super important to a writer and inquirer. I already appreciate all the support I've received! My blog is getting more page views everyday which I am so grateful for. Keep reading!

I am working on a new post that will be published this Sunday. So until then, have a great weekend to all!

The Big Scale; Words on Ambition, Dreams, and Philosophy

There's this old F. Scott Fitzgerald quote that has been on my mind a lot lately as my time is coming nearer and nearer to when I leave for the British Iles. I stumbled across this quote one day and it struck me personally as I vowed to live my life as Fitzgerald's words. The quote goes a little something like this:

"I'm not sure what I'll do, but -- well, I want to go places and see people. I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on a big scale."
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Ice Palace and Other Stories

Like most writers, Fitzgerald's writings reflect his thoughts and his intuitions. I always greatly admired the way he spoke and wrote. When I read "The Great Gatsby" or other excerpts I see from him, I feel a very personal connection to him and the way he is, even though he lived a century ago from me currently. I'd like to offer my personal philosophy on life and give a short insight into my sensibility.

I was born ambitious and with a clear perception of who I am and where I am going in life. In second grade I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and my response was always the same thing: "I want to be a teacher Monday to Wednesday, a dog breeder Thursday to Friday, and a famous author on the weekends." In my mind, I was fully capable and willing to hold three careers. I was seven. Although I soon gave up my dream of breeding dogs when I realized I didn't like the smell, it's interesting to look back and realize I'm living my dreams right now and becoming exactly what I was born to be and what my ambitious seven-year-old self imagined. This speaks volumes to myself now as I develop and grow and embrace the dreamer inside me. Like Fitzgerald's quote, I picture myself living a life full of rich experiences, never ending opportunities, and eternal growth. This, I believe, is the big scale Fitzgerald refers to.

As a born idealist, I truly believe anything is possible. Change your thoughts, you can change the world and one person can make a difference. It is possible to be ambitious and get what you want, but also be soft and loyal in your relationships. Oscar Wilde is one of my favorite authors as well, because his philosophy is very similar to mine. He states, "Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more." Self-mastery is the greatest of all trials. Once we rule the way we think and feel, conquering our dreams become a lot easier.

I also believe that our dreams come to us a size too big so that we can grow into them. When I was sixteen, I made a vow with my best friend that we were going to move to New York together after high school. He was going to pursue business and I was going to be a big-time journalist whom everyone knew and wanted me to write for them. We were going to live in the same apartment complex in downtown New York City and I was going to live on the floor above him. Looking back, that seems a little big or intense for a sixteen year old to dream, and though I have gained practicality and maturity with age, I still look back on that dream I had and just smile, because if it wasn't for me hoping and dreaming constantly I wouldn't be who I am today. Dreams can change and a lot don't follow through, but it never means that we should give up or stop dreaming. Dream your wildest of dreams, even if they don't come true, and make something work that fits your lifestyle and means. Even for big dreamers and idealists for me, there always needs to be balance in life. I suppose that's the yoga, mantra aspect of my personality too.

My senior year of high school is when I really developed my passion for English Literature. I told myself sitting in class one day and studying Wordsworth that I was going to go to England. I was going to go after my second year of college and study the historical sites. I was determined and never lost that spark of devotion. Now here I am, two and a half years later, and a month away from living my dream of traveling to what could be my most favorite place in the world. In my interview with the English faculty of BYU-Idaho, they asked me a lot of questions but one part of that interview sticks out in my mind every time when I reflect on these past six months of preparation. They asked me what made me want to go take this 3 week trip to visit the British Iles. I told them about my experience with English Literature and while slapping my hand on their table, I specifically said, "I told myself when I was eighteen years old that I was going to live my dreams and be successful. I told myself I'm going to go to England. So, I'm going to England." A little surprised, they smiled, and a week later I was accepted into their program.

If I have any final words I can leave with my readers, it is to take what I said into consideration and realize that anything is possible. If you want something bad enough, I promise you you will get it. It will take hard work, it will take dreaming and planning, and it will take many tries, but your dreams will come true. If you desire to travel, save and travel. If you want to be successful and get ahead in school or your career, nothing is stopping you. If you want to meet different kinds of people and develop your cultural awareness, go out, talk, and do. It is possible no matter where you live or who you are. Kick yourself, and make it happen.