Oscar Wilde Essay, Research Paper

Author: Oscar Wilde Setting: Begins in a flat in London then proceeds to a manor

house in the countryside in the late 1800’s. Plot: Two men, John Jack Earnest

Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, use the deception [a Bunbury] that both their

names were Ernest, in order to secure marriage to the women they love, Gwendolen

Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Then there is the ultimate unraveling of their lies,

which still ends in their impending nuptials. Cast of Key Characters John Jack

Ernest Worthing "Bon-vivant" [Jack to Algernon 2] Algernon is asking

Jack what brought him to town. Jack has come to town to get away from his

responsibilities in the country, his ward Cecily, and to see Gwendolen, whom he

wishes to propose marriage. In order to do this he has committed the Bunbury

that he has come to see his brother, Ernest, who doesn’t exist. He wishes to

enjoy the pleasures before attending to his guardian duties. Quote: "When

one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other

people. It is excessively boring." "Curmudgeon" [Jack to Algernon

3] Jack has come to propose to Gwendolen. Which is the express reason behind his

lying about his name being Ernest. Algy feels that is business not pleasure.

Jack thinks it is utterly unromantic. Algernon says he will forget about romance

when he is married. Though Algy doesn’t know it yet when he sees Cecily he will

shed this view. Jack feels that the view Algernon has, others do also and that

is what causes the dissolution process to be born. Jack is generalizing his

cynical view of unromantic people. Quote: "The divorce court was specially

invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted."

"Architect" [Jack to Algy 3] Algy has said it is distasteful the way

Gwendolen and Jack flirt with each other. This prompts Jack to state his

romantic intentions toward Gwendolen. Jack has a specific goal, which is to

marry Gwendolen. This is his sole purpose for coming to town. Jack is so intent

on marrying Gwendolen he has created a bunbury, the phantom brother Ernest, in

order to see her. He also lies that his name is Ernest. Quote: "I am in

love with Gwendolen. I have come to town expressly to propose to her."

"Conniver" [Jack to Algernon 4] Algernon is trying to found why there

is an inscription of the name Cecily on Jacks lighter. Jack creates the lie that

Cecily is his aunt when in actuality she is his ward. The lie beings to unravel

here because Algernon continues to question Jack. This is Jack’s Bunbury to Algy

and there are many more to come. Jack hopes that this lie will discourage any

further pursuit of his true relation, guardian, to Cecily. Quote: "Well if

you want to know Cecily happens to be my aunt." "Critic" [Jack to

Algernon 6] Jack has been trying to satisfy Algy’s fanatic questioning for the

explanation of the inscription on Jack’s cigarette case. Jack has said that he

is Ernest in town and Jack in the country. Jack is not named Ernest. It is a

phantom brother he has invented. Jack is going to explain his reason for lying

in order to come to town, but he doesn’t believe Algernon has a somber

personality to comprehend his reasons. Quote: "My dear Algy, I don’t know

whether you will be able to understand my real motives. You are hardly serious

enough." "Martyr" [Jack to Algy 6] Algy has returned the

cigarette case to Jack; now, he wishes to hear the reason Jack is Ernest in town

and Jack in the country. Jack shows his bunbury to Algy. Jack is Cecily’s

guardian that is why he is Jack in the country. In order to come to town he has

invented a wayward brother named Ernest. Jack explains his reasons for lying

about who Cecily really is and who he is to Cecily. He is essentially her

immediate forebear and must keep up social standards. It is his responsibility

to guard against any degrading of her values. Jack makes sacrifices to be

Cecily’s protector. One of his sacrifices is that he must lie in order to see

Gwendolen, whom he doesn’t see as often as he would like. Quote: "When one

is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone

on all subjects. It’s ones duty?." "Dreamer" [Jack to Gwendolen

10] Jack is attempting to ask for Gwendolen’s hand in marriage. Gwendolen

declares her passion for him and her wishes that he had shown more of his adore

in public. When Jack remembers the day he met Gwendolen and he is telling her of

his adore for her, he stammers through his declaration with awe of her. You can

picture the star struck look in his eyes. Jack is dreaming of the time Gwendolen

will be his ownest, which occurs at the end of the play. Quote: "Miss

Fairfax, ever since I met you I have admired you more than any girl?I have

ever met since?I met you." "Caregiver" [Jack to Lady Bracknell

14] Lady Bracknell has been questioning Jack about his background in order to

determine his worthiness to marry Gwendolen. It has come out that Jack was found

in a handbag in a train station cloakroom. Lady Bracknell will not allow the

marriage unless Jack can find his parentage. It would be below social standards

and not very profitable for Gwendolen to marry someone of such origins. Jack is

questioning Lady Bracknell of what to do, because he yearns to make Gwendolen

full of zeal and must do so for his sake. Quote: "May I ask you then what

you would advise me to do? I need hardly say I would do anything in the world to

ensure Gwendolen’s happiness." "Judge" [Jack to Lady Bracknell

48] Lady Bracknell has just learned that Algy is engaged to Cecily. Cecily meets

all of Lady Bracknell’s criteria, especially the money. Jack won’t allow Algy to

marry Cecily unless Lady Bracknell allows him to marry him. Jack is talking to

Lady Bracknell about Algernon’s request to marry Cecily. He states that this

will not happen because he finds that Algernon is a lyre and lacks any scruples.

He judges Algy unfit as a match for Cecily because of Algy’s Bunbury. Quote:

"It pains me very much to have to speak frankly to you, Lady Bracknell,

about your nephew, but the fact is that I do not approve at all of his moral

character. I suspect him of being untruthful." Algernon Moncrieff

"Curmudgeon" [Algernon to Lane 2] Algernon is talking with Lane about

the amount of wine consumed at his last dinner party. The comment that the wine

at a bachelor’s house is better than a married household is made by Lane. And

Lane infers his ideas of marriage to Algy. Algy feels that the social inferiors

should hold up a better moral standard for the upper crust about marriage. And

if they do not then they are worthless. After all it is their job to do so. It

is ironic that Algy should speak of lower class morals when he has none of his

own. His life is full of bunburying for entertainment. Quote: "Lane’s views

on marriage?Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on

earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of

moral responsibility." "Judge" [Algy to Jack 2] Jack finds out

that Gwendolen is due to arrive with her mother, Lady Bracknell. This fits

perfectly with his plan to purpose to Gwendolen. He wishes to recruit Algy to

help by getting Lady Bracknell out of the way. Algernon talks to Jack of his

conduct around Gwendolen and the lusty looks exchanged between the two of them.

Their conduct is unbecoming of Ladies and Gentlemen. Pg. 2 "My dear fellow,

the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful. It is almost as bad

as the way Gwendolen flirts with you." "Avant-garde" [Algy to

Jack 4] The last time Jack was at Algy’s house he left his cigarette case. Algy

is reading the inscription and says the case must not be Jack’s, because his

name is Ernest. This indicates Jack’s Bunbury. Algernon wants Jack to explain

who Cecily is. He demands that the cigarette case inscription is explained and

he is the first to mention it. Jack has been missing it for a while now. This is

the first time Jack gets caught in his lies. Quote: "Bring me that

cigarette case Mr. Worthing left in the smoking-room the last time he dined

here." "Fanatic" [Algy to Jack 5] Algy bombards Jack on every lie

he is telling about the inscription on the cigarette case. Cecily can’t be his

aunt when she calls him her Uncle Jack. Jack is really her guardian. Algy tells

Jack that his name must be Ernest. Jack explains he is Jack in the country and

Ernest in town. Ernest is really Jacks phantom brother. Algernon is quite

persistent about the true explanation of the inscription on the cigarette case.

For every little bit of reason he is given he continually pursues more and won’t

let the subject drop. He advances on Jack from every angle about the meaning of

the words. Quote: "Yes. But why does your aunt call you her uncle? ‘From

little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.’ There is no

objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter

what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can’t quite make

out. Besides, your name isn’t Jack at all; it is Ernest."

"Conniver" [Algy to Lane 8] Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen have arrived

at Algy’s to find Jack there. Lady Bracknell is not pleased. Lady Bracknell

apologizes for being late. Lady Bracknell wishes to have some tea and cucumber

sandwiches, but Algy ate them all. Instead of telling her that he ate them, he

makes an acquisition to Lane about where they are seeing he was to prepare them.

This sets Lane up to lie and cover Algy’s indiscretion. Algy doesn’t have to

commit the bunbury some one else does. Quote: "Good Heavens! Lane! Why are

there no cucumber sandwiches? I ordered them specially" "Jester"

[Algy to Jack18] Jack is proclaiming his love for Gwendolen when Algy interrupts

with a giggle. Jack wants to know why. Algy is thinking of Bunbury. Algy has

been listening in on Jack and Gwendolen’s conversation. Through the conversation

he has found out where Jack lives in the country. He has secretly written down

the address. The Bunbury he is thinking about is that he is going to the country

house as Ernest to meet Cecily. Quote: "Oh, I’m a little anxious about

Bunbury." "Bon-vivant" [Algy to Lane 18] Lane presents Algy with

a stack of bills and Algy destroys them and wishes to indulge in some spirits

instead of tending to his responsibilities. Quote: [Lane presents several

letters on a salver to Algernon. It is to be surmised that they are bills, as

Algernon, after looking at the envelopes tears them up] Algernon says "A

glass of sherry, Lane" "Architect" [Algy to Jack 40] Jack admits

to Gwendolen and Cecily that he has no brother at all and never did. The fact is

Algy is really his brother, as he will find out later. Algy and Jack have both

pretended to be named Ernest to marry the ladies. Now the lies have unraveled.

The lady’s figured out that neither of them will marry a man named Ernest and

they are both quite mad. The women leave the men alone in the garden. Jack says

this must be Algernon’s idea of a Bunbury and Algernon feels this is the epitome

of bunburying. This is Algernon’s greatest legacy. Quote: "yes, and a

perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in

my life." "Visionary" [Algy to Jack 16] Algy wants to know if

Gwendolen has accepted Jack’s proposal. Gwendolen accepted, but Lady Bracknell

is forbidding it due to Jack’s origins. Jack badmouths Lady Bracknell. Algy is

unwaivered by it. Algy implies that Gwendolen will turn out like Lady Bracknell.

Jack sarcastically wonders is Algy believes he is being clever. Algy is showing

conceit in that he is quite sure it is clever and true. Quote: "It is

perfectly phrased! And quite as true as any observation in civilized life should

be." Lady Augusta Bracknell "Director" [Lady Bracknell to

Gwendolen 8] Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive at Algy’s. Lady Bracknell sees

Jack and gives him an icy bow. She does not approve of Jack and Gwendolen

together it puts disorder to her plans for Gwendolen’s life. Lady Augusta

doesn’t like that her daughter has sat next to Jack and wishes to put order back

to the situation. Quote: "Won’t you come and sit here, Gwendolen"

"Oppressor" [Lady Bracknell to Gwendolen 12] Jack has just purposed to

Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell comes in and interrupts. Gwendolen informs her

mother that she is interrupting Mr. Worthing and that she and Mr. Worthing are

engaged. Lady Bracknell brings Gwendolen back down to size with the firm reply

that this is not so until she, her mother decides it to occur. Lady Bracknell

wants Gwendolen to fear and respect her authority as her mother. Quote:

"Pardon me?You are not engaged to any one. When you do become engaged to

some one, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of

the fact?" "Traditionalist" [Lady Bracknell to Gwendolen 12]

Lady Bracknell has just been informed of Gwendolen’s engagement to Jack. She

tells Gwendolen that this is not in line with tradition. She then explains the

tradition. Lady Bracknell is a firm believer in the tradition of the time for

marriages to be arranged by the family and not by the individuals. This is the

only proper way for a lady to acquire wealth and keep her innocence from being

tarnished. Quote: "An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise,

pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could

be allowed to arrange for herself?" "Critic" [Lady Bracknell to

Jack 12] Lady Bracknell takes out a notebook and looks at it. The list she has

is the same one the Duchess of Bolton has. Lady Bracknell is trying to give

herself higher social status by association. Lady Bracknell is speaking to Jack

about his status as a worthy suitor for her Gwendolen. He just doesn’t make the

cut of the upper class bachelors. He isn’t on the roster of the best choice for

mothers to make for their daughters. Quote: "I feel bound to tell you that

you are not on my list of eligible young men?" "Curmudgeon"

[Lady Bracknell to jack 13] Lady Bracknell is interviewing Jack. She asked him

what he knows. He knows nothing. She is glad to hear that. Lady Bracknell is

speaking to Jack of her view of education. She thinks it would hurt the upper

class for there to be intellectual people and that it might possibly cause a

riot on the royal family, but that problem won’t occur in England because even

educating people doesn’t come first, social status does. Quote: "The whole

theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any

rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a

serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in

Grosvenor Square." "Caregiver" [Lady Bracknell to Jack 15] Jack

has told Lady Bracknell of his origins, found in a handbag at a train station in

a cloakroom. In order for her to allow Jack to marry Gwendolen he must produce a

parent. Jack can produce the handbag. Lady Bracknell needs to make sure her

daughter is chosen the proper man for marriage. She feels Gwendolen needs her to

make the choice for her, because they have done so most of her life. Quote:

"You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing

our only daughter-a girl brought up with the utmost care- to marry into a

cloak-room and form an alliance with a parcel?" Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax

"Architect" [Gwendolen to Jack 10] Jack is telling Gwendolen about how

much he admires her since he first saw her. Gwendolen says she knows and that

she too has admired him because of his name. She has always known she would

marry an Ernest because it is fashionable. Gwendolen is a fraud about being

honorable, because the only reason she is in love with Jack is that she thinks

his name is Ernest. This is Gwendolen’s Bunbury, the pretense of love. It has

been her goal since the day she met him. Quote: "?and my ideal has always

been to love some one of the name Ernest. There is something in that name that

inspires absolute confidence. The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he

had a friend called Ernest, I knew I was destined to love you."

"Conniver" [Gwendolen to Jack 10] Jack asks if Gwendolen would not

love him if his name were not Ernest. Gwendolen starts speaking deliberately

smooth and calculated almost too much so to be believable. She is telling him it

is of no matter because his name is Ernest; therefore, she dances around the

question. She is trying to cover up the fact that if his name were not Ernest

she would not even take a second look at him. Quote: [Glibly]. "Ah! That is

clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculation has

very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know

them." "Oppressor" [Gwendolen to Lady Bracknell 12] After Jack

has proposed to Gwendolen, her mother returns to the room and instead of

allowing Jack to stand Gwendolen does so and informs her mother of their

engagement. Gwendolen takes control of the situation first. Gwendolen is

physically restraining to Jack. She is verbally leashing to her mother, Lady

Bracknell. Quote: "Mamma! [He tries to rise; she restrains him.] I must beg

you to retire. This is no place for you. Besides, Mr. Worthing has not quite

finished yet." "Critic" [Gwendolen to Cecily 37] Gwendolen has

come to the country house to surprise Jack. She meets Cecily first. They are

exchanging polite insults to each other. Cecily is basically saying; if it looks

like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be a duck. Cecily believes that

Gwendolen has tricked Ernest to marry her. The fact is Algy is pretending to be

Ernest and is whom Cecily is engaged. Jack is whom Gwendolen is engaged to and

Jack is also pretending to be named Ernest. Gwendolen has just learned of the

engagement between Ernest and Cecily and they are becoming engaged in a polite

grit your teeth argument. Gwendolen lets Cecily know she obviously was raised in

an improper style. Quote: "I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade.

It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different."

"Caregiver" [Gwendolen to Cecily 39] Jack has told the ladies he

doesn’t have a brother named Ernest. Cecily tells Gwendolen; her Ernest is Uncle

Jack. That means that neither of the women is engaged to man named Ernest.

Ironically after all the jealousy between the women they now have a common cause

and unit. After Gwendolen and Cecily find out they has been lied to, they

embrace and Gwendolen tells Cecily she will care for her like a big sister.

Quote: "You will call me sister, will you not?" Cecily Cardew

"Deviant" [Cecily to Miss Prism 21] Miss Prism has just called for

Cecily to come over and do her lessons. Cecily is talking with Miss Prism about

her lessons. She tells Miss Prism that she doesn’t want to do her German for she

will look ordinary. She doesn’t want to look like everybody else. She is being

vain about her looks. Quote: "But I don’t like German. It isn’t at all a

becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German

lesson." "Loner" [Cecily to Miss Prism 22] Cecily thinks Miss

Prism could reform Jack’s brother, Ernest. Cecily begins writing about Ernest in

her diary. Cecily uses her Diary as her Bunbury. Cecily’s sole companion is her

diary she puts everything in it she lives her life in the pages. She wishes to

remember her every detail of existence. Quote: "I keep a diary in order to

enter the wonderful secrets of my life. If I didn’t write them down I should

probably forget all about them." "Dreamer" [Cecily to Algernon

32] Jack has demanded Algernon leave, but he has no intention of leaving.

Algernon has asked Cecily to marry him. She begins to tell him they are already

engaged and have been for some three months. She gives him the account of their

lives thus far as lived in her dairy a far cry from reality. She has lived out

their relationship in her diary. She has dreamed up the man that now stands in

front of her. The only problem is that Algy is pretending to be named Ernest.

Quote: "On the 14th of February last. Worn out by your entire ignorance of

my existence, I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and after a

long struggle with myself I accepted you under this dear old tree here?"

"Conformist" [Cecily to Gwendolen and then Algernon 43] Gwendolen and

Cecily have learned that neither of them is engaged to a man named Ernest.

Gwendolen and Cecily enter the house they are waiting for the men, Algernon and

Jack, to enter. Gwendolen tells Cecily what to do and she follows her cue. The

men finally enter. They have agreed not to speak first but Gwendolen does so and

Cecily praises her then addresses Algernon also. Quote: "Gwendolen, your

common sense is invaluable. Mr. Moncrieff, kindly answer me the following

question: Why did you pretend to be my guardian’s brother?" Miss Laetitia

Prism "Traditionalist" [Miss Prism to Cecily 21] Cecily is watering

the flowers. Miss Prism calls Cecily in to do her lessons. Miss Prism feels

Cecily should not do manual labor that is not for ladies to do but for servants.

Quote: "Cecily, Cecily! Surely such a utilitarian occupation as the

watering of flowers is rather Moulton’s duty than yours?"

"Director" [Miss Prism to Cecily 21] Cecily has just been tending to

the flowers. Once Miss Prism has gotten Cecily to come over and sit down, she

puts Cecily in order to do her lessons. Miss Prism tells Cecily what she is to

do in her studies. As her teacher she must direct her education. Quote:

"Your German grammar is on the table. Pray open it at page fifteen. We will

repeat yesterday’s lesson." "Curmudgeon" [Miss Prism to Cecily

22] Cecily is saying she thinks Miss Prism can reform Jack’s brother. Miss Prism

thinks the idea of turning over a new leaf is absurd. She is skeptical that it

can be done. Quote: "?I am not in favour of this modern mania for turning

bad people into good people at a moments notice. As a man sows so let him

reap." "Critic" [Miss Prism to Cecily 22] Miss Prism has written

a novel herself. Later we find out that her novel is the key to Jack’s true

identity. When Miss Prism was younger she was caring for an infant, when she

accidentally switched the baby with the book. She placed the infant in her

handbag and the novel in the baby carrier. The infant was Jack, whose real name

is Ernest. Miss Prism sees no reason for Cecily to have a diary; she has nothing

good enough to write about. Quote: "You must put away your diary, Cecily. I

really don’t see why you should keep a dairy at all." Rev. Frederick Canon

Chausable "Caregiver" [Chausable to Jack 26] Jack comes in dressed in

funeral garb. Jack is using the dress as a lie to eliminate his brother, Ernest.

After Jack tells everyone his brother is dead, Chausable as a priest gives

comfort to Jack. This is a need for priest to allow others to unburden their

grief on them. Quote: "Mr. Worthing, I offer you my sincere condolence. You

have at least the consolation of knowing that you were always the most generous

and forgiving of brothers." "Critic" [Chausable to Jack 27] Jack

says his brother will be buried in Paris. Chausable is horrified and feels that

Jack’s brother was crazy. The Victorian attitude toward Paris is that it is a

place of ill repute. Algy is pretending to be Jack’s brother Ernest to deceive

Cecily. Quote: "In Paris! [Shakes his head} I fear that hardly points to

any very serious state of mind at the last?" "Deviant" [Chausable

to Lady Bracknell 50] Lady Bracknell accuses Chausable and Miss Prism of having

more than a platonic relationship. She thinks that there are more intimate

issues. Chausable is outraged by the implications. He declares that he is a

traditional man of God. Chausable shows his unique individuality to Lady

Bracknell. Quote: "I am a celibate, madame." Theme The Importance of

Being Earnest is encompassed in the keeping up of social morals at all costs.

The characters continually lie to keep an indignant moral high ground. They feel

that without lying they would be unable to achieve their pleasures of life. Two

men, John Jack Earnest Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, use the deception [a

Bunbury] that both their names were Ernest, in order to secure marriage to the

women they love, Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Then there is the ultimate

unraveling of their lies, which still ends in their impending nuptials. John

Jack Ernest Worthing comes to town to get away from his responsibilities in the

country, his ward Cecily Cardew, and to see Gwendolen Fairfax, whom he wishes to

propose marriage. In order to come to town he has invented a wayward brother

named Ernest. He has committed the Bunbury that he has come to see his brother,

Ernest, who doesn’t exist. He wishes to enjoy the pleasures before attending to

his guardian duties. Jack is proclaiming his love for Gwendolen when Algy

interrupts with a giggle. Jack wants to know why. Algy is thinking of Bunbury.

Algy has been listening in on Jack and Gwendolen’s conversation. Through the

conversation he has found out where Jack lives in the country. He has secretly

written down the address. The Bunbury he is thinking about is that he is going

to the country house as Ernest to meet Cecily. Algernon has asked Cecily to

marry him. Cecily tells him they are already engaged and that it is written in

her diary. Cecily uses her Diary as her Bunbury. She has dreamed up the man that

now stands in front of her. The only problem is that Algy is pretending to be

named Ernest. Jack admits to Gwendolen and Cecily that he has no brother at all

and never did. The fact is Algy is really his brother, as he will find out

later. Algy and Jack have both pretended to be named Ernest to marry the ladies.

Now the lies have unraveled. The lady’s figured out that neither of them will

marry a man named Ernest and they are both quite mad. The women leave the men

alone in the garden. Jack says this must be Algernon’s idea of a Bunbury and

Algernon feels this is the epitome of bunburying. This is Algernon’s greatest

legacy. Quote: "yes, and a perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most

wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in my life." In the end, it is shown that

there is more truth in many of the characters’ lies than they knew. When Cecily

tells Algy that she and he are already engaged and have been for some three

months. She gives him the account of their lives thus far as lived in her dairy.

She has lived out their relationship in her diary. She has dreamed up the man

that now stands in front of her. Miss Prism has written a novel herself. Later

we find out that her novel is the key to Jack’s true identity. When Miss Prism

was younger she was caring for an infant, when she accidentally switched the

baby with the book. She placed the infant in her handbag and the novel in the

baby carrier. The infant was Jack, whose real name is Ernest. Jack’s parents are

really Algernon’s parents also. This means that every time Jack came to town to

see Algy he really was seeing his wayward brother. With the truth exposed it

also means that Algernon was only lying to Cecily about being named Ernest,

because he truly is John Jack Ernest Worthing’s brother. Being earnest is being

truthful. The quote that entails this ideal is on pg. 40 [Algernon to Jack]

"Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any

amusement in life. I happen to be serious about Bunburying?"