The truth is rarely pure and never simple

In my personal learning plan, I had planned on reading The Importance of Being Earnest. I really like other things I've read by Oscar Wilde and I've seen the movie so it seemed like the next step would be to read the actual play. The assignment in my English class to read the first scene gave me the motivation I needed to just go ahead and read the rest of the play.

Unfortunately between my other class and work and well, having a life, I haven't had time to finish the whole play yet (in the one day we had between the assignment and today), but I do plan to finish it this weekend.

Once I finish reading the play, I plan on re-watching the movie to compare it. Obviously it would be ideal to watch the play itself, but it will be equally as interesting to compare the movie adaption and see how closely they kept to the play.

I'm loving the play so far. Oscar Wilde is so clever and I am continually underlining quotes from the script that are just hilarious!

The one character so far that I'm really looking forward to analyzing a little more is Lane and his relationship with Algernon. In the rendition I'm reading a footnote stated that Lane's sarcasm shows that his relationship with Algernon is very complex. I found this intriguing.

I think that often, supporting characters like Lane can have a significant impact on the story. I guess we'll see as I read further and re-watch the movie.

Have any of you compared the play the Importance of Being Earnest to the movie? Or any other plays to the movie for that matter?

**On a side note, knowing the story of The Importance of Being Earnest, I think the quote I chose for the title of this post from act one is particularly telling, don't you?**

I think Oedipus Rex would be boring to watch.

Woah! What? How dare I say something so bold about such a great work of drama. Give me a second of your time and I'll clarify this.

For those of you readers who have been living under a rock, Oedipus is a story about a king who is told his son will murder him and marry the queen. So he tries to have his son killed but a kind servant spares him and the son grows up and well wouldn't you know it, he ends up killing his father and marrying his mother. This son is Oedipus Rex.

"Wow, that sounds like a super interesting story. Why would you think the play would be boring?"

The Little Clay Cart

I spent a couple hours reading this little gem from Ancient India called The Little Cart. The Little Clay Cart is a play that involves romance, social status, and heavenly virtues of character. Now normally I don't read Ancient Indian plays, but it was assigned for my Drama history class so I decided because it was a drama that I would include it here. I actually think that it is the first Indian drama I have ever read.

There are some big differences I noticed between this play and Western drama. The most notable being the focus on the caste system and the meaning of social status and wealth. Despite all of the cultural and social issues however I was able to connect with many of the themes present in the play. The main characters in the play are Charudatta and Vasantasenā. They fall in love with each other, but their love is seemingly thwarted by the King's evil brother in law Samsthānaka. Samsthanaka attempts to kill Vasantasena because he cannot have her for himself. Vasantasena is buried and believed by everyone to be dead. Charudatta is believed to be the killer and he is put on trial for the murder of Vasantasena. Later Vasantasena appears and reveals the truth. Though Samsthanaka faces the death penalty for his actions Charudatta shows true character and virtue by pleading for the King to pardon Samsthanaka who is then set free. Although great importance was placed on wealth and social status in this Ancient Indian drama, it was the forgiveness and charity shown by Charudatta that was of the greatest value. This isn't just a gospel principle taught in our church, but it is a universal principle and it can be learned and appreciated from all cultures.

Matt. 6: 15

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you