Algernon Hunger

The hunger and humor of Algernon

When Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest he gave birth to a wonderful character named Algernon Moncrieff. In this essay we will see how the appetites of this character add to the humor of this play. To analyze this we will look at his character traits. Algernon's traits of gluttony, dishonesty, romance and wit hive us delightful humor throughout the play.
As a glutton, Algernon puts his appetite first and people second. In the beginning of the play, he has cucumber sandwiches put out on a tray for his Aunt Augusta, who will be arriving soon. Knowing that these are for his Aunt Augusta, Algernon begins to eat the sandwiches. When Jack try's to eat one, Algernon interferes stating they are
Algernon uses dishonesty to add more fun and excitement into his life. When Aunt Augusta asks for a cucumber sandwich, Algernon goes to the table to get them. Knowing that there will be none, he acts surprised when he sees the empty tray. Algernon then acts as though he is distressed by until his aunt tells him that it does not matter. Another device that Algernon uses for fun is an invalid friend named Bunbury. Whenever Algernon wants to get out of town, he says that he is going to visit Bunbury who is in need of his company. He also uses Bunbury as an excuse to get out of dinner engagements with his Aunt Augusta. Instead of being bored to death, Algernon can now go out and have fun with friends. Later in the play, when eavesdropping on Jack and Gwendolen, Algernon learns the address to Jacks country manor. Knowing that he should not be there, Algernon sees this as a chance to have fun and go Bunburying. When he arrives in the country he introduces himself to Cecily as Jacks brother Ernest. Knowing that Jack has no brother, Algernon does not care as long as he is having
Algernons views of romance change from disrespectful to being very passionate. In the start of the play, Algernon does not see anything romantic about marriage proposal. He believes that the uncertainty before marriage is the essence of romance. Algernons behavior towards woman is also disrespectful. He tells Jack; "The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain." This comment is made to shock us. At the same time, coming from Algernon, it makes us laugh. Later in the play, Algernon is at Jacks manor in the country pretending to be his brother Ernest. When he meets Cecily for the first time he falls in love with her. Algernon starts to change his views and become very passionate. In the garden he tells her that she is "in every way the visible personification of perfection." He also tells her "ever since I first looked upon your wonderful and incomparable beauty, I have dared to love you wildly, passionately, devotedly, hopelessly." When he says those words to Cecily, we see how he transforms from being contemptuous towards love to being a romantic fool. On the contrary to being a fool, Algernon is also