ALGERNON

A young man with no income and complete confidence.

1:02Comic20s–30sBeginner

The speech118 words · 4 beats

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Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury.

You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like.

I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose.turn

Bunbury is perfectly invaluable. If it wasn't for Bunbury's extraordinary bad health, for instance, I wouldn't be able to dine with you tonight.

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Speaking to: His friend Jack, who has just been caught in a lie and is being lectured about it by a worse liar.
What just happened: Algernon has produced a cigarette case inscribed to 'Uncle Jack' from someone called Cecily. Jack has just confessed to having a double life. Algernon is thrilled.
Objective: To recruit Jack into the system, and to be admired for having invented it.
The turn: 'I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid' — the confession becomes a sales pitch.
Watch out for: Prose comedy. The rhythm is everything; the moment it's played as arch, it dies.

Full work: The Importance of Being Earnest New to the vocabulary? What’s a beat? →

More from The Importance of Being Earnest2

GWENDOLEN1:06A fashionable young woman who has decided, on principle, to love a man named Ernest. She treats her own whims as immovable moral law and delivers absurdity with total conviction.CECILY1:06Algernon, posing as the wicked "Ernest," has just proposed. Cecily informs him — with perfect composure — that she accepted him months ago, in her imagination, and has the diary, the ring, and the letters to prove it.

ALGERNON

The Importance of Being Earnest · Oscar Wilde · 1:02 · 118 words

Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury. You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like. I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is perfectly invaluable. If it wasn't for Bunbury's extraordinary bad health, for instance, I wouldn't be able to dine with you tonight.

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