Miss Prism: Morality and Hypocrisy
Key Facts
- Miss Prism:
- Miss Prism is a governess who oversees Cecily’s upbringing.
- She has a rigid perspective on morality and quickly judges people as good or bad based on their actions.
- Miss Prism believes in the clear distinction between right and wrong and wants Cecily to mold into someone respectable like Jack Worthing.
- Despite her claims of being virtuous, Miss Prism is easily flustered by a love interest, particularly Dr. Chasuble.
- Miss Prism is attracted to Dr. Chasuble and often finds excuses to spend time alone with him, despite verbally disapproving of Cecily’s methods.
- It is revealed at the end of the story that Miss Prism was the one who left baby Jack in a handbag at the railway station, highlighting her own fallibility and mistakes.
- Canon Chasuble:
- Canon Chasuble is the local reverend in the play.
- He is an intellectual character who speaks in metaphors.
- Chasuble flirts with Miss Prism and engages in coded conversations with her, often discussing desire and lust.
- The canon’s celibacy becomes a recurring joke throughout the play, and he defends the church’s stand on celibacy.
- Chasuble’s character satirizes the societal concern for correct and proper appearances, while hinting at the sexual repression of the Victorian era.
Miss Prism serves as a governess to Cecily Cardew, instilling in her a rigid moral code. She believes in the clear distinction between right and wrong, judging individuals based on their actions. However, her own actions reveal a hypocritical nature. Despite her claims of virtue, she is easily swayed by romantic interests, particularly Dr. Chasuble. The revelation that she was responsible for abandoning Jack as a baby further highlights her fallibility.
Canon Chasuble: Religion and Repression
Canon Chasuble, the local reverend, represents the intellectual and religious aspects of Victorian society. He speaks in metaphors and engages in coded conversations with Miss Prism, often alluding to desire and lust. His celibacy becomes a source of humor, satirizing the church’s stance on the matter. Chasuble’s character highlights the societal obsession with appearances and the repression of sexual expression during the Victorian era.
Their Combined Roles
Together, Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble serve as vehicles for Wilde’s satirical commentary on Victorian morality and social conventions. They embody the hypocrisy and repression prevalent in society, while also providing a humorous contrast to the play’s other characters.
Sources
FAQs
What is Miss Prism’s role in the play?
Miss Prism is Cecily Cardew’s governess. She is responsible for educating Cecily and instilling in her a rigid moral code.
How does Miss Prism’s character satirize Victorian morality?
Miss Prism’s hypocritical nature, as seen in her attraction to Dr. Chasuble despite her claims of virtue, highlights the gap between Victorian society’s professed values and its actual practices.
What is Canon Chasuble’s significance in the play?
Canon Chasuble represents the intellectual and religious aspects of Victorian society. His coded conversations with Miss Prism and his defense of the church’s stance on celibacy satirize the societal obsession with appearances and the repression of sexual expression.
How do Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble work together to convey Wilde’s message?
Together, Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble embody the hypocrisy and repression prevalent in Victorian society. They provide a humorous contrast to the play’s other characters while also serving as vehicles for Wilde’s satirical commentary on Victorian morality and social conventions.
What is the significance of Miss Prism’s revelation that she abandoned Jack as a baby?
This revelation further highlights Miss Prism’s fallibility and the hypocrisy of her moral code. It also adds a layer of irony to her role as Cecily’s governess.
How does Canon Chasuble’s character satirize the church’s stance on celibacy?
Canon Chasuble’s humorous defense of celibacy, despite his obvious attraction to Miss Prism, satirizes the church’s unrealistic expectations and the repression of natural human desires.
What is the overall function of Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble in the play?
Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble serve as vehicles for Wilde’s satirical commentary on Victorian morality and social conventions. They embody the hypocrisy and repression prevalent in society, while also providing a humorous contrast to the play’s other characters.
How do Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble contribute to the play’s comedic elements?
The contrast between their professed values and their actual behavior, as well as their coded conversations and humorous misunderstandings, contribute to the play’s comedic elements.