possible, valued, vital, wonderful, high, pleasant, intellectual, etc. whereas the negative ones tend to be pessimistic in evaluating things. Following are the
examples of the negative appreciations; invalid, nonsense, disgraceful, horrid, false, improbable, severe, unalterable, irrevocable, terrible, bad, incomparable,
improbable, invaluable, problematic, out of, unpleasant, distasteful, fearful, absurd, not satisfactory, impatient, irreligious, etc.
Based on my result, the number of appreciations is larger than judgment. This implies that the characters are more concerned with evaluating things than
with human behavior. In the drama, Lady Bracknell has the largest number of appreciation. This shows that she is aware of her environment, including with her
daughter marriage. She embodies all the classic Victorian belief that marriage is ‘a financial arrangement’. Therefore, she prohibits Gwendolen to marry Jack
while he is only an orphan. Following are some examples of appreciation for more examples, see appendix 27-45:
4.3.1 Positive appreciation
3 Algernon iv but I play with wonderful expression.
Interpretation: the word “wonderful” refers to positive expression. In this dialogue, Algernon admired himself that he played with wonderful
expression. 12 Lane
ii it is a very pleasant state, sir. iii I have had very little experience of it myself up to the present.
Interpretation: in this dialogue, the word “pleasant” means joyful. Lane said that Algernon’s statement is really good. He always gave him praise.
44 Jack i And very good bread and butter it is too.
Interpretation: the word “good” refers to the bread. It means that the bread has high quality and also the butter. From Jack’s dialogues, we can
know that people who prepared these bread and butter had high status.
137 Chasuble
i These are very joyful tidings. Interpretation: in this dialogue, Chasuable liked those tidings. The word “joyful”
means enjoyable and interesting things. He stated his appreciation of the tidings to Miss Prism.
39 Algernon ii It is very romantic to be in love.
Interpretation: the word “romantic” means positive appreciation to the feeling of love. It shows that Algernon was enthusiastic to be in love with
someone. He stated his appreciation to Jack. 85
Jack i That wouldn’t be at all a bad thing.
Interpretation: the word “bad” refers to thing. Jack commented that modern literature is not always negative thing. The word “wouldn’t” before
bad shows positive statement. Therefore, “bad” in this dialogue includes as a positive appreciation to thing.
4.3.2 Negative appreciation
78 Algernon iii and pray make it improbable
Interpretation: the word “improbable” refers to Jack’s explanation about his cigarette case. Algernon very wanted to know about Cecily, the
name labeled in that cigarette. His appreciation is a negative one since he seemed can not believe to Jack’s.
35 Algernon ii the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly
disgraceful. iii It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you.
Interpretation: the word “disgraceful” and “bad” show negative appreciation to Jack’s way to flirt with Gwendolen. Those words mean that Jack
and Gwendolen can not to be romantic flirting each other. 57 Jack
i There is no good offering a large reward now Interpretation: actually, the word “good” is positive appreciation. Because there is
“no” before “good”, this appreciation becomes a negative one. “Good” refers to the offering of large reward. In this dialogue, Jack
spoke with
Algernon. 14 Lane
ii it is not a very interesting subject. Interpretation: the case of this dialogue is the same as the previous dialogue. The
word “interesting” actually is a positive one. Because it has “not”, it becomes negative appreciation for the subject.
17 Algernon ii Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example,
Interpretation: in this dialogue, Algernon spoke with himself. He assumed that the lower people did not give us a good example. It is a negative
appreciation. The word “don’t set us a good example” means that they don’t have any good attitudes.
From the appreciation words in the dialogues, the readers of the drama know that Oscar Wilde appreciate things and situation well. He is able to describe
thing detailed. He makes the drama live with the using of appreciation. The most appreciation vocabularies that almost appear in the drama are negative ones since
there are two dominant characters who become antagonist, Algernon and Lady Bracknell. The other characters perform plain people so that they rarely comment
on evaluating the things or events around them. Oscar Wilde tends to concern on appreciation. He writes the dialogues
with many numbers of appreciations. He is so attentive to the things and the situation appeared in that time. He draws them explicitly and expressively.
Therefore, we directly can understand what his ideas are about life in Victorian era.
4.4 Amplification
