The Nine-Year-Old: I have magic powers! I am psychic! I can predict the plots of movies! I can see the future!
The Nine-Year-Old is sick with a virus. We are sitting at home during the middle of the school day, watching The Importance of Being Earnest. It is the end. Jack Worthing is just asking his newly-found Aunt Augusta, "Madame, will you please tell me who I am?" The Nine-Year-Old whispers, "He's going to learn that his name is really Earnest, isn't he?" "Yes," I whisper back.
She is elated. Another piece of the cultural code has been unlocked...
Posted by DeLong at March 18, 2003 07:19 PM | TrackBack
But I could have sworn that in the movie he learns that his name is NOT Earnest in some book, and then he lies about it to his fiancee? Is this the one with Colin Firth and Rupert Everett? I saw it in theaters last May, so it's kinda fuzzy . . .
Posted by: Bobby on March 18, 2003 10:39 PMYou're right. The movie pulls a further reversal on Wilde--as I discovered shortly thereafter. The army list says that his father's name (and his name) is John...
Posted by: Brad DeLong on March 19, 2003 07:17 AM