Christian

John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress has only one main character, Christian, the Pilgrim, formerly known as Graceless, or just 'Man'. He is an everyman character. He is meant to inspire readers, just as his story inspires other characters in the text. Christian had a book, the Bible, in hand and a great burden, the weight of worldly cares and concerns, on back.  This burden, which would cause him to sink into Hell, is so unbearable that Christian must seek deliverance. He meets Evangelist as he is walking out in the fields, who directs him to the "Wicket Gate" for deliverance. Since Christian cannot see the "Wicket Gate" in the distance, Evangelist directs him to go to a "shining light," which Christian thinks he sees. Christian leaves his home, his wife, and children to save himself: he cannot persuade them to accompany him. He appears in every scene and dominates them all. Other characters are those he chances to meet on his journey and with whom he talks for a longer or shorter time. His intelligence and worldliness improve a great deal over the course of the text because he learns from each misstep. He proves that tenacity and diligence, when matched with God's grace, are the keys to entering heaven. He stops at nothing in order to achieve his salvation, even though it means leaving his family and his hometown behind. He is eager to share what he has learned with other pilgrims along the way, but he is humble enough to absorb their teachings as well.

 

Lady Windermere’s Fan   - Oscar Wilde

 

The importance of the opening scene

 

As in most of the plays, the opening scene in Lady Windermere’s Fan also has its own importance. All the important characters appear in the opening scene. Their nature and expectations expose in this scene. It helps the readers to understand play easily

The play opens in a morning at Lady Windermere’s residence in London. She prepares for her twenty-first birthday ball. She is quite happy with her husband and six-month old baby. Lady Windermere is visited by Lord Darlington, who is wicked by nature. He starts complimenting Lady Windermere in a manner she considers improper. He uses highly romantic language to convey his infatuation about her. Lady Windermere is quite sane and sensible. She rejects his silly compliments.

By the arrival of Duchess of Berwick, Lord Darlington leaves shortly thereafter.

The Duchess tells Lady Windermere that she believes Lady Windermere’s husband is having an affair with Mrs. Erlynne and gives large sums of money to the woman.

After the Duchess leaves, Lady Windermere starts to look for evidence to see if what she has heard is true or not. Lady Windermere searches her husband’s bank book but finds nothing wrong. She soon finds another bank book with a lock on it and when she breaks the lock, Lady Windermere finds that her husband gave large sums of money to Mrs. Erlynne just as the Duchess said.

A fierce verbal battle breaks out when Lord Windermere comes home. Lady Windermere enquires him about what she has found, but her husband denies cheating on her. He tries to explain to his wife the nature of his relationship with Erlynne. But she turns a deaf ear to him. Lord Windermere pleads that Lady Windermere should send an invitation to her birthday party to Mrs. Erlynne. Lady Windermere rejects his plea.

Lord Windermere then sends an invitation himself through his servant, Parker. Lady Windemere threatens to insult the woman if she does show up at the party.

Lady Windermere leaves the room and Lord Windermere reveals that he is protecting his wife by hiding Mrs. Erlynne’s identity, knowing that if his wife were to find who she really is, the shame would kill her.

Thus, the opening scene throws light on the characters of all the prominent persons in the play