Author: Oscar Wilde Setting: Begins in a flat in London then proceeds to a manor
house in the countryside in the late 1800's. Plot: Two men, John Jack Earnest
Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, use the deception [a Bunbury] that both their
names were Ernest, in order to secure marriage to the women they love, Gwendolen
Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Then there is the ultimate unraveling of their lies,
which still ends in their impending nuptials. Cast of Key Characters John Jack
Ernest Worthing "Bon-vivant" [Jack to Algernon 2] Algernon is asking
Jack what brought him to town. Jack has come to town to get away from his
responsibilities in the country, his ward Cecily, and to see Gwendolen, whom he
wishes to propose marriage. In order to do this he has committed the Bunbury
that he has come to see his brother, Ernest, who doesn't exist. He wishes to
enjoy the pleasures before attending to his guardian duties. Quote: "When
one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other
people. It is excessively boring." "Curmudgeon" [Jack to Algernon
3] Jack has come to propose to Gwendolen. Which is the express reason behind his
lying about his name being Ernest. Algy feels that is business not pleasure.
Jack thinks it is utterly unromantic. Algernon says he will forget about romance
when he is married. Though Algy doesn't know it yet when he sees Cecily he will
shed this view. Jack feels that the view Algernon has, others do also and that
is what causes the dissolution process to be born. Jack is generalizing his
cynical view of unromantic people. Quote: "The divorce court was specially
invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted."
"Architect" [Jack to Algy 3] Algy has said it is distasteful the way
Gwendolen and Jack flirt with each other. This prompts Jack to state his
romantic intentions toward Gwendolen. Jack has a specific goal, which is to
marry Gwendolen. This is his sole purpose for coming to town. Jack is so intent
on marrying Gwendolen he has created a bunbury, the phantom brother Ernest, in
order to see her. He also lies that his name is Ernest. Quote: "I am in
love with Gwendolen. I have come to town expressly to propose to her."
"Conniver" [Jack to Algernon 4] Algernon is trying to found why there
is an inscription of the name Cecily on Jacks lighter. Jack creates the lie that
Cecily is his aunt when in actuality she is his ward. The lie beings to unravel
here because Algernon continues to question Jack. This is Jack's Bunbury to Algy
and there are many more to come. Jack hopes that this lie will discourage any
further pursuit of his true relation, guardian, to Cecily. Quote: "Well if
you want to know Cecily happens to be my aunt." "Critic" [Jack to
Algernon 6] Jack has been trying to satisfy Algy's fanatic questioning for the
explanation of the inscription on Jack's cigarette case. Jack has said that he
is Ernest in town and Jack in the country. Jack is not named Ernest. It is a
phantom brother he has invented. Jack is going to explain his reason for lying
in order to come to town, but he doesn't believe Algernon has a somber
personality to comprehend his reasons. Quote: "My dear Algy, I don't know
whether you will be able to understand my real motives. You are hardly serious
enough." "Martyr" [Jack to Algy 6] Algy has returned the
cigarette case to Jack; now, he wishes to hear the reason Jack is Ernest in town
and Jack in the country. Jack shows his bunbury to Algy. Jack is Cecily's
guardian that is why he is Jack in the country. In order to come to town he has
invented a wayward brother named Ernest. Jack explains his reasons for lying
about who Cecily really is and who he is to Cecily. He is essentially her
immediate forebear and must keep up social standards. It is his responsibility
to guard against any degrading of her values. Jack makes sacrifices to be
Cecily's protector. One of his sacrifices is that he must lie in order to see
Gwendolen, whom he doesn't see as often as he would like. Quote: "When one
is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone
on all subjects. It's ones duty…." "Dreamer" [Jack to Gwendolen
10] Jack is attempting to ask for Gwendolen's hand in marriage. Gwendolen
declares her passion for him and her wishes that he had shown more of his adore
in public. When Jack remembers the day he met Gwendolen and he is telling her of
his adore for her, he stammers through his declaration with awe of her. You can
picture the star struck look in his eyes. Jack is dreaming of the time Gwendolen
will be his ownest, which occurs at the end of the play. Quote: "Miss
Fairfax, ever since I met you I have admired you more than any girl…I have
ever met since…I met you." "Caregiver" [Jack to Lady Bracknell
14] Lady Bracknell has been questioning Jack about his background in order to
determine his worthiness to marry Gwendolen. It has come out that Jack was found
in a handbag in a train station cloakroom. Lady Bracknell will not allow the
marriage unless Jack can find his parentage. It would be below social standards
and not very profitable for Gwendolen to marry someone of such origins. Jack is
questioning Lady Bracknell of what to do, because he yearns to make Gwendolen
full of zeal and must do so for his sake. Quote: "May I ask you then what
you would advise me to do? I need hardly say I would do anything in the world to
ensure Gwendolen's happiness." "Judge" [Jack to Lady Bracknell
48] Lady Bracknell has just learned that Algy is engaged to Cecily. Cecily meets
all of Lady Bracknell's criteria, especially the money. Jack won't allow Algy to
marry Cecily unless Lady Bracknell allows him to marry him. Jack is talking to
Lady Bracknell about Algernon's request to marry Cecily. He states that this
will not happen because he finds that Algernon is a lyre and lacks any scruples.
He judges Algy unfit as a match for Cecily because of Algy's Bunbury. Quote:
"It pains me very much to have to speak frankly to you, Lady Bracknell,
about your nephew, but the fact is that I do not approve at all of his moral
character. I suspect him of being untruthful." Algernon Moncrieff
"Curmudgeon" [Algernon to Lane 2] Algernon is talking with Lane about
the amount of wine consumed at his last dinner party. The comment that the wine
at a bachelor's house is better than a married household is made by Lane. And
Lane infers his ideas of marriage to Algy. Algy feels that the social inferiors
should hold up a better moral standard for the upper crust about marriage. And
if they do not then they are worthless. After all it is their job to do so. It
is ironic that Algy should speak of lower class morals when he has none of his
own. His life is full of bunburying for entertainment. Quote: "Lane's views
on marriage…Really, if the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on
earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class, to have absolutely no sense of
moral responsibility." "Judge" [Algy to Jack 2] Jack finds out
that Gwendolen is due to arrive with her mother, Lady Bracknell. This fits
perfectly with his plan to purpose to Gwendolen. He wishes to recruit Algy to
help by getting Lady Bracknell out of the way. Algernon talks to Jack of his
conduct around Gwendolen and the lusty looks exchanged between the two of them.
Their conduct is unbecoming of Ladies and Gentlemen. Pg. 2 "My dear fellow,
the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful. It is almost as bad
as the way Gwendolen flirts with you." "Avant-garde" [Algy to
Jack 4] The last time Jack was at Algy's house he left his cigarette case. Algy
is reading the inscription and says the case must not be Jack's, because his
name is Ernest. This indicates Jack's Bunbury. Algernon wants Jack to explain
who Cecily is. He demands that the cigarette case inscription is explained and
he is the first to mention it. Jack has been missing it for a while now. This is
the first time Jack gets caught in his lies. Quote: "Bring me that
cigarette case Mr. Worthing left in the smoking-room the last time he dined
here." "Fanatic" [Algy to Jack 5] Algy bombards Jack on every lie
he is telling about the inscription on the cigarette case. Cecily can't be his
aunt when she calls him her Uncle Jack. Jack is really her guardian. Algy tells
Jack that his name must be Ernest. Jack explains he is Jack in the country and
Ernest in town. Ernest is really Jacks phantom brother. Algernon is quite
persistent about the true explanation of the inscription on the cigarette case.
For every little bit of reason he is given he continually pursues more and won't
let the subject drop. He advances on Jack from every angle about the meaning of
the words. Quote: "Yes. But why does your aunt call you her uncle? 'From
little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.' There is no
objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter
what her size may be, should call her own nephew her uncle, I can't quite make
out. Besides, your name isn't Jack at all; it is Ernest."
"Conniver" [Algy to Lane 8] Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen have arrived
at Algy's to find Jack there. Lady Bracknell is not pleased. Lady Bracknell
apologizes for being late. Lady Bracknell wishes to have some tea and cucumber
sandwiches, but Algy ate them all. Instead of telling her that he ate them, he
makes an acquisition to Lane about where they are seeing he was to prepare them.
This sets Lane up to lie and cover Algy's indiscretion. Algy doesn't have to
commit the bunbury some one else does. Quote: "Good Heavens! Lane! Why are
there no cucumber sandwiches? I ordered them specially" "Jester"
[Algy to Jack18] Jack is proclaiming his love for Gwendolen when Algy interrupts
with a giggle. Jack wants to know why. Algy is thinking of Bunbury. Algy has
been listening in on Jack and Gwendolen's conversation. Through the conversation
he has found out where Jack lives in the country. He has secretly written down
the address. The Bunbury he is thinking about is that he is going to the country
house as Ernest to meet Cecily. Quote: "Oh, I'm a little anxious about
Bunbury." "Bon-vivant" [Algy to Lane 18] Lane presents Algy with
a stack of bills and Algy destroys them and wishes to indulge in some spirits
instead of tending to his responsibilities. Quote: [Lane presents several
letters on a salver to Algernon. It is to be surmised that they are bills, as
Algernon, after looking at the envelopes tears them up] Algernon says "A
glass of sherry, Lane" "Architect" [Algy to Jack 40] Jack admits
to Gwendolen and Cecily that he has no brother at all and never did. The fact is
Algy is really his brother, as he will find out later. Algy and Jack have both
pretended to be named Ernest to marry the ladies. Now the lies have unraveled.
The lady's figured out that neither of them will marry a man named Ernest and
they are both quite mad. The women leave the men alone in the garden. Jack says
this must be Algernon's idea of a Bunbury and Algernon feels this is the epitome
of bunburying. This is Algernon's greatest legacy. Quote: "yes, and a
perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in
my life." "Visionary" [Algy to Jack 16] Algy wants to know if
Gwendolen has accepted Jack's proposal. Gwendolen accepted, but Lady Bracknell
is forbidding it due to Jack's origins. Jack badmouths Lady Bracknell. Algy is
unwaivered by it. Algy implies that Gwendolen will turn out like Lady Bracknell.
Jack sarcastically wonders is Algy believes he is being clever. Algy is showing
conceit in that he is quite sure it is clever and true. Quote: "It is
perfectly phrased! And quite as true as any observation in civilized life should
be." Lady Augusta Bracknell "Director" [Lady Bracknell to
Gwendolen 8] Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive at Algy's. Lady Bracknell sees
Jack and gives him an icy bow. She does not approve of Jack and Gwendolen
together it puts disorder to her plans for Gwendolen's life. Lady Augusta
doesn't like that her daughter has sat next to Jack and wishes to put order back
to the situation. Quote: "Won't you come and sit here, Gwendolen"
"Oppressor" [Lady Bracknell to Gwendolen 12] Jack has just purposed to
Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell comes in and interrupts. Gwendolen informs her
mother that she is interrupting Mr. Worthing and that she and Mr. Worthing are
engaged. Lady Bracknell brings Gwendolen back down to size with the firm reply
that this is not so until she, her mother decides it to occur. Lady Bracknell
wants Gwendolen to fear and respect her authority as her mother. Quote:
"Pardon me…You are not engaged to any one. When you do become engaged to
some one, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of
the fact…" "Traditionalist" [Lady Bracknell to Gwendolen 12]
Lady Bracknell has just been informed of Gwendolen's engagement to Jack. She
tells Gwendolen that this is not in line with tradition. She then explains the
tradition. Lady Bracknell is a firm believer in the tradition of the time for
marriages to be arranged by the family and not by the individuals. This is the
only proper way for a lady to acquire wealth and keep her innocence from being
tarnished. Quote: "An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise,
pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could
be allowed to arrange for herself…" "Critic" [Lady Bracknell to
Jack 12] Lady Bracknell takes out a notebook and looks at it. The list she has
is the same one the Duchess of Bolton has. Lady Bracknell is trying to give
herself higher social status by association. Lady Bracknell is speaking to Jack
about his status as a worthy suitor for her Gwendolen. He just doesn't make the
cut of the upper class bachelors. He isn't on the roster of the best choice for
mothers to make for their daughters. Quote: "I feel bound to tell you that
you are not on my list of eligible young men…" "Curmudgeon"
[Lady Bracknell to jack 13] Lady Bracknell is interviewing Jack. She asked him
what he knows. He knows nothing. She is glad to hear that. Lady Bracknell is
speaking to Jack of her view of education. She thinks it would hurt the upper
class for there to be intellectual people and that it might possibly cause a
riot on the royal family, but that problem won't occur in England because even
educating people doesn't come first, social status does. Quote: "The whole
theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any
rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a
serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in
Grosvenor Square." "Caregiver" [Lady Bracknell to Jack 15] Jack
has told Lady Bracknell of his origins, found in a handbag at a train station in
a cloakroom. In order for her to allow Jack to marry Gwendolen he must produce a
parent. Jack can produce the handbag. Lady Bracknell needs to make sure her
daughter is chosen the proper man for marriage. She feels Gwendolen needs her to
make the choice for her, because they have done so most of her life. Quote:
"You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing
our only daughter-a girl brought up with the utmost care- to marry into a
cloak-room and form an alliance with a parcel?" Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax
"Architect" [Gwendolen to Jack 10] Jack is telling Gwendolen about how
much he admires her since he first saw her. Gwendolen says she knows and that
she too has admired him because of his name. She has always known she would
marry an Ernest because it is fashionable. Gwendolen is a fraud about being
honorable, because the only reason she is in love with Jack is that she thinks
his name is Ernest. This is Gwendolen's Bunbury, the pretense of love. It has
been her goal since the day she met him. Quote: "…and my ideal has always
been to love some one of the name Ernest. There is something in that name that
inspires absolute confidence. The moment Algernon first mentioned to me that he
had a friend called Ernest, I knew I was destined to love you."
"Conniver" [Gwendolen to Jack 10] Jack asks if Gwendolen would not
love him if his name were not Ernest. Gwendolen starts speaking deliberately
smooth and calculated almost too much so to be believable. She is telling him it
is of no matter because his name is Ernest; therefore, she dances around the
question. She is trying to cover up the fact that if his name were not Ernest
she would not even take a second look at him. Quote: [Glibly]. "Ah! That is
clearly a metaphysical speculation, and like most metaphysical speculation has
very little reference at all to the actual facts of real life, as we know
them." "Oppressor" [Gwendolen to Lady Bracknell 12] After Jack
has proposed to Gwendolen, her mother returns to the room and instead of
allowing Jack to stand Gwendolen does so and informs her mother of their
engagement. Gwendolen takes control of the situation first. Gwendolen is
physically restraining to Jack. She is verbally leashing to her mother, Lady
Bracknell. Quote: "Mamma! [He tries to rise; she restrains him.] I must beg
you to retire. This is no place for you. Besides, Mr. Worthing has not quite
finished yet." "Critic" [Gwendolen to Cecily 37] Gwendolen has
come to the country house to surprise Jack. She meets Cecily first. They are
exchanging polite insults to each other. Cecily is basically saying; if it looks
like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be a duck. Cecily believes that
Gwendolen has tricked Ernest to marry her. The fact is Algy is pretending to be
Ernest and is whom Cecily is engaged. Jack is whom Gwendolen is engaged to and
Jack is also pretending to be named Ernest. Gwendolen has just learned of the
engagement between Ernest and Cecily and they are becoming engaged in a polite
grit your teeth argument. Gwendolen lets Cecily know she obviously was raised in
an improper style. Quote: "I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade.
It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different."
"Caregiver" [Gwendolen to Cecily 39] Jack has told the ladies he
doesn't have a brother named Ernest. Cecily tells Gwendolen; her Ernest is Uncle
Jack. That means that neither of the women is engaged to man named Ernest.
Ironically after all the jealousy between the women they now have a common cause
and unit. After Gwendolen and Cecily find out they has been lied to, they
embrace and Gwendolen tells Cecily she will care for her like a big sister.
Quote: "You will call me sister, will you not?" Cecily Cardew
"Deviant" [Cecily to Miss Prism 21] Miss Prism has just called for
Cecily to come over and do her lessons. Cecily is talking with Miss Prism about
her lessons. She tells Miss Prism that she doesn't want to do her German for she
will look ordinary. She doesn't want to look like everybody else. She is being
vain about her looks. Quote: "But I don't like German. It isn't at all a
becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German
lesson." "Loner" [Cecily to Miss Prism 22] Cecily thinks Miss
Prism could reform Jack's brother, Ernest. Cecily begins writing about Ernest in
her diary. Cecily uses her Diary as her Bunbury. Cecily's sole companion is her
diary she puts everything in it she lives her life in the pages. She wishes to
remember her every detail of existence. Quote: "I keep a diary in order to
enter the wonderful secrets of my life. If I didn't write them down I should
probably forget all about them." "Dreamer" [Cecily to Algernon
32] Jack has demanded Algernon leave, but he has no intention of leaving.
Algernon has asked Cecily to marry him. She begins to tell him they are already
engaged and have been for some three months. She gives him the account of their
lives thus far as lived in her dairy a far cry from reality. She has lived out
their relationship in her diary. She has dreamed up the man that now stands in
front of her. The only problem is that Algy is pretending to be named Ernest.
Quote: "On the 14th of February last. Worn out by your entire ignorance of
my existence, I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and after a
long struggle with myself I accepted you under this dear old tree here…"
"Conformist" [Cecily to Gwendolen and then Algernon 43] Gwendolen and
Cecily have learned that neither of them is engaged to a man named Ernest.
Gwendolen and Cecily enter the house they are waiting for the men, Algernon and
Jack, to enter. Gwendolen tells Cecily what to do and she follows her cue. The
men finally enter. They have agreed not to speak first but Gwendolen does so and
Cecily praises her then addresses Algernon also. Quote: "Gwendolen, your
common sense is invaluable. Mr. Moncrieff, kindly answer me the following
question: Why did you pretend to be my guardian's brother?" Miss Laetitia
Prism "Traditionalist" [Miss Prism to Cecily 21] Cecily is watering
the flowers. Miss Prism calls Cecily in to do her lessons. Miss Prism feels
Cecily should not do manual labor that is not for ladies to do but for servants.
Quote: "Cecily, Cecily! Surely such a utilitarian occupation as the
watering of flowers is rather Moulton's duty than yours?"
"Director" [Miss Prism to Cecily 21] Cecily has just been tending to
the flowers. Once Miss Prism has gotten Cecily to come over and sit down, she
puts Cecily in order to do her lessons. Miss Prism tells Cecily what she is to
do in her studies. As her teacher she must direct her education. Quote:
"Your German grammar is on the table. Pray open it at page fifteen. We will
repeat yesterday's lesson." "Curmudgeon" [Miss Prism to Cecily
22] Cecily is saying she thinks Miss Prism can reform Jack's brother. Miss Prism
thinks the idea of turning over a new leaf is absurd. She is skeptical that it
can be done. Quote: "…I am not in favour of this modern mania for turning
bad people into good people at a moments notice. As a man sows so let him
reap." "Critic" [Miss Prism to Cecily 22] Miss Prism has written
a novel herself. Later we find out that her novel is the key to Jack's true
identity. When Miss Prism was younger she was caring for an infant, when she
accidentally switched the baby with the book. She placed the infant in her
handbag and the novel in the baby carrier. The infant was Jack, whose real name
is Ernest. Miss Prism sees no reason for Cecily to have a diary; she has nothing
good enough to write about. Quote: "You must put away your diary, Cecily. I
really don't see why you should keep a dairy at all." Rev. Frederick Canon
Chausable "Caregiver" [Chausable to Jack 26] Jack comes in dressed in
funeral garb. Jack is using the dress as a lie to eliminate his brother, Ernest.
After Jack tells everyone his brother is dead, Chausable as a priest gives
comfort to Jack. This is a need for priest to allow others to unburden their
grief on them. Quote: "Mr. Worthing, I offer you my sincere condolence. You
have at least the consolation of knowing that you were always the most generous
and forgiving of brothers." "Critic" [Chausable to Jack 27] Jack
says his brother will be buried in Paris. Chausable is horrified and feels that
Jack's brother was crazy. The Victorian attitude toward Paris is that it is a
place of ill repute. Algy is pretending to be Jack's brother Ernest to deceive
Cecily. Quote: "In Paris! [Shakes his head} I fear that hardly points to
any very serious state of mind at the last…" "Deviant" [Chausable
to Lady Bracknell 50] Lady Bracknell accuses Chausable and Miss Prism of having
more than a platonic relationship. She thinks that there are more intimate
issues. Chausable is outraged by the implications. He declares that he is a
traditional man of God. Chausable shows his unique individuality to Lady
Bracknell. Quote: "I am a celibate, madame." Theme The Importance of
Being Earnest is encompassed in the keeping up of social morals at all costs.
The characters continually lie to keep an indignant moral high ground. They feel
that without lying they would be unable to achieve their pleasures of life. Two
men, John Jack Earnest Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, use the deception [a
Bunbury] that both their names were Ernest, in order to secure marriage to the
women they love, Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Then there is the ultimate
unraveling of their lies, which still ends in their impending nuptials. John
Jack Ernest Worthing comes to town to get away from his responsibilities in the
country, his ward Cecily Cardew, and to see Gwendolen Fairfax, whom he wishes to
propose marriage. In order to come to town he has invented a wayward brother
named Ernest. He has committed the Bunbury that he has come to see his brother,
Ernest, who doesn't exist. He wishes to enjoy the pleasures before attending to
his guardian duties. Jack is proclaiming his love for Gwendolen when Algy
interrupts with a giggle. Jack wants to know why. Algy is thinking of Bunbury.
Algy has been listening in on Jack and Gwendolen's conversation. Through the
conversation he has found out where Jack lives in the country. He has secretly
written down the address. The Bunbury he is thinking about is that he is going
to the country house as Ernest to meet Cecily. Algernon has asked Cecily to
marry him. Cecily tells him they are already engaged and that it is written in
her diary. Cecily uses her Diary as her Bunbury. She has dreamed up the man that
now stands in front of her. The only problem is that Algy is pretending to be
named Ernest. Jack admits to Gwendolen and Cecily that he has no brother at all
and never did. The fact is Algy is really his brother, as he will find out
later. Algy and Jack have both pretended to be named Ernest to marry the ladies.
Now the lies have unraveled. The lady's figured out that neither of them will
marry a man named Ernest and they are both quite mad. The women leave the men
alone in the garden. Jack says this must be Algernon's idea of a Bunbury and
Algernon feels this is the epitome of bunburying. This is Algernon's greatest
legacy. Quote: "yes, and a perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most
wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in my life." In the end, it is shown that
there is more truth in many of the characters' lies than they knew. When Cecily
tells Algy that she and he are already engaged and have been for some three
months. She gives him the account of their lives thus far as lived in her dairy.
She has lived out their relationship in her diary. She has dreamed up the man
that now stands in front of her. Miss Prism has written a novel herself. Later
we find out that her novel is the key to Jack's true identity. When Miss Prism
was younger she was caring for an infant, when she accidentally switched the
baby with the book. She placed the infant in her handbag and the novel in the
baby carrier. The infant was Jack, whose real name is Ernest. Jack's parents are
really Algernon's parents also. This means that every time Jack came to town to
see Algy he really was seeing his wayward brother. With the truth exposed it
also means that Algernon was only lying to Cecily about being named Ernest,
because he truly is John Jack Ernest Worthing's brother. Being earnest is being
truthful. The quote that entails this ideal is on pg. 40 [Algernon to Jack]
"Well, one must be serious about something, if one wants to have any
amusement in life. I happen to be serious about Bunburying…"