Character Analysis and Plot Overview of 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

Algernon

A man in his late twenties who pretends to be Jack's younger brother Ernest and falls in love with Jack's ward, Cecily.

Jack

A man in his early thirties, wealthy and adopted, who invented a younger brother named Ernest to visit town and is in love with Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen.

Gwendolen

Algernon's cousin and daughter of Lord and Lady Bracknell, who agrees to marry Jack believing his name is Ernest.

Cecily

Jack's young ward who dislikes schooling and has created an imaginary engagement with Jack's fictitious brother, Ernest.

Lady Bracknell

Gwendolen's mother, an arrogant woman who tries to arrange a marriage between Algernon and Cecily after discovering Cecily's wealth.

Miss Prism

Cecily's governess, an elderly woman with a lost three-volume novel and romantic feelings for the Rector, Dr. Chasuble.

Dr. Chasuble

The local Rector who has strong feelings for Miss Prism and has never published anything despite being well-educated.

Earnest

Jack's imaginary brother who significantly influences Cecily.

Bunbury

A fictitious person created by Algernon to escape family obligations.

Jack's purpose for coming to town

He came to propose to Gwendolen. His name in town is Ernest.

Algernon's views on romance and marriage

He sees marriage as dull and prefers romance without commitment.

Algernon's questioning of Jack/Ernest

He suspects Jack is hiding something and wants to know the truth.

Lady Bracknell's opinion on the engagement

She disapproves because Jack has no family background.

Gwendolen's preference for the name Ernest

She thinks the name Ernest sounds trustworthy and noble.

Lady Bracknell's concerns in her questions to Jack

She cares about social status, wealth, and family.

Lady Bracknell's advice to Jack for marrying Gwen

She tells him to find some proper family connections.

Bunburying

Jack uses a fake identity to escape responsibility, like Algernon's Bunbury excuse.

Algernon's reason for writing down Jack's address

He plans to visit Jack's country home, pretending to be Ernest.

Miss Prism's opinion on Jack's brother (Ernest)

She thinks he is irresponsible and a bad influence.

Algernon's mourning attire

He is pretending to be Jack's brother Ernest, who supposedly died.

Jack's desire to be christened

So he can legally be named Ernest and marry Gwendolen.

Cecily's response to Algernon's proposal

She says they've been engaged for three months. She broke it off once during their 'imaginary' relationship.

Algernon's reason for meeting Rector Chasuble

He wants to be christened as Ernest.

Gwendolen and Cecily's method to prove engagement

They compare diaries and engagement dates.

How Cecily and Gwendolen learn the truth about Ernest

Jack and Algernon reveal their real identities.

Girls' reaction to the revelation

They're upset but eventually forgive them. They plan to make sure the men change their names to Ernest.

Jack's condition for approving Algernon's marriage to Cecily

He refuses unless Lady Bracknell allows him to marry Gwendolen.

Algernon's statement about Bunbury to Lady Bracknell

He says Bunbury is dead, so he won't need the excuse anymore.

What changes Lady Bracknell's skepticism of Cecily

She learns Cecily is wealthy.

Jack's demand to Lady Bracknell regarding Algernon's marriage

She must approve his marriage to Gwendolen.

Miss Prism's crazy story

She accidentally left a baby in a handbag at a train station.

Lady Bracknell's revelation to Jack

He is her sister's son, making him Algernon's older brother.

Genre of the play

Social drama.

Themes of the play

Social class and marriage.

Irony of the title

Nobody is named Earnest and the love interests love the guys because of the name Earnest.

Setting and time period of the play

London and the countryside, late 1890s.