The Importance of Being Earnest Study Guide

Why does Cecily say she was engaged to "Ernest" (Algernon) before she ever met him in person?

Because "Ernest" knew nothing of Cecily, she decided to declare to herself that she's engaged to him. She then talks about how he wrote letters to her, which in reality she wrote them herself.

Lane

Butler of Algernon; loyal to Algernon (even though Algernon has ate all the cucumber sandwiches that were meant for Lady Bracknell, he tells her that they ran out of cucumbers in the market)

Merriman

Butler of Jack; helps to subside a boiling fight between Gwendolen and Cecily by entering the scene

Dr. Frederick Chasuble

Clergyman; target for satirizing religion; plans on christening Jack and Algernon with no questions asked; boring; flirts with Miss Prism with complex language

Lady Bracknell

Doesn't have someone to flirt with (everyone else does); represents the dominant high class Victorian (overbearing, powerful); judgmental (like when Jack wants to marry Gwendolen)

Miss Laetitia Prism

Flirts with Dr. Chasuble; serious (wants Cecily to learn German); overcompensates her role as an educator because she's unmarried (which results in lower social class); lacks motherly instincts

who says "Your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all!"

Gwendolen and Cecily at the same time

How does Gwendolen's assessment of her father's status within his family stand in contrast to conventional Victorian notions of gender?

Gwendolen describes her father as outside her "family circle" and neglecting "domestic duties," concluding that he's effeminate (a man who acts feminine).

After Jack and Algernon's lies are revealed, how does Wilde use triviality to keep the play from becoming too "serious"?

He has Jack and Algernon eat muffins and tea cakes

How does Jack convince Lady Bracknell that Cecily is a suitable wife for her nephew Algernon?

He lists her parents' names, 3 addresses, documents (i.e. birth certificates, baptism records, incidents of illness, vaccinations,) and money (130 thousand pounds,)

How is Lady Bracknell's monologue reacting to Cecily's inheritance a way of Wilde mocking the hypocrisy of Victorian society (p. 169)?

Her monologue mocks the hypocrisy of the Victorian society by saying in an depressing tone that they live "in an age of surfaces". However, she proceeds to do exactly that by resconsidering Algernon's and Cecily's marriage

What do we learn about Jack's birth father?

His father died when Algernon, his younger brother, was born. Also, he was a general for the army.

At the end of the play, Jack says to Gwendolen, "...it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?" She replies, "I can. For I feel sure that you are sure to change" (p. 179). What is Wilde's opinion about honesty?

Honesty is the best policy

What is the significance of a christening? Why are people often christened at birth?

It gives a Christian name from baptizing. People are often christened at birth because they usually never change their names again.

Compare and contrast Miss Prism and Lady Bracknell. What factors have shaped their values?

Miss Prism and Lady Bracknell both lack sympathy, such as when Miss Prism wants nothing to do with Jack (she placed him in a handbag as an infant) and when Lady Bracknell doesn't feel sorry for Jack losing his parents. However, Lady Bracknell doesn't have a flirtatious relationship with anyone (i.e. Cecily and Algernon, Jack and Gwendolen, Dr. Chasuble and Miss Prism). Since Miss Prism is unmarried, she tries to compensate her lower social class (b/c she's not married) by using expansive vocabulary and acting uptight. These factors shape them into having values of hierarchy, class, and status.

In Act I, Jack says, "Cecily is not a silly, romantic girl." Do you think his description is accurate? Why or why not?

No, because Cecily flirts with Algernon pretending to be "Ernest".

Is it completely absurd for Jack and Algernon to change their names to Ernest in order for Gwendolen and Cecily to marry them? Can you think of other changes (i.e. religion, occupation, residence) individuals living in contemporary society might make to be a suitable mate for their intended partner?

Not completely, but somewhat absurd. A woman could get a breast implant to seem more attractive, which is equivalent to what Jack and Algernon are doing.

Why do Gwendolen and Cecily want to marry an "Ernest"?

Produces "vibrations," inspires absolute confidence, and pities wives whose husbands are not named Ernest

Jack (Ernest) Worthing

Shares a lot of similarities with Algernon; acts bossy (i.e. telling Algernon what not to do , such as not to read his cigarette case); gets "irritated" a lot (like when Lady Bracknell calls him out on losing both his parents)

Gwendolen Fairfax

Shares similarities with Cecily (want to marry a "Earnest," keeps a diary); shares similarities with Lady Bracknell (bossy such as bossing around Cecily, values social class); sophisticated

Cecily Cardew

Shares similarities with Gwendolen; simple girl (country girl, doesn't want to learn German); likes fiction (fictionally gets proposed by Algernon); witty (insults Gwendolen regarding the town)

Algernon Moncrieff

Shares similarities with Jack (wants a wife, has butlers); values appearance (dandy); mischievous (snoops in on Jack giving Gwendolen his address in the country, created an irresponsible imaginary friend named Bunbury)

What is Miss Prism's attitude toward the practices of the Primitive Church? What does her attitude reveal about her relationship with Dr. Chasuble (p. 140)?

She has a negative view towards it because it prevents marriage, which she views as positive. Her attitude shows that she wants to get married to Dr. Chasuble.

What is Miss Prism referring to when she says, "I have often spoken to the poorer classes on the subject [christenings]. But they don't seem to know what thrift is" (p. 142)? What does her comment reveal about her attitudes toward the lower class?

She views them sub-par compared to herself because they can't manage their resources well

Why does Lane have to lie to Lady Bracknell regarding the cucumber sandwiches?

Since Algernon ate all the sandwiches, he has to cover up for him by saying the market ran out of cucumbers

What can you infer about Miss Prism when she corrects Dr. Chasuble upon being called "Egeria" and reminds him that her name is Laetitia (p. 136)?

Since Dr. Chasuble flirts with Miss Prism, he refers to her as "Egeria," who is a greek goddess. Her correcting Dr. Chasuble infers that she's clueless about his flirting.

In what ways is Cecily's personality different from Gwendolen's?

Since Gwendolen lives in the town with Lady Bracknell and Cecily lives in the country, Gwendolen has grown to be the forceful, socialistic minded person, which she got from her mother. For example, when Gwendolen examined Cecily, saying that she's too attractive and wishes she "were fully forty-two, and more than usually plain"

What is ironic about Lady Bracknell saying, "To speak frankly, I am not in favor of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character before marriage, which I think is never advisable" (p. 171)?

Since she views marriage as a business and less as a companionship, she's blinded by the absurdity of her statement. Her blindness represents the upper class' sole focus on status. This is an example of authorial verbal irony because she's not aware of what's she's saying.

What is humorous about Algernon's line "Half of the chaps who get into the Bankruptcy Court are called Algernon"?

The dramatic irony in this scene where Cecily thinks Algernon's name is Ernest results in him trying to convince her that Algernon is a good name.

What new perspectives do Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble bring to the play?

The flirtatious manner between Miss. Prism and Dr. Chasuble. They also share the same boring, conservative personality. Miss Prism also lacks motherly-instincts, such as when Jack realizes the handbag he was placed in was from Miss Prism. She doesn't want to be called a mother

Describe the relationship between Algernon and Jack

They have a banter-like relationship

What effect does Lady Bracknell's appearance have on the newly reconciled lovers?

They separate from being close to each other

Describe Algernon's "bunbury" - why does he have an invalid?

Uses bunbury to get out of family dinners by saying bunbury is sick

What does Cecily mean when she describes her Uncle Jack as being "very serious" (p. 134)? How does her definition of seriousness differ from Miss Prism? In what ways might their ages affect their views on the subject?

When Cecily describes Uncle Jack as "very serious," which she thinks is making him unwell. However, in reality, Jack is simply making her learn German. On the contrary, Miss Prism views seriousness positively, describing it as a sense of "duty and responsibility".

After Jack learns the truth of his birth, he excitedly embraces Miss Prism and comments on the double standards between men and women. What statement, if any, do you think Wilde is trying to make about gender inequalities?

Wilde makes a point saying that men and women have double standards

Describe Jack's imaginary brother - why does he have an imaginary brother?

his imaginary brother is named Ernest, who lives in the town and is mischievious. He uses him as an excuse so that he can leave the boring country and enjoy himself for a bit

What does Lady Bracknell mean when she tells Algernon that he seems "to be displaying signs of triviality" (p. 180)?

showing signs of insignificance

How does Algernon view marriage

views it as a buisness

Why does Jack come to town?

wants to propose to Gwendolen