The Importance of being Earnest - Characters
Uploaded by charnell on Mar 12, 1999
Title: The Importance of Being Earnest
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...