The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde

 

The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde

The play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is written by Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde is one of the most prominent short story writers, a novelist, and a famous dramatist in the Victorian age. This short comedy play is written in 1895. This is one of the most prominent plays by Oscar Wilde. It has three acts. The play criticizes the Victorian moral and social values. This play revolves around the two main characters named Jack (Earnest) and Algernon.

Jack Worthing  is a pillar of the community in Hertfordshire. He is guardian to  Cecily Cardew, the pretty, eighteen-year-old granddaughter of the late Thomas Cardew, who found and adopted Jack when he was a baby. In Hertfordshire, Jack has responsibilities: he is a major landowner and justice of the peace, with tenants, farmers, and a number of servants and other employees all dependent on him. To escape from this atmosphere of restraint he invents an imaginary brother named Ernest. To lead a scandalous life in pursuit of pleasure, Jack allows him to disappear in the name of Ernest for days in London

In London, Jack falls in love with Gwendolen Fairfax. Gwendolen is the cousin of Jack’s friend Algernon and the daughter of Lady Bracknell. When Jack explains that he plans to propose marriage to Gwendolen. Algernon shows his refusal to sanction this marriage until the solution of Cecily’s mystery. Algernon has knowledge of Cecily due to an inscription on the cigarette case of Worthing. Worthing reveals the truth about him to Algernon. Gwendolen loves Jack particularly with his name Ernest of which she is very fond. Lady Bracknell does not approve of Jack due to his unknown parentage.

Jack returns to his country and informs Dr.Chasuble that his brother Ernest has died of severe chill. He also requests Chasuable to re-christen him that evening. At the same time Cecily informs them that Ernest has just come there. Algernon introduces himself as Ernest to the people. Jack is shocked at the trick played by Algernon. Algernon loves Cecily, whose desire is to love a man with the name of Ernest.

Confusion arises when Gwendolen arrives there. She tells Cecily that she loves Ernest and is shocked to learn that Cecily also loves him. The two ladies spar at each other. Later the two ladies realize that a trick has been played upon them by the two men.Meanwhile, both Jack and Algernon want their names to be Ernest. For this purpose, they consort with Dr. Chasuble.  Lady Bracknell visits the Manor House and urgesGwendolen to return home with her. She also disapproves of Algernon’s love for Cecily. When Jack says that Cecily is in possession of a fabulous fortune, Lady Bracknell changes her mind and allows Algernon to love Cecily.

The turning point in ‘The importance of Being Earnest summary’ came with Miss Prism. Miss Prism is the tutor of Cecily.  Lady Bracknell  identifies  Miss Prism as the former governess of her sister who left her sister’s baby in a handbag and forgetfully left it in a cloak room. The child thus lost is Jack. Thus Jack is discovered to be Lady Bracknell’s nephew and Algernon’s elder brother.

The problem caused by Cecily and Gwendolen’s infatuation with the name Ernest is still unresolved. Fortunately Jack finds out from an old military directory that his father’s Christian name was Ernest, so the sons can freely call themselves Ernest now. All the problems now being solved, the lovers Cecily and Algernon, Gwendolen and Jack, and Miss Prism and Dr.Chasuble are paired off. Jack puns on the words Ernest-Earnest that he has for the first time in his life realized the need for being earnest. He is at last, Ernest and earnest. The play ends with happy note.