In this play, Jack Worthing is a very well-known in his community and is the guardian to Cecily Cardew, who lives at his home in the country. Jack was abandoned in a handbag at a train station when he was a baby, but Thomas Cardew, Cecily's father, adopted Jack. For many years, Jack pretended to have an irresponsible brother, named Earnest. This fake character seems to be living the carefree lifestyle that Jack wishes he could live. When Jack is in the city (London), he goes by the name of Earnest as a way of living vicariously through his fake brother. Gwendolyn Fairfax, the cousing of Jack's best friend, Algernon, is the love of Jack's life. She is also the daughter of Lady Bracknell, who is very well known and well-off in the city.
The play opens with the two men having a discussion and it leads to Jack confessing everything to Algernon and telling him about his double life. Jack also confesses that he plans on proposing to Gwendolyn and then his opportunity arrives. She happily accepts and tells him that she loves the name Earnest. She says the name "inspires absolute confidence" and she couldn't imagine marrying someone who wasn't named Earnest. When Lady Bracknell gets word of the news, she interviews Jack and decided the two cannot marry because he doesn't have a solid family background.
Jack goes out to his house in the country and decides that his lie has gone on long enough so he tells everyone that his brother has died suddenly. He is met with another dilemma when Algernon makes a surprise visit and tells everyone that he is Jack's brother, Earnest. Algernon came with the hopes of meeting Cecily and when he does, he immediately falls in love. He asks her to marry him and she says she has considered them engaged for months. Ever since her Uncle Jack has talked about his brother, Cecily has been intrigued and invented their elaborate romance. As with Gwendolyn, Cecily says the name Earnest "inspires absolute confidence" and she couldn't imagine marrying anyone who isn't named Earnest.
The tension heightens when Gwendolyn also pays Jack a surprise visit. She is greeted by Cecily and the women get to talking over tea and realize they are both engaged to Earnest Worthing. Jack and Algernon appear shortly after and the women demand to know what is going on. Jack is forced to confess everything, which also puts Algernon in an uncomfortable situation. Their lies infuriate the girls and they stomp off. Eventually the girls accept the fact that the men were only telling those lies to get closer to them and everyone is happy again….until Lady Bracknell arrives!
Algernon announces that he and Cecily are engaged and after finding out Cecily is in line for a great deal of money, Lady Bracknell gives her approval. Jack, however, does not. He is Cecily’s legal guardian and says she cannot marry until Lady Bracknell gives her permission for Jack and Gwendolyn to marry. In the midst of all the negotiations, it finally comes out that Jack is actually the son of Lady Bracknell’s sister, and Algernon’s older brother. On top of all of that, Jack’s had been originally named Earnest John and he finally understands “the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”
The play opens with the two men having a discussion and it leads to Jack confessing everything to Algernon and telling him about his double life. Jack also confesses that he plans on proposing to Gwendolyn and then his opportunity arrives. She happily accepts and tells him that she loves the name Earnest. She says the name "inspires absolute confidence" and she couldn't imagine marrying someone who wasn't named Earnest. When Lady Bracknell gets word of the news, she interviews Jack and decided the two cannot marry because he doesn't have a solid family background.
Jack goes out to his house in the country and decides that his lie has gone on long enough so he tells everyone that his brother has died suddenly. He is met with another dilemma when Algernon makes a surprise visit and tells everyone that he is Jack's brother, Earnest. Algernon came with the hopes of meeting Cecily and when he does, he immediately falls in love. He asks her to marry him and she says she has considered them engaged for months. Ever since her Uncle Jack has talked about his brother, Cecily has been intrigued and invented their elaborate romance. As with Gwendolyn, Cecily says the name Earnest "inspires absolute confidence" and she couldn't imagine marrying anyone who isn't named Earnest.
The tension heightens when Gwendolyn also pays Jack a surprise visit. She is greeted by Cecily and the women get to talking over tea and realize they are both engaged to Earnest Worthing. Jack and Algernon appear shortly after and the women demand to know what is going on. Jack is forced to confess everything, which also puts Algernon in an uncomfortable situation. Their lies infuriate the girls and they stomp off. Eventually the girls accept the fact that the men were only telling those lies to get closer to them and everyone is happy again….until Lady Bracknell arrives!
Algernon announces that he and Cecily are engaged and after finding out Cecily is in line for a great deal of money, Lady Bracknell gives her approval. Jack, however, does not. He is Cecily’s legal guardian and says she cannot marry until Lady Bracknell gives her permission for Jack and Gwendolyn to marry. In the midst of all the negotiations, it finally comes out that Jack is actually the son of Lady Bracknell’s sister, and Algernon’s older brother. On top of all of that, Jack’s had been originally named Earnest John and he finally understands “the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”
Audio Source: "The Importance of Being Earnest - FULL Audio Book"
Image Source: http://wherethewritercomestowrite.blogspot.com
Summary Source: Wilde, Oscar - "The Importance of Being Earnest"
Image Source: http://wherethewritercomestowrite.blogspot.com
Summary Source: Wilde, Oscar - "The Importance of Being Earnest"