IMPORTANT / KEY FACTS SUMMARY

Title: The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy For Serious People

Author: Oscar Wilde

Date Published: Written in 1895, published in 1899

Meaning of the Title: Earnest is a play on words of the character name Ernest. While the name Ernest inspires one to believe a person may be trustworthy and honest, in fact the character Jack/Ernest is deceitful and dishonest. Ironically Jack realizes that, despite his efforts, his whole life has been truthful; he now knows the “Vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

Setting: The play is set in England in the 1890s. Act I is in London and Acts II & III take place in the country (Hertfordshire).

Genre: Social Comedy; farce.

Protagonist: Jack Worthing, the main character. He is known as "Ernest" by his acquaintances in London.

Antagonist: Lady Bracknell (Gwendolen's mother).

Mood: Satirical; comical; light.

Point of View/Tense: First person; present tense

Exposition: The exposition of the play, Act I, introduces the main character, John Worthing-“Ernest” and presents the major conflict: he wants to marry aristocratic Gwendolen but her mother does not approve. Furthermore, she loves him because of his name.

Climax: The climactic moment is when the women confront the men about what they have discovered by talking-they can not both be Ernest Worthing. The men confess and the women retreat.

Rising Action: In Act II Algernon complicates the conflict because he arrives at Jack’s country house and calls himself “Ernest.”

Themes: Satire of the upper classes; Triviality of Marriage; Victorian Manners; Importance of Wealth/ Life of Leisure

Symbolism/Motifs: Chasuble; Miss Prism; Ernest / Earnest

Name/ Relationship Facts: Algernon Moncrieff is Lady BracknellÂ’s nephew and GwendolenÂ’s cousin. He pretends to be Ernest in the country, and loves Cecily.

Jack Worthing is CecilyÂ’s guardian and pretends to be Ernest in the city. He loves Gwendolen.

Plot Facts:

-The story opens in the city, in AlgernonÂ’s flat. - Lady Bracknell will not allow Jack to marry Gwendolen because he was found in Victoria Station as an infant.

- Gwendolen believes that JackÂ’s name is Ernest - Cecily believes that AlgernonÂ’s name is Ernest - When Jack was an infant, Miss Prism accidentally placed him in a hand-bag and her novel in the baby carriage.

- Jack is really AlgernonÂ’s brother; his real name is actually Ernest after all. - Everyone is allowed to marry

Table of Contents | Downloadable/Printable Version