How is death dealt with in The Importance of Being Earnest?
When he becomes engaged to Gwendolen, Jack decides to kill off his alter-ego, Ernest. Miss Prism believes that Ernest’s death will teach him a lesson after all of his exploits. Dr. Chasuble treats the death as just another part of life.
What is The Importance of Being Earnest summary?
It’s the story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest.
What is Wilde saying in The Importance of Being Earnest?
“Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that.” “I never change, except in my affections.”
Is death a theme in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Jokes about death appear frequently in The Importance of Being Earnest. Lady Bracknell comes onstage talking about death, and in one of the play’s many inversions, she says her friend Lady Harbury looks twenty years younger since the death of her husband.
Why does Jack say Ernest died?
Turning his thoughts to Cecily, Jack decides to kill off his “brother” Ernest with a severe chill in Paris because Cecily Cardew, his ward, is far too interested in the wicked Ernest, and as her guardian, Jack feels it his duty to protect her from inappropriate marriage suitors.
How does Jack claim his brother has died?
However, Jack returns early in mourning clothes claiming that his brother Ernest has died in Paris. He is shocked to find Algy there posing as Ernest. He orders a dogcart — a small horse-drawn carriage — to send Algy back to London, but it is too late. Algernon is in love with Cecily and plans to stay there.
Why does Jack create Ernest?
Jack uses his alter-ego Ernest to keep his honorable image intact. Ernest enables Jack to escape the boundaries of his real life and act as he wouldn’t dare to under his real identity. Ernest provides a convenient excuse and disguise for Jack, and Jack feels no qualms about invoking Ernest whenever necessary.
Is there a serious theme in The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Constraints of Morality Morality and the constraints it imposes on society is a favorite topic of conversation in The Importance of Being Earnest. Algernon thinks the servant class has a responsibility to set a moral standard for the upper classes.
What does the last line of The Importance of Being Earnest mean?
It ends happily, resolving any tensions in such a way that all the characters get what they desire. This means that all secret identities are revealed and all the couples can get married in a socially acceptable way. Woo-hoo! Wedding rings for everyone.
Who gave Jack the cigarette case?
Aunt Cecily
At first he lies and says the cigarette case is from his Aunt Cecily. Algernon calls his bluff, and Jack confesses that he was adopted by Mr. Thomas Cardew when he was a baby and that he is a guardian to Cardew’s granddaughter, Cecily, who lives on his country estate with her governess, Miss Prism.
Is Jack actually Ernest?
John (Jack/Ernest) Worthing, J.P. In London he is known as Ernest. As a baby, Jack was discovered in a handbag in the cloakroom of Victoria Station by an old man who adopted him and subsequently made Jack guardian to his granddaughter, Cecily Cardew. Jack is in love with his friend Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax.
How does Algernon explain Bunbury’s death?
She inquires about Algernon’s invalid friend, Bunbury, and Algernon explains that he killed him that afternoon; Bunbury exploded. He also adds that he and Cecily are engaged.
What does the cigarette case symbolize in The Importance of Being Earnest?
Because Jack’s cigarette case reveals his dual identity as “Ernest” in town and “Jack” in the country it represents his double life.
Who is the villain of The Importance of Being Earnest?
Algernon is sick and tired of her tedious dinner parties. Even Miss Prism is afraid of her. She’s also the person that everyone has to please if they want to get married.
Who is Jack’s ward?
Jack’s ward, the granddaughter of the old gentlemen who found and adopted Jack when Jack was a baby. Cecily is probably the most realistically drawn character in the play.