Act summaries

Act I

Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest begins with Algernon Moncrieff preparing for the visit of his aunt, Lady Bracknell, and her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax. Algernon’s servant, Lane, brings the cucumber sandwiches, which Algernon begins to eat by himself. 

Algernon’s friend, Jack Worthing, arrives unexpectedly. Lane introduces him as Ernest. Jack is happy to hear Gwendolen will arrive soon because he wants to propose to her. 

Algernon tells Jack, whom he addresses as Ernest, that he will first have to explain to him who Cecily is. Algernon found Jack’s lost cigarette case which has an inscription on it that says it is a gift from Cecily, with love, and addressed to Uncle Jack. 

Eventually, Jack confesses to Algernon that Cecily Cardew is the grand-daughter of Thomas Cardew, the man who adopted Jack. He made Jack Cecily’s guardian in his will. Cecily lives in the country on one of Jack’s estates, with her governess, Miss Prism. Cecily knows him as Jack, since this is his true name. Jack also made up a younger brother called Ernest, who is a troublemaker, to explain his frequent visits to London. This explains why in town, Jack poses as Ernest. 

Algernon reveals to Ja...