Journal Nineteen- The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, is about a man named Jack Worthing but the odd part about it is is that Jack's name is only Jack in the city, but in the country his name is Earnest. Jack has a friend named Algy who has a cousin named Gwendolen, who Jack is in love with. Algy's aunt does not approve because she wants Gwendolen to marry into money, but Gwendolen has always wanted to marry someone named Earnest. Algy's aunt questions Jack about his life, but does not like his answers. Later, Jack goes back to his hometown where his ward Cicily after Algy finds out that "Earnest" is living a double life. After talking to Cicily, Algy shows up and immediatley falls in love with Cicily. He tells her that his name is Earnest and that he is her "Uncle Jack's" brother, and Cicily has also always wanted to marry someone named Earnest. He causes a little uproar when he lies and the police come to the house. Algy's aunt comes to Jack's house later when she comes after Gwendolen because she has come down to see Jack. The girls find out that neither one of their names are Earnest. The say that they will be babtized to recieve the name Earnest, but they never do. When Algy's aunt finds out that Algy wants to marry Cicily she does not approve, until she finds out that Cicily has money. Jack says that. since he is Cicily cannot marry until she is 35 that Algy cannot marry Cicily until Algy's aunt says that Jack can marry Gwendolen. Finally, Jack finds out from his maid that he is actually Algy's brother because he was dropped off in a suitcase. So finally Jack finds out that his dad's name was Earnest, therefore, his name is Earnest. So when him and Gwendolen were wed, Gwendolen does get to marry someone named Earnest.

Work Cited

Booth, Alison, and Kelly J. Mays. "The Importance of Being Earnest." The Norton Introduction to Literature. 10th ed. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2010. Print