In Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, appearances are everything—and honesty is surprisingly optional. Jack Worthing has created a double life: in the country he is a respectable guardian, while in London he escapes responsibility by pretending to be a man named Ernest. His friend Algernon Moncrieff has invented a similar deception of his own.
When Algernon discovers Jack’s secret, he decides to visit the countryside under the name Ernest, setting off a chain of misunderstandings that becomes even more complicated when romance enters the picture. Jack is in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax, while Algernon becomes fascinated by Jack’s young ward, Cecily Cardew. Both women, conveniently, are captivated by the name “Ernest.”
As identities unravel and carefully constructed lies collide, Wilde turns Victorian manners, courtship, marriage, family, and social respectability into a brilliant comedy of absurdity. Filled with witty dialogue, mistaken identities, outrageous revelations, and unforgettable characters, The Importance of Being Earnest remains one of the most celebrated comedies in the English language.
