The Importance of Being Earnest (Plot Summary)

Plot Summary

Act One

The play opens in the fashionable London residence of Algernon Moncrieff. His friend Jack (who goes by the name “Earnest”) Worthing arrives, revealing his intention to propose matrimony to Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax. In the course of their conversation, Jack admits that he is the ward to a young woman, Cecily Cardew. Also, he admits to leading a double life, stating that his “name is Earnest in town and Jack in the country.” In the country, he pretends to have a brother in London named Earnest whose wicked ways necessitate frequent trips to the city to rescue him.

Algernon’s aunt Lady Augusta Bracknell arrives with his cousin Gwendolen Fairfax. While Algernon and his aunt discuss the music for her next party, Jack — claiming his name is Earnest — confesses his love for Gwendolen and proposes marriage. She is delighted, because her “ideal has always been to love someone of the name Earnest.” When the lovers tell Lady Bracknell their news, she responds frostily, forbidding marriage outright after learning that while Jack has an occupation — he smokes — and money, he has no lineage to boast of — in fact, he has no knowledge of his real family at all. He was discovered as an infant, abandoned in a handbag in Victoria Station.

Because Cecily seems too interested in Jack’s imaginary brother, Earnest, Jack decides to “kill” him. Gwendolen informs Jack that while Lady Bracknell forbids their marriage and that she “may marry someone else, and marry often,” she will retain her “eternal devotion” to him.

Act Two

July in the garden of Jack’s Manor House in Hertfordshire. Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess, chides her for not attending to her German lesson, as Jack has requested. Prism informs Cecily that when younger, she had written a novel. The Rector, Canon Frederick Chasuble enters, suggesting that a stroll in the garden may cure Miss Prism’s headache.

She feels fine but a headache develops soon after his suggestion, and they walk off together.

Algernon arrives, and, finding Cecily alone, introduces himself as Jack’s “wicked” city brother, Earnest. Cecily and Algernon (as Earnest) walk off. Prism and Chasuble return as Jack shows up unexpectedly. Hoping to end his double-life, Jack informs them that his brother Earnest has died in Paris of a “severe chill.” They console him, until Cecily enters with Earnest (Algernon), who seems very much alive. Jack is bewildered, but Cecily, thinking Jack’s coolness is resentment at his brother’s dissipated lifestyle, insists that the “brothers” mend their relationship.

Left alone, Algernon proposes to Cecily, only to discover that — according to Cecily — they have already been engaged for three months. It seems that since Cecily heard from Jack about his wicked brother, Earnest, she fell in love with him. She entered in her diary their entire romance, complete with proposal, acceptance, break-up, and reconciliation.

Gwendolen arrives and chats with Cecily, until both women realize they are engaged to a man named Earnest. When Algernon and Jack return, their true identities — and the fact that neither of them is actually named Earnest — are revealed. As the scene ends, both men admit to having arranged for Chasuble to re-christen them with the name Earnest.

Act Three

Later the same day at the Manor house, Gwendolen and Cecily prepare to forgive the men, though they are disappointed that neither is named Earnest. Lady Bracknell arrives, in pursuit of Gwendolen. She learns from Jack that his ward Cecily is quite wealthy and therefore a desirable match for her nephew Algernon. When she hears of Miss Prism, Lady Bracknell recognizes her as a former family servant. Prism and Lady Bracknell’s infant nephew had disappeared at the same time under mysterious circumstances.

Miss Prism confesses that she had left the house with her novel manuscript in one hand and the baby in the other. In her confusion, however, she had put the book in the baby carriage and the baby in the handbag at the train station. The baby, Jack, turns out to be Lady Bracknell’s lost nephew and Algernon’s older brother. Lady Bracknell now gives her permission for Algernon to wed Cecily, but Jack, as Cecily’s guardian, refuses his permission unless Lady Bracknell consents to his marriage to Gwendolen. She does, and as the act closes, they learn that Jack was named after his father, General Earnest John Moncrieff — Earnest for short.