The Importance of Being Earnest – Oscar Wilde Act I

 

John Worthing, J.P. who is popularly known as Jack in the country comes to London and visits his friend Algernon Moncrieff. Though he does not approve of the frivolous nature of Algernon he likes him much. Moreover, he has fallen in love with Algernon’s cousin, the Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax. She is determinant of marrying a man whose name is Ernest. So, Jack calls himself Ernest and the name Ernest impresses her to love him. Besides taking this assumed name, Jack has fabricated a fictitious idea among his people in the country that he has a dependent younger brother called Ernest who lives in London. Hence, he has to take care of him. Using this invention he comes to London frequently. Thus, he is known as Jack in the country and is called as Ernest in London. Jack is such a gentleman that his ward Cecily Cardew believes whatever she tells him. 

Lady Bracknell, the mother of Gwendolen Fairfax, wishes that her daughter should be married to a man of eminence. She, however, learns that, Ernest\Jack knows nothing of his birth or parentage. He only knows that Thomas Cardew found him as an infant in a handbag at Victoria Station. Thomas Cardew named him Worthing. Later, he nominated Jack as the guardian to his granddaughter Cecily Cardew. Lady Bracknell does not want her daughter to marry a man of unknown parentage and obscure origin. She declares that she will allow her daughter to marry Ernest\Jack only when his parentage is certainly known. Gwendolen Fairfax does not mind the obscurity that surrounds the parentage of Ernest\Jack. She loves the name Ernest that much. 

Algernon is bored with the city life. He invents the idea that he has a depraved friend called Bunbury who lives in the country. He has to visit Bunbury as often as possible and without his care and concern he will not survive. He visits the country often and meets his friend Jack. He finds out that Jack has a beautiful ward called Cecily Cardew and decides to meet her. He will go Bunburying and meet Cecily and will develop an acquaintance with her. He knows that Jack will not encourage him to meet his ward. Jack is actually disgusted with Algernon’s depravity. But, Algernon will anyhow meet Cecily. 

Thus, Jack and Algernon have invented the tricks to visit the city and the country respectively. Jack has invented an invalid brother who does not exist at all. He has also falsified his name as Ernest in order to impress Gwendolen Fairfax. Algernon has invented a reckless friend called Bunbury who never exists. This Act goes around some unknown, obscure and fictitious identities. The four major characters are introduced. Significantly, they all belong to the aristocratic section of society.