Character Analyses
Jack Worthing
Jack Worthing, the play’s protagonist, was found and adopted by Cecily’s grandfather. Ernest is the name Jack goes by in London. The fictional brother is Jack’s alibi, his excuse for disappearing from his estate and going off to London to escape his responsibilities and indulge in exactly the sort of behavior he pretends to disapprove of in his brother.
Ernest enables Jack to escape the boundaries of his real life and act as he wouldn’t dare to under his real identity. Ernest provides a convenient excuse and disguise for Jack, and Jack feels no qualms about invoking Ernest whenever necessary.
Jack wants to be seen as upright and moral, but he doesn’t care what lies he has to tell his loved ones in order to be able to misbehave. Though Ernest has always been Jack’s unsavory alter ego, as the play progresses Jack must aspire to become Ernest, in name if not behavior.
Until he seeks to marry Gwendolen, Jack has used Ernest as an escape from real life, but Gwendolen’s fixation on the name Ernest obligates Jack to embrace his deception in order to pursue the real life he desires.
The character of Jack is quite similar to that of Algernon. They are both members of the Victorian upper class, and spend most, if not the entirety of the play pursuing their respective loves, whom they end up marrying. They are both hedonistic and dislike Lady Bracknell. Most importantly, they are brothers and are both Bunburyists - they have both made up alter-egos in order to escape from their responsibilities and engage in hedonistic behavior.
Ernest enables Jack to escape the boundaries of his real life and act as he wouldn’t dare to under his real identity. Ernest provides a convenient excuse and disguise for Jack, and Jack feels no qualms about invoking Ernest whenever necessary.
Jack wants to be seen as upright and moral, but he doesn’t care what lies he has to tell his loved ones in order to be able to misbehave. Though Ernest has always been Jack’s unsavory alter ego, as the play progresses Jack must aspire to become Ernest, in name if not behavior.
Until he seeks to marry Gwendolen, Jack has used Ernest as an escape from real life, but Gwendolen’s fixation on the name Ernest obligates Jack to embrace his deception in order to pursue the real life he desires.
The character of Jack is quite similar to that of Algernon. They are both members of the Victorian upper class, and spend most, if not the entirety of the play pursuing their respective loves, whom they end up marrying. They are both hedonistic and dislike Lady Bracknell. Most importantly, they are brothers and are both Bunburyists - they have both made up alter-egos in order to escape from their responsibilities and engage in hedonistic behavior.
Algernon Moncrieff
Algernon is a gluttonous bachelor who leads a luxurious lifestyle and is one of the main protagonists in the play. He leads a double life: he is known as Algernon in the city and frequently goes to visit his invalid friend Bunbury in the country. Many of his lines in the play create humor that reflects on his hedonistic character.
When Algernon hears about Cecily, he instantly decides that he would like to meet her. This contrasts with Algernon’s earlier views on marriage, for example, his speculation that “divorces are made in heaven”. This is humorous because the absurdity of the statement overturns the reader’s expectations, creating humor.
Algernon’s hedonism is also shown during his initial conversation with Jack. Algernon believes that the “only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain.” this is humorous because it is unconventional.
Dramatic irony occurs when Algernon eats all of Lady Bracknell’s cucumber sandwiches and then lies to her about it, falsely informing her that “there were no cucumbers.”
It is apparent throughout the play that Algernon dislikes Lady Bracknell, first finding excuses not to dine with her, then informing Jack that he loves hearing his “relations abused” since “it is the only thing that makes [him] put up with them at all”.
Algernon’s gluttony is shown through a motif of him constantly eating, for example, first the cucumber sandwiches and then the muffins. He also rants at Jack, telling him that he “can’t possible ask me to go without having some dinner. It’s absurd. I never go without my dinner. No-one ever does, except vegetarians and people life that”. This is humorous because the statement is cruel, discriminatory and insulting.
When Algernon hears about Cecily, he instantly decides that he would like to meet her. This contrasts with Algernon’s earlier views on marriage, for example, his speculation that “divorces are made in heaven”. This is humorous because the absurdity of the statement overturns the reader’s expectations, creating humor.
Algernon’s hedonism is also shown during his initial conversation with Jack. Algernon believes that the “only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain.” this is humorous because it is unconventional.
Dramatic irony occurs when Algernon eats all of Lady Bracknell’s cucumber sandwiches and then lies to her about it, falsely informing her that “there were no cucumbers.”
It is apparent throughout the play that Algernon dislikes Lady Bracknell, first finding excuses not to dine with her, then informing Jack that he loves hearing his “relations abused” since “it is the only thing that makes [him] put up with them at all”.
Algernon’s gluttony is shown through a motif of him constantly eating, for example, first the cucumber sandwiches and then the muffins. He also rants at Jack, telling him that he “can’t possible ask me to go without having some dinner. It’s absurd. I never go without my dinner. No-one ever does, except vegetarians and people life that”. This is humorous because the statement is cruel, discriminatory and insulting.
Lady Bracknell
Lady Bracknell is a narrow-minded, authoritarian and snobbish older woman and is used to criticize the hypocrisy and stupidity of the Victorian upper class. Like Algernon, she lives in the lap of luxury, and is known to make pronouncements and speeches which can be humorous. This makes her possibly the most quotable character in the play.
Lady Bracknell is Wilde’s symbol of dominant Victorian ethics. This is shown by the way attempts to impose her own rules and values on others. The fact that she does not keep her judgement to herself makes her an unlikeable character.
As soon as Lady Bracknell enters a room, it’s interrogation time, for example, when she is interviewing Jack after he expresses his desire to marry Gwendolen. After she finds out that Jack doesn’t know who is parents are, she insists that Gwendolen should not marry someone who is beneath her - his lack of parents means to her that Jack has no background, name or class. This makes her an unlikeable character because she is clearly opposed to the main protagonist of the play - Jack.
She is a very conventional character in the sense that her beliefs and values are the epitome of those of a typical Lady of the Victorian era. She believes that “health is the primary duty of life”.
She asserts dominance over everybody, including those who she doesn’t know. For example, when she hears about Mr Bunbury’s recurring illness from Algernon, she asks Algernon to “ask if he won’t have a relapse this Sunday.”
Lady Bracknell’s entrance in Act 3 is humorous because of the way she reacts when Algernon informs her that Bunbury has died. She states that she is “glad, however, that he made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action, and acted under medical advice.” This statement is humorous because of its absurdity: one cannot choose to die at will nor does any medical advice recommend that you die.
Lady Bracknell also compares the engagements of Algernon with Cecily and Jack with Gwendolen to statistics that have been “laid down for [their] guidance.” She then begins to interview Jack and Algernon in the same way she interviewed Jack when he announced his engagement to Gwendolen. This creates humor through dramatic irony because Algernon is unaware that this type of interrogation is the norm with Lady Bracknell.
Lady Bracknell’s apparent disapproval of mercenary marriages is humorous because she first declares that she is against Algernon marrying Cecily for her money, before stating she married Lord Bracknell for his money. Lady’s Bracknell’s hypocrisy is humorous.
The fact that Lady Bracknell does not approve of long engagements because they allow people to get to know each other before getting married is an inversion of the audience’s expectations. This is because the social norm is that engagements are meant for people to get to know each other before they get married.
Lady Bracknell’s self assuredness is shown from the way that she interviews Jack about his proposed marriage to Gwendolen and Algernon’s to Cecily. She thinks of herself to be intellectually superior to everyone else. When she hears mention of Miss Prism, she asks if she is “remotely connected with education”, even though Miss Prism is a governess and teacher for a living.
Lady Bracknell is Wilde’s symbol of dominant Victorian ethics. This is shown by the way attempts to impose her own rules and values on others. The fact that she does not keep her judgement to herself makes her an unlikeable character.
As soon as Lady Bracknell enters a room, it’s interrogation time, for example, when she is interviewing Jack after he expresses his desire to marry Gwendolen. After she finds out that Jack doesn’t know who is parents are, she insists that Gwendolen should not marry someone who is beneath her - his lack of parents means to her that Jack has no background, name or class. This makes her an unlikeable character because she is clearly opposed to the main protagonist of the play - Jack.
She is a very conventional character in the sense that her beliefs and values are the epitome of those of a typical Lady of the Victorian era. She believes that “health is the primary duty of life”.
She asserts dominance over everybody, including those who she doesn’t know. For example, when she hears about Mr Bunbury’s recurring illness from Algernon, she asks Algernon to “ask if he won’t have a relapse this Sunday.”
Lady Bracknell’s entrance in Act 3 is humorous because of the way she reacts when Algernon informs her that Bunbury has died. She states that she is “glad, however, that he made up his mind at the last to some definite course of action, and acted under medical advice.” This statement is humorous because of its absurdity: one cannot choose to die at will nor does any medical advice recommend that you die.
Lady Bracknell also compares the engagements of Algernon with Cecily and Jack with Gwendolen to statistics that have been “laid down for [their] guidance.” She then begins to interview Jack and Algernon in the same way she interviewed Jack when he announced his engagement to Gwendolen. This creates humor through dramatic irony because Algernon is unaware that this type of interrogation is the norm with Lady Bracknell.
Lady Bracknell’s apparent disapproval of mercenary marriages is humorous because she first declares that she is against Algernon marrying Cecily for her money, before stating she married Lord Bracknell for his money. Lady’s Bracknell’s hypocrisy is humorous.
The fact that Lady Bracknell does not approve of long engagements because they allow people to get to know each other before getting married is an inversion of the audience’s expectations. This is because the social norm is that engagements are meant for people to get to know each other before they get married.
Lady Bracknell’s self assuredness is shown from the way that she interviews Jack about his proposed marriage to Gwendolen and Algernon’s to Cecily. She thinks of herself to be intellectually superior to everyone else. When she hears mention of Miss Prism, she asks if she is “remotely connected with education”, even though Miss Prism is a governess and teacher for a living.
Gwendolen Fairfax
Gwendolen is a character who is heavily influenced by her mother. They are both superficial, hypocritical, and conscious of their high status in Victorian society. However, Gwendolen does enjoy several pockets of rebellion throughout the play.
Like Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen think that she knows everything. This is shown during her first conversation with Jack. She states that she is “never wrong” and that she is “always smart”.
Gwendolen is also a superficial character. This is shown through her obsession with the name Ernest. Gwendolen states that her “ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest”. This is an inadequate basis for a marriage, and conveys Gwendolen’s superficiality by showing that she doesn’t care what her spouse is like on the inside, as long as his name is Ernest.
Gwendolen’s class consciousness is shown from the way she treats Cecily who she believes is from a lower social class than she. Like her mother, Gwendolen always uses a formal register, even when speaking with the man she has an “irresistible fascination” with, Jack. Gwendolen rudely admits to Cecily that she finds her “false and deceitful”. When Cecily offers her sugar, Gwendolen informs her that “sugar is not fashionable anymore” in an attempt to make herself seem superior to Cecily.
On the other hand, Gwendolen does sometimes rebel against her mother. She tells Jack that Lady Bracknell “has a way of coming back suddenly into a room that [Gwendolen has] often had to speak to her about”. Saying this behind Lady Bracknell’s back shows that Gwendolen is not completely influenced by her. Also, when Lady Bracknell attempts to take Gwendolen away from Jack, she replies that she “is quite comfortable where she is”.
Like Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen think that she knows everything. This is shown during her first conversation with Jack. She states that she is “never wrong” and that she is “always smart”.
Gwendolen is also a superficial character. This is shown through her obsession with the name Ernest. Gwendolen states that her “ideal has always been to love someone of the name of Ernest”. This is an inadequate basis for a marriage, and conveys Gwendolen’s superficiality by showing that she doesn’t care what her spouse is like on the inside, as long as his name is Ernest.
Gwendolen’s class consciousness is shown from the way she treats Cecily who she believes is from a lower social class than she. Like her mother, Gwendolen always uses a formal register, even when speaking with the man she has an “irresistible fascination” with, Jack. Gwendolen rudely admits to Cecily that she finds her “false and deceitful”. When Cecily offers her sugar, Gwendolen informs her that “sugar is not fashionable anymore” in an attempt to make herself seem superior to Cecily.
On the other hand, Gwendolen does sometimes rebel against her mother. She tells Jack that Lady Bracknell “has a way of coming back suddenly into a room that [Gwendolen has] often had to speak to her about”. Saying this behind Lady Bracknell’s back shows that Gwendolen is not completely influenced by her. Also, when Lady Bracknell attempts to take Gwendolen away from Jack, she replies that she “is quite comfortable where she is”.
Cecily Cardew
Cecily is a character who is heavily influenced by her governess, Miss Prism. They are both superficial, stuck up, and naïve. However, Cecily diversion from the audience’s expectations is shown several times in the play.
Miss Prism
Miss Prism likes to think of herself as an intelligent, sophisticated woman of the Victorian upper class. This is shown from the way she belittles manual labor, describing it as a “utilitarian occupation”. Also, she describes German grammar as an “intellectual pleasure”. Miss Prism also uses a formal register and complicated vocabulary.
However, her real personality is revealed when she is “found out” by Lady Bracknell in Act III, who describes her as a character who is “remotely connected with education”, suggesting that Ms Prism is bad at her job as a governess. This evidence is supported by the fact that Ms Prism is constantly spouting clichés.
Also, Miss Prism’s image is tarnished from the way that she leaps up in excitement as she sees Dr. Chasuble approaching and “sinks into a chair” when she is being interrogated by Lady Bracknell.
However, her real personality is revealed when she is “found out” by Lady Bracknell in Act III, who describes her as a character who is “remotely connected with education”, suggesting that Ms Prism is bad at her job as a governess. This evidence is supported by the fact that Ms Prism is constantly spouting clichés.
Also, Miss Prism’s image is tarnished from the way that she leaps up in excitement as she sees Dr. Chasuble approaching and “sinks into a chair” when she is being interrogated by Lady Bracknell.
Dr Chasuble
Dr Chasuble appears to be a ridiculously serious character. He takes the christenings of two grown men very seriously, even though most are christened when they are babies. Jack comments that “christenings would be of no practical value”, to which Dr Chasuble comments that he is “grieved to hear such sentiments from [Jack]”.