The play begins with a discussion about cucumber sandwiches and marriage between Lane and Algernon at a flat in Half Moon while Algernon plays the piano with wonderful expression. Jack enters and explains his desire to marry Gwendolen, to which Algernon states his disapproval. Algernon questions Jack about the identity of the woman Cecily, whose name is inscribed in Jack’s cigarette case. Jack explains how he possesses two distinct identities: Ernest in the city, and Jack in the country. Algernon admits he himself possesses an imaginary friend whom goes by the name of Bunbury, has terrible health and lives in the country. Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive. Algernon takes to occupy Lady Bracknell while Jack proposes to Gwendolen. Lady Bracknell interrupts the event and questions Jack on his occupation and ancestors. Lady Bracknell is horrified and opposes the engagement when she learns that Jack does not have any knowledge on his lineage. Lady Bracknell leaves, and Jack explains the entire predicament to Algernon. Gwendolen comes back, and she asks for Jack’s address in the country, which Algernon overhears. Algernon rips up some letters and explains to Lane that he will leave the next day to go bunburying.
Act 2 Summary
The act begins at the Manor House where Cecily is watering flowers rather than focusing on studying. Mrs. Prism and Cecily speak on the importance of diaries and about three-volume novels. Dr. Chausable enters and flirts with Mrs. Prism, calling her the Roman goddess Egeria. Chausable & Prism exit, leaving Cecily to her studies. Algernon arrives at the Manor house pretending to be Ernest. Cecily and Algernon address Ernest’s wickedness and Jack’s intentions of sending “Ernest” off to Australia. Cecily puts a pink rose in Ernest’s button-hole. Chausable and Prism return, and they meet Jack whom enters the from the back garden. Jack relays to them information about Ernest’s death in Paris from a severe chill, and he asks Chausable to christen him. Jack enters the house and meets Algernon and demands that he leave. Jack leaves, and Cecily enters. She shows Algernon her diary and describes how their engagement has been set for three months already. Algernon leaves to talk to Chausable, and Gwen enters the house and meets with Cecily. They both realize that they are both engaged to a man named Ernest. Algernon and Jack enter and they admit that neither one of their names is Ernest. Gwen and Cecily become angry and leave together. Algernon and Ernest argue about muffins and who gets to be christened as Ernest
Act 3 Summary
Cecily and Gwendolen have retreated to a room to get away from Algernon and Jack. When both the men enter the room, Cecily and Gwendolen ask Algernon and Jack why they pretended to be Earnest, and both the men say it was in order to meet the ladies. Algernon and Jack tell the ladies that they have an appointment to be rechristened as Earnest and the young women embrace the men due to their “self-sacrifice” and bravery. Lady Bracknell enters the room and she asks Algernon whether this house is the house of Bunbury. Algernon quickly says no and covers it up by saying that Bunbury died. Jack then introduces Cecily to Lady Bracknell and Algernon announces his engagement to Cecily. Lady Bracknell begins to question Cecily about her background and Jack answers. Jack refuses to give his consent to Cecily’s marriage to Algernon unless Lady Bracknell agrees to his marriage with Gwendolen, but Lady Bracknell refuses and prepares to leave. Before they leave, Dr.Chasuble enters announcing that everything for the christenings are ready, but since it is not needed, Dr.Chasuble begins to depart and mentions Miss Prism. Lady Bracknell asks a number of questions about Miss Prism and demands that she be sent for. When Miss Prism arrives and sees Lady Bracknell, Lady Bracknell begins to question Miss Prism about a certain baby. Lady Bracknell begins to explain the circumstances of the baby’s disappearance. Jack then enters the discussion and asks Miss Prism about little details. Jack runs off and returns with a handbag which Miss Prism identifies as her own and in which she had placed the baby in. Lady Bracknell explains that Jack is the son of her sister, which makes him Algernon’s older brother. Lady Bracknell says that he was named after his father, General Moncrief, and finds that his name is actually Ernest and also John. Jack turns to Gwendolen and asks if she can forgive him for telling the truth and she does. They all embrace and Jack discovers “the vital Importance of Being Ernest”.