Characters

Question 1

Algernon Moncrieff

Answer 1

Bachelor who lives in London. He is Lady Bracknell’s nephew, Gwendolen’s cousin, and Jack’s friend. As it turns out, he is also Jack’s brother. He falls in love with Cecily.

Algernon’s extravagant lifestyle reflects Wilde’s belief in Aestheticism. Wilde uses Algernon to comment on Victorian society and men who are classified as gentlemen but lack real virtues.

witty, hedonistic

Question 2

Jack Worthing

Answer 2

“Jack” lives in the country but comes to London under the false identity of Ernest. He is Algernon’s friend (and later is found out to be his brother!), Gwendolen’s fiance, and Cecily’s guardian.

Jack can be considered the protagonist. He undergoes an identity struggle where he is unsure of who his parents are and he goes by two different names.

duplicitous, loving

Question 3

Lady Bracknell

Answer 3

Algernon’s Aunt Augusta and Gwendolen’s mother.

Lady Bracknell’s role as a stock character allows us to examine the proper English lady. Wilde’s ironic portrayal of a character who is on the surface very posh but says absurd things serves for comedic effect.

arrogant, controlling

Question 4

Gwendolen Fairfax

Answer 4

Lady Bracknell’s daughter and Algernon’s cousin. She is in love with Jack, though she believes his name to be Ernest.

Gwendolen allows the audience to understand the absurdity of superficial Victorian societal standards. She does so by her insistence to marry someone by the name of Ernest.

romantic, rebellious

Question 5

Cecily Cardew

Answer 5

Jack’s ward. Her grandfather adopted Jack. She falls in love with Algernon who she assumes to be his brother named Ernest.

Cecily, who knows little about life outside the confines of her home, is only able to hopelessly romanticize about city life and men.

naive, delusional