The Importance of Being Earnest

Act 1

Reading Check

1. At Algernon’s London apartment in the “present day” (Act 1)

2. Gwendolen Bracknell (Act 1)

3. Lady Bracknell is his aunt, and Gwendolen is his cousin. (Act 1)

4. No (Act 1)

5. Pretending to have a relative or friend to use as an excuse to escape one’s social responsibilities (Act 1)

Short Answer

1. Lady Bracknell objects to the union of Jack and Gwendolen because of Jack’s uncertain parentage. Lady Bracknell is an aristocrat who values social status and wealth above all else, and she believes that a person’s worth is determined by their birth and family background. (Act 1)

2. Jack uses his own name in the country and the name Ernest in town to enable himself to lead a double life. Jack is a wealthy young man with a country estate and a young ward named Cecily, but he also leads a secret life in London as Ernest. By assuming the identity of Ernest, Jack can escape the responsibilities of his country estate and indulge in the pleasures of the city without risking his reputation. (

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