Oscar Wilde is Famous Irish writer from Late Victorian Age. He is famous for participation in the movements and also due to his writings. His short stories hold a distinctive stage in English literature.
Today we are going to discuss the Short Story of Oscar Wilde, which is widely famous
Importance of Being Earnest.
Main Characters
1- Algernon
2- Jack as Earnest
3- Gwendolen (cousin of Algernon)
4- Aunt Augusta (Mother of Gwendolen)
5-Cecily ( Jack is Guardian of her)
The story Revolves around the name Earnest. The whole story is folded with twist and interest piques as the story evovles.
The whole story is divided into three scenes.
First of all, it is pertinent to note that Jack is Earnest. He has real name as jack but in london he is living with dual personality and in london his name is Earnest. So, Algernon, his cousin Gwendolen and her mother Aunt Augusta all of them recognize Jack as Earnest.
In contrast, the name of Earnest in the country is Jack. She is living as Guardian of Cecily. Interestingly, Jack has mentioned at home that in London his brother "Earnest" is living who is sick and he also said to Cecily that he is her fiance. That's why Cecily always dreamt about him. She always writes letters to Earnest in London.
Algernon is living in London & friend of Jack. Algernon found a letter from Cecily in the cigarettes box of Jack. That day Jack came to his home and sitting on sofa. Algernon inquires him about the letter and asked that who is Cecily?
He replied; Cecily is poor old lady who is his aunt. Algernon was surprised to know this. That's why he posed a counter question that why she used the term Little Cecily?
These all questions made him suspicious in the eyes of Algernon. Moreover, Algernon is not in the favour of Jack and Gwendolen affair. Along with him, there was another impediment in the love affair of Jack (as Earnest) & Gwendolen who is Mother of Gwendolen. Her mother rejected Jack (as Earnest) because of his social status and because of his Orphan status.
Meanwhile, Gwendolen and Jack( as Earnest) both are agree for marrying each other.
At the same time, Algernon plans to visit the countryside of Jack who is playing Earnest role infront of others. He took train and he arrived there with his luggage. When he reached the home of Cecily, at that time she was in the garden and watering them. They interacted each other.
Algernon posed to show himself as Earnest. They do conversation with each other and in that conversation Algernon asked her When Uncle Jack will be back? He came to know that Jack will not be back until Evening of Monday. That's why Algernon thought that he should go back in the monday Morning.
Cecily loves to live in fantasy world as she always has a diary in her hands. On that diary she writes all those things that have never happened. Miss Prism is there for the guidance of Cecily. Miss Prism always tries to teach her German languages and other beautiful ways to live life.
At the same day Jack also arrived there. Cecily and Miss Prism were happy to see him so soon. Jack actually went there to give them news about Earnest that Earnest is dead because of his sickness. But to his surprise Earnest was already there present in the hall.
Cecily tried to reconcile both of them but she was unaware that both are friends.
Twist became more interesting with the arrival of Gwendolen. Cecily and Gwendolen both introduces themselves to each other. At first they thought that they would be good friends but within short time they both fight as they both said that "Earnest is her fiance". This line arouses a tense situation between both of the girls.
As they were arguing with each other, Jack and Algernon enters, they told each other that who is their Earnest.Cecily & Gwendolen both were surprised. The intensity of surprise increases even more when both of the men reveals that they are not Earnest.
Another fold in the story get unfolded when Lady Bracknell aka Aunt Augusta reached there. She saw Miss Prism. She already knew her. She inquired her that where she left that black leather bag 28 years ago in which an infant was placed?
But it was hard for her to recall. Surprisingly it came to know that both Jack and Algernon both are real bothers. At the end, Cecily and Gwendolen were ready to marry their relative Earnest.
In short, We can say that it is story of two girls who are obsessed with name Earnest.
i read this book a while ago. It is an interesting story. Moreover, it is story written by Oscar Wilde so it is must read if you are interested in his writings.
