The Importance of Being Earnest : Characters
The Importance of Being Earnest is a notable literary work by Oscar Wilde. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Characters
Jack / Ernest Worthing: He is the drama’s protagonist and was adopted as an infant. He is a rich, young bachelor of 28 with no known family. He lives a double life – as Jack Worthing in the country and Ernest in town.
Gwendolen Fairfax: She is the drama’s heroine, and Algernon’s first cousin, Lady Bracknell’s daughter, and Jack’s beloved.
Algernon Moncrieff: Algernon Moncrieff is a young, pleasure-seeking bachelor from a good family. He pretends to meet his imaginary friend Bunbury in the country to avoid social responsibility.
Cecily Cardew: She is Jack’s beautiful 18-year-old ward. She loves Jack’s wicked brother Ernest. She learns German from her governess Miss Prism.
Lady Bracknell: Lady Augusta Bracknell is Gwendolen’s mother and Algernon’s aunt.
Miss Prism: She is Cecily’s governess and was Jack’s nurse before she misplaced him when he was a baby.
Chasuble: He is a well-meaning but bumbling clergyman at the parish near Jack’s country home.
Lane: He is Algernon’s servant.
Merriman: He is the butler at Jack’s country home.