The Importance of Being Earnest

by Oscar Wilde

May13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 1983

Plank Road School

Although Earnest was written near the end of the nineteenth century, what it says is still valid. That is, a person's name and heritage mean little; it's what he makes of himself that counts.

Wilde wraps up his message into a delightful package: Two charming young ladies—sophisticated Gwendolen from the city and naive Cecily from the country—are in love with Earnest Worthing. But there is no such person as Earnest Worthing. Gwendolen thinks Jack is Earnest, and Cecily thinks Algy is Earnest. And each girl swears that she could never love a man who wasn't named Earnest. In the midst of all this confusion comes Lady Bracknell, who doesn't like the idea of anybody's loving anybody. It sounds like a big mess. But Oscar Wilde unwinds this knotty affair into one of the favorite comedies of English literature.