Act+2

An Overview of the Act:
 This Act takes place in the garden of Jack’s manor, in the country. Miss Prism, governor of Cecily Ward, is trying to teach Cecily German, though she is less than interested. Instead Cecily broaches the topic of her uncle and why he is always so serious, to which Miss Prism explains that he must be caught up with the actions of his brother, Ernest. Cecily expresses her wish to meet Ernest which foreshadows the arrival of Algernon, claiming to be Ernest, later in the Act. During their discussions Miss Prism tells Cecily that she once wrote a long novel, which is important with reference to the end of the play. Dr. Chasuble, the local vicar, enters and Cecily, knowing he and Miss Prism are attracted to one another deceives him into believing Miss Prism is in need of a walk to cure her headache. Although Miss Prism denies such an ailment she and Dr. Chasuble do eventually go off together. The butler then enters and announces that Mr. Ernest Worthing (Algernon) has just arrived. Cecily is given his visiting card, which is the one Algernon took from Jack in Act I. The visiting Algernon pretends to be Jack’s "brother" and greets Cecily as his “little cousin.” When Cecily tells him Jack won’t be back until Monday, Algernon pretends to be surprised and disappointment as secretly he wishes for Jack to be out of the way. Cecily tells Algernon of Jacks plan to send Ernest away and Algernon suggests she try to help reform him. She refuses and so Algernon claims he will reform himself. After some flirting, they go inside for some food. Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble return also flirting. They are surprised when Jack enters dressed in mourning clothing and explaining that his brother Ernest is dead. Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble express their condolences.

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Jack’s story matches the one he and Algernon planned the previous evening: that Ernest passed away in Paris from a “severe chill.” Jack then asks Dr. Chasuble about the possibility of being christened Ernest, as he remebemers this is the only way Gwendolen will marry him. They make arrangements for a ceremony that afternoon. As Dr. Chasuble prepares to leave, Cecily returns with the news that “Uncle Jack’s brother” is inside. Jack is furious, not only because Algernon is there, but also because he is disguised as Jack’s now dead, brother. Jack becomes more frustrated that Algernon has revealed to Cecily about Jack's friend Bunbury but there is nothing he can do without revealing his own deceptions and hypocrisy.======

Although Jack wants Algernon to leave, he will not. Alone, he expresses his love for Cecily. When she returns he uses the opportunity to propose to her. However, he is surprised to learn that Cecily already considers herself engaged to him as, some moths before she had invented an imaginary romance between them. Cecily has created an entire relationship, complete with love letters (written by herself), a ring, a broken engagement, and a reconciliation, and chronicled it in her diary. Algernon is less than pleased to learn that part of her fascination with him is the name Ernest, which echos Gwendolen's similar interest. Algernon leaves to find Dr. Chasuble about getting himself christened Ernest. Gwendolen then unexpectedly arrives and she and Cecily meet in the garden. Initially they appear polite and interested in one another, as they have never met. Cecily reveal that she is Mr Worthing's ward and Gwendolen seems surprised that Ernest never mentioned it. Cecily picks up on this and explains that her guardian is not Mr. //Ernest// Worthing but his brother Jack. Gwendolen is not convinced but Cecily reassures heras she explains she is engaged to be married to Ernest Worthing. Gwendolen points out that this is impossible as she herself is engaged to Ernest Worthing. At this stage, all politeness is lost and the women disintegrate into a petty squabble.

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At this stage, Jack and Algernon arrive, one after the other, each having separately made arrangements with Dr. Chasuble to be christened. Cecily and Gwendolen take pleasure in revealing to the other who the men really are therefore revealing the deception of the two. The women then demand to know where Ernest is and the men are forced to admit that he does not exist. The women are furious and leave together arm in arm, leaving the men to taunt each other for their failures.======